Mary “Mickey” Sutherlin

Mary M. (McNeil) Sutherlin was born on November 22nd, 1911 in Southern Pines, North Carolina to the union of Elder James and St. Lucy V. McNeil. She was the oldest of five children and they named her Mary Magdalene McNeil, affectionally called “Mickey”. She transitioned this life on March 1, 2015.

St. Mary is preceded in death by her father, Elder James McNeil; her mother, St. Lucy V. McNeil; her brother, Samuel McNeil; her sister, Janie Lumpkins; her son Joseph Sutherlin; and her daughter, Nadine Jackson. She leaves to cherish one brother, Ezekiel McNeil and one sister Martha Gibson. She also leaves six children; Patsy Walker, Ruth Tate, Samuel Sutherlin, James Sutherlin Sr. (Peaches), Mary Sutherlin and Cynthia Roberts (Woodrow Jr.). She also leaves to cherish a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, and extended family and friends.

Mickey was raised in Southern Pines, North Carolina where she attended church faithfully as a member of The Church of God and Saints of Christ under the pastorship of Bishop T.C. Person. She would also serve under the pastorship of her father Elder James McNeil. Mickey was raised in a strict but loving home where she and her siblings were taught to have a reverence for God, a love for God’s prophet, and a love for God’s church. Mickey’s love was so great that she was charged with being a caregiver for a young Rabbi Levi Solomon Plummer (G.F.A.). She would later remark to him years later, “I led you by the hand, and now it is you who is leading me.” While living in Belleville, Virginia Mickey gained a love for baseball where she also played catcher for the Bellville baseball team. This is where she was given her lifelong nickname, “Mickey”.
At the age of 20, Mickey joined her family in Cincinnati, Ohio and later married Leroy Sutherlin in 1934. Later in life, she selflessly uprooted and without hesitation moved back to Bellville, Virginia to assist her mother and father as their health began to fail.

Mickey was known as a faithful member of The Church of God and Saints of Christ. She served steadfastly and obediently under six leaders; Bishop Joseph Wesley Crowdy, Bishop William Henry Plummer (G.F.A.), Elder Calvin S. Skinner, (Counselor), Bishop Howard Z. Plummer (G.F.A.), Rabbi Levi S. Plummer (G.F.A.) and Rabbi Jehu August Crowdy Jr., Grand Father Abraham. Mickey could always be found in service shouting “Yeah” and “Amen”.

As Mickey’s health began to decline, she moved back to Cincinnati where she was cared for by her loving children. She was always in the capable hands of her son James Sutherlin Sr., who was a constant presence that attended to her needs. In her later years, Mickey could be found in her recliner rooting for her favorite baseball team, the Cincinnati Reds.

Mickey was truly loved and known for her beautiful smile, her remberance of the Sabbath, and a memory that never failed. When asked how she was feeling, she would respond, “tolerable” and that” Everything was moving by the power of God”. She will truly be missed by all those who came in contact with this loving and gentle soul.