RESOJAJTIRN
WHEREAS, It is with great sorrow that the City Council of the City of Chicago learns of the departure of Reverend Cartha McKenzie, Sr. on January 31, 2018; and
WHEREAS, This esteemed body has been notified of his passing by the Honorable Raymond Lopez, Alderman of the 15th Ward; and
WHEREAS, Reverend McKenzie Sr.'s home going services will take place on Saturday, the tenth of February, 2018, at 754 East 77th Street in Chicago, Illinois; and
WHEREAS, Cartha was born on the eighth of January, 1931, in Marianna, Arkansas, to Roosevelt Sr. and Lugenia McKenzie, his loving parents; and
WHEREAS, Cartha exhibited a love for the ministry at an early age. In sixth grade, he left school to help on the family farm, where he often held memorial services for dead and dying animals; and
WHEREAS, In 1946, Reverend McKenzie, Sr. moved to Chicago, Illinois. In 1952, he met the love of his life, SamElla "Broadway", who he remained married to for sixty-six years, until his passing; and
WHEREAS, In 1950, Cartha joined the 44Lh Street Baptist Church in Chicago, Illinois, where he met his friend and mentor, Pastor Elijah Thurston. Thurston immediately took note of McKenzie's love for ministry, eventually ordaining him a deacon and nicknaming him "Mac;" and
WHEREAS, The community grew to love Mac.as he became the voice of the weekly 11:00 p.m. radio broadcast. Whenever parishioners heard Mac say, "I heard the voice of Jesus saying," a sense of calm overtook the community; and
WHEREAS, Deacon McKenzie was also known for his love for music, especially "Trouble in the Land Will Soon Be Over;" and
WHEREAS, In 1959, Deacon McKenzie was licensed and ordained by Reverend John Thurston, Pastor of the New Covenant Missionary Baptist Church, where Mac would eventually become an assistant pastor; and
WHEREAS, In 1973, Cartha McKenzie, Sr. was installed as the Pastor for the Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church in Chicago, Illinois, where he served for forty-five years; and
WHER...
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