to whatever you called her) was born February 11, 1929, in Fort Worth, Texas. She was born to Mary Dean Edwards and
Jasper Foster: delivered by midwife at home. Weighing in at 2 pounds, she was sent home on a pillow and was not expected to live. She told stories of being so tiny she could fit in a coffee cup. Her dad Jasper’s handkerchiefs were used as diapers. Gwen accepted Christ at an early age and became increasingly knowledgeable in the word of God. She began to attend Church of God in Christ assemblies and was soon filled with the Holy Ghost. By this time she had given birth to three children and became a member of Stop Six Church of God in Christ on Katy Street where Elder L. C. Castleberry was the
Senior Pastor. This is where she began to operate as an Usher in the church. As a young teen she became active in church as a Sunday School teacher for the youth. As the years progressed, her relationship with Christ became strong. On July 20, 1951, she married the love of her life Melvin Lee Mackey, and to this union were born five sons and two daughters. To help Dad, Mother took to ironing peoples clothing at home. Later, she went to school and became a cosmetologist and did hair at home at 1615 Birdell Street. She enjoyed being able to help support the family. In 1969, Gwendolyn and Melvin divorced at which time she and seven of her children moved to Lancaster, California.
She pressed in with the groups at the church to keep her faith strong. As time went on, she met and married Charles Harris and to this union were born two sons. She became a preschool teacher at Fredrick Douglass Head Start Preschool and also at Desert Blossom Christian School, where she worked under the leadership of the late Elder Grover Lee Talley.
She also held positions in the church as a Sunday school teacher, an usher, choir director, president, and on the mother’s board. She was appointed as special advisor to the supervisor, JoAnne Hooks, under direction of Bishop Roy Dixon. She spent her life serving God and she loved gospel music. Shirley Caesar and Mahalia Jackson were among some of her favorite singers. She loved being involved in church, she had a gift of caring for children, and reading the Bible. Her pastimes and hobbies were taking care of children, anybody’s children. It didn’t matter whether it was paid or not; she just loved giving out her warm hugs to anyone who asked. Her favorite color was yellow. Her favorite scripture was
Psalm 27:1: “The Lord is the light of my salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?”During her later years she was scrupulously cared for by her daughter, Sharon Mackey and children Malik, Malaya and Malauna Rice.She is preceded in death by her parents and her siblings, William, Mary Lousie, Consuela, Elsie Marie, Evva Jean, Lola Faye, Charles, Jerry, Peggy, and her son, Ronald Mackey. Gwendolyn leaves to mourn her children Nathan (Kathy), Jacqueline, Melvin (Lily), Sharon (David), Derrin, Daniel, Marlon (Melisa), and Marcus; and her grandchildren Chenille,
Corletta, Brianna, Nikeya, Neleia, Maija, Netra, Charvetta, Melisha, Elainey, Keeley, Jonathan, Melvin Jr., Ronald Jr., Rachelle (Wes), Danelle, Ramone, Demarie’, Malik, Malaya, Malauna, Jaleel, and Ariana, Marlon Jr., Adrianna, Anthony, Tavion, Tavion, Tyree, Isaiah. A host of great grandchildren, great great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and an extensive list of family and friends.
To leave digital memories and to view the obituary please visit: joshuamortuary.com
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