Belinda Jo McCarthy

On December 19, 2021, Belinda Jo McCarthy, our Miracle Mama, went to be with her Lord at the age of 74 after six weeks in hospice at her home, where she was tenderly cared for by her precious husband, Dr. Michael McCarthy, and was visited by her family and friends. She lived a vibrant, generous life even after a diagnosis of ovarian cancer six years ago.

Belinda Jo Bryson was born to Hoy Lee Bryson and Billie Lee (Steele) Bryson on October 12, 1947, in Midland, Texas. She had one brother, Hoy Lee Bryson Jr., her senior by 5 years. As a child, she lived in Benbrook, Texas. She grew up in the Baptist church and came to faith there as a young girl. When she was a teenager, her family moved to Houston, Texas, where she met and married her first husband, Bob Dale (later known as Dr. Robert Allen Dale & Colonel Dale in the U.S. Army). They were married on October 15, 1965. She put him through dental school, and later he joined the army. They lived in Germany, Washington D.C., Colorado, and eventually settled in San Antonio, Texas, where they raised their two children, Scott and Tracy Dale.

Belinda was a dedicated homemaker and housewife for many years. She kept her house clean and welcoming for so many visitors. She was a talented painter, and many of her masterpieces were hung in her home. She was always up early, praying, reading her Bible, and walking around the neighborhood for exercise with a friend. She and some friends started a prayer group among some devout Christian women in her neighborhood, called "The Oak Meadow Prayer Warriors" who have continued meeting online to pray for each other, their adult kids, and their grandchildren! She always stayed busy volunteering at the church and school or visiting with her mother or mother-in-law who both moved to San Antonio to be near family.

Bob and Belinda Dale attended Wayside Chapel since 1981, where they both actively served. They both worked as teaching leaders for Bible Study Fellowship and Belinda later worked there for many years on staff. Belinda served as the PTA president at Scott and Tracys elementary school, and later taught art at Castle Hills 1st Baptist School, where the kids attended secondary school. They were married for 37 years, when Bob passed away in 2004. A year after his passing, she went on a medical mission trip to Iquitos, Peru where she served on a medical team in a clinic that treated over 300 people. On this trip, she also helped build a Christian school, that still trains children, and she went down the Amazon River and ministered to villages in the Amazon jungle.

She later married Dr. Michael McCarthy, an elder & widower at Wayside Chapel, on March 11, 2006. Michael lost his first wife, Jackie, to cancer five years prior. He served as a radiologist and Colonel in the U.S. Air Force. Belinda was working as the church secretary when they met, and they had a beautiful love story full of grace and redemption after much heartache in both their lives. They were married for 15 and a half years. Together they took dance lessons and piano lessons for 15 years. They enjoyed many wonderful trips together abroad. They traveled to Quebec City, Canada, and they took a cruise to Prague, Budapest, and Amsterdam. They also enjoyed traveling stateside to Kennebunkport, South Carolina, Colonial Williamsburg, Hawaii, Ohio, Florida, and they enjoyed an Alaskan cruise.

They also had a beautiful ministry together to so many people. They served on 5 mission trips to Malawi where they both taught Biblical marriage principles and Bible study tools to over 700 pastors and their wives. Belinda kept teaching these women remotely (via Zoom) for years.

They also taught Grief Share classes and led Bible studies in Bexar County Jail to inmates on a regular basis Mike taught the mens classes, and Belinda taught the ladies classes. Belinda later became a mentor and Bible teacher to ladies in a half-way house called Grace House. They all loved "Miss Belinda" and so many lives were changed through her inspiring teaching on Gods redemptive love and grace! Belinda also served as a teaching leader and mentor to younger women through a Bible study called Interface. She taught for 25 years in this program and impacted countless lives through her loving encouragement.

Whether she was serving her family, loving on a friend, or teaching women on the other side of the world about her loving God, she did everything she put her hand to with all her might, leaning on God to multiply her efforts. Faithfulness, diligence, and excellence marked everything she did. She inspired us all to lean on God, give our very best, and watch Him move mountains!

Belinda is survived by her husband, Dr. Michael McCarthy, her son Scott Allen Dale, his wife, Rebecca Dale and their children Jackson, Clara and Henry. She is also survived by her daughter Tracy Garcia and her husband Norman Garcia and their children Sophia, Josiah and Isaiah. She is also survived by Michaels daughter, whom she adopted as her own in love, Carolyn Sodd and her husband Waylon Sodd and their children Ashlyn, Weston, and Kaitlyn. She is also survived by her brother Hoy Lee Bryson Jr., his wife Frieda Bryson and their grown children Rachel, Hoy, Nathan, and Sarah.

Belinda and Michael were committed to making their family one big, happy family. They did this by hosting family reunions in Fredericksburg and Dripping Springs every summer, hosting holidays and taking the family to Disney World too! Their love, mentorship and generosity truly bonded the family, and it did indeed become united! They loved all their children and 9 grandchildren so faithfully.

Belinda was an elegant and refined lady who was ready to laugh out loud at any moment. Her radiant smile filled any room she entered. Her kindness touched the hearts of all who knew her. She was the sun, and we were her garden, growing in the light and warmth of her love.

She had a gentle demeanor and small stature, yet a strong and deep faith in Jesus. She always had a wise answer for any problem we presented to her, and she always directed us to God! He was her source of joy and enduring strength. She left us all a legacy of faith, hope and love, and we will carry it on for generations!

"Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all. Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; bur a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate." Proverbs 31:28-31

A Note from Belinda (Mom):

Because our Miracle Mama knew she would soon fly to heaven to be with Jesus and her Father God, she selected two songs to be played in video format at her memorial service. She wrote why she chose each song. We pray these songs bless you, and that her own words encourage you. Thank you for loving our Beautiful Belinda! She loved all of you dearly! We will see her soon and enjoy that smile for all of eternity.

You can know that you also will be with God in eternity if you believe on Jesus as the Son of God. Belinda shared her faith with anyone who would listen. Romans 10:9-10 states, "If you declare with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved."

"Yet Not I But Through Christ in Me" by City Alight

"Anything accomplished in my life that was of any real value was the result of the power of the Holy Spirit within me. What that means is that the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ was empowering me to do what only He could do through me. The glory belongs ONLY to Him."

"Before the Throne of God Above" sung by Selah

"This song presents the gospel clearly and tells the only reason that I am accepted to live eternally in the presence of God. That reason is that the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ became sin for me (on the cross) so that I might become the righteousness of God in Him."

In lieu of flowers, please send a tax deductible donation to Grace House, Inc., P.O. Box 781283

San Antonio, TX 78278.