Annie Marie Massey by Jerry Madison Harrison

Life’s Reflections

OnDecember 27, 1929, Annie Marie Philistine was the first of 7 children born to Rev. C. W. and Rebecca S. Allen in Shreveport, Louisiana. As a CME minister, Rev. Allen and his family moved around quite a bit. During Annie Marie’s early childhood and teen years, the family lived in Jackson, Tennessee, where her father pastored Mother Liberty CME Church. The family later moved to Memphis, where her father was transferred to Smothers Chapel CME Church as senior pastor. Annie Marie attended Booker T. Washington along with her brother Clinton Jr. Rev. and Mrs. Allen stressed the importance of their children receiving a good education. Following her graduation from BTW, she entered Lemoyne College. During this time, she lived with her grandmother, Mrs. Mattie Stewart. While attending Lemoyne College, Annie Marie pledged to Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. and sang in the college choir and the Mt. Pisgah CME Church Choir.

While attending college, Annie Marie worked at a stocking shop on Beale Street that sold women’s hosiery. She would later receive her Bachelor’s Degree in Education. Following graduation, she continued to work for the stocking shop but later began working for Memphis City Schools. She taught 4th grade at Magnolia Elementary School, where Ms. Harry Mae Simon served as principal. Annie Marie taught at Magnolia for 30 years. Upon Ms. Simon’s retirement, she left Magnolia and taught 4th grade at Dunbar Elementary, followed by 7th grade at Humes Jr. High School until she retired in 1988.

While still working at the stocking shop and shortly before beginning her career with MCS, she met James Mack Greene, whom she later married. They raised four children in a newly built black subdivision called Lakeview Gardens. During the late 60s, she worked part-time at Goldsmith Department Store.

Before becoming a Collins Chapel CME Church member, Annie Marie was a member of Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church. In February of 1975, she blessed Collins Chapel with a concert sponsored by Stewardess Board #3 to raise money toward the renovation of the church. Memphis black-owned newspaper, The Tri-State Defender, printed an article about the event. Annie Marie eventually joined Collins Chapel CME Church, where her father pastored. She was active in the church, singing in the senior choir and being a member of the Willing Workers Organization. Annie Marie was well-known as a songstress in the CME Church. In the late 70s, Annie Marie returned to college to work on her Master’s in Education, which she received in 1980 from Memphis State University.

In 1985, Annie Marie married Rev. Malvin Massey Sr. at Collins Chapel CME Church. Rev. Massey was a CME minister. They moved to Pine Bluff, Arkansas where Rev. Massey pastored New Hope CME Church. Annie Marie sang in the choir there too. While living in Pine Bluff, she joined the Cosmopolitan Choir and was very active in Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., where she became a life member and an avid supporter of her husband and her church. While attending many church meetings and conferences, Annie Marie came to know and claim as one of her children Rev. Tracey Turner of Little Rock, Arkansas, former pastor of Reed Memorial CME Church.

During retirement, Annie Marie’s love for teaching children didn’t waiver. She decided once again to enter the classroom. She taught at Altheimer Elementary School in Altheimer, Arkansas, during the early 90s. While teaching there, she befriended two special women, Mrs. JoLinda Smith and Mrs. Betty Davis. She had her own special relationship with each of them. Annie Marie again retired from teaching in 2002.

In 2012, Annie Marie returned home to Memphis to be closer to her family and friends. She joined Washington Chapel CME Church under the leadership of Rev. Bethel Harris, whom she had known for many years.

On February 6, 2025, at 10:45 a.m., God sent an angel to pick one of his songbirds to sing in His heavenly choir.

Annie Marie leaves to cherish her memory two daughters, Madelyne McNeal (Robert) and Lillian Leverette; one son, Jeffrey Jackson (Roslyn) of Baltimore, Maryland; one sister, Edna Clayton; three grandchildren, Madelyne Brown (known to her as Granny’s Doll), James Davis (known as JD) (Courtney),and Joselyn Jackson of Baltimore Maryland, and 1 Godchild, Dr. Marla Mardis of Georgia, four great-grand-children, Tenisha Brown, Jahliyah Davis, James Davis Jr., and Alana Marie White (known to her as Gran-Gran’s Sweetie) and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins.

Preceding her in death were her husband, Rev. Malvin Massey, Sr., father and mother, Rev. C. W. and Rebecca S. Allen; five siblings, Clinton Allen Jr., Sarah Shirley, Evelyn Coleman, Rubye Wesson, and Joseph Allen; 1 daughter, Cheryl Davis, and one granddaughter Tajuana White.

There was a special saying Annie Marie would tell all those she encountered: “When things are not going like we would want them to, we must pray MIGHTILY, and the good Lord will work things out.”

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Psalms 23

Order of Celebration

Saturday, February 15, 2025 12:00 Noon

Washington Chapel C.M.E. Church

68 E. Mitchell Road Memphis, Tennessee 38109

Reverend Tracey Turner, Eulogist

Musical Prelude

Processional................................................................................................The Family of Annie Massey

Congregational Hymn..............................................................................................O Rapturous Scenes

Prayer.........................................................................................................................Rev. Bethel Harris

Scripture Readings:

Old Testament: Isaiah 40:28-31...............................................................Rev. James Dowell, Jr.

New Testament: 1 Corothians 2:1-10............................................................Rev. Arnold Joyner

Musical Selection....................................................................................................Mr. Artis Henderson

“Lord I Done Done”

Reflections of Love

(Respectfully, Two Mintues Please)

Ms. Sheryl Price - Friend

Jo Linda Smith - Coworker

Mrs. Carrie Clark - Church

David Allen - Family

James Davis - Family

Poem Reading.......................................................................................................Mrs. Anita C. Clayton

Acknowledgements.......................................................................................................Mrs. Doris Smith

Musical Selection....................................................................................Mrs. Jacquelyn Reddick-Jones

“I’ve Done My Work”

Eulogy........................................................................................................................Rev. Tracey Turner

Recessional

God saw you getting weaker

And He whispered come and rest

His garden must be beautiful

For He only takes the best. It broke our hearts to lose you,

But you did not go alone

For part of us went with you

The day God called you home

God saw the road was getting rough,

The hills were hard to climb,

He gently closed your eyes, And whispered “Peace Be Thine”

The weary hours, the days of pain

The sleepless nights are past; The ever patient worn-out frame

Has found sweet rest at last

In tears we saw you sinking And watched you fade away

Our hearts were so broken We wanted you to stay

But when we saw you sleeping

So peaceful free from pain

How could we wish you back with us, To suffer that again.

We will always love and cherish you! The Family

I had an angel here besides me, Sent to Earth to help and guide me,

An angel always there for me Sent to love and care for me.

She did the things that angels should: She taught me what was bad and good,

She gave me hope when no one cared, She held my hand when I was scared, She cheered me up when I was sick, And many another angel trick.

Today my angel earned her wings, Her halo, harp and other things.

But today I’m lost and all alone for today God took my grandma home.

GranGran’s Sweetie

The family extends a warm and hearty thank you for your prayers, calls, visits, food, words of encouragement and other expressions of love. Your thoughts and prayers will continue to comfort and strengthen us. May God continue to bless and keep each of you.

Special Thank You

A special thank you to Crossroads Hospice and staff for their excellent care of mom, especially the nurses Joceyln Stiger and Vicki Baskerville.

Lastly a very, very special thank you to Angels At My Door. Nurse, Linda Rone cared for mom as if she were her own mother. Offica manager, Velma McMahan, was always a phone call away. They never said no. We will be forever in their debt for the love and care they showed mom and the support they gave us.