Willie J. McCrae, Sr.

Celebrating His Life Willie James McCrae, Sr. was born the last of ten children to the late Fred McCrae and Polly Ann Pouncy on October 18, 1940 in Tatum, South Carolina. After relocating to Bennettsville, South Carolina where he attended school through the eleventh grade, he was also a school bus driver. Willie was an active member of the Macedonia Baptist Church where he served as an usher. While attending a basketball game at Eastside High School, he met the love of his life, Jessie L. Williams. They were united in holy matrimony on August 8, 1960. Willie always held the belief that no one had ever died, that he knew of, from of hard work. For this reason, he always held at least two jobs. On August 14, 1960, they moved to Washington, DC, and within one week, Willie was employed at Warner E. Pumphrey Funeral Home and Guilford Ice Cream Company in Silver Spring, MD. After two years, he went to work for the Capitol Cadillac dealership. Over the years he also worked at Westland Printing Company, the Kennedy Theatre as a projectionist until 1970. From 1970-1990 he worked for the US. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the Support Services Division. He also drove for various chartered bus companies traveling across the United States and to Canada for twenty years on a part-time basis, which was probably the most enjoyable position he ever held. Willie worked as an offset printer in a civilian capacity at Walter Reed Army Medical Center retiring in 2000. On March 11, 2001, he began a new occupation at the District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA) and once again retired in 2007. Throughout his federal and local government careers, he received numerous performance awards, certificates, and other recognition. Continuing a Christian commitment from his youth, Willie was an active member at the Isle of Patmos Baptist Church, New Southern Rock Baptist Church, serving as an usher, and later being united with the Nineteenth Street Baptist Church, under the leadership of Dr. Jerry A. Moore, Jr. Until he was unable to regularly attend because of failing health, he served in the Media and Homeless Ministries and was a part-time driver for the Transportation Ministry under the current leadership of Dr. Derrick Harkins. Willie was a well-liked and respected member of the church, community, in the workplace, and in the home. He would occasionally take as many neighborhood children as he could to the beach, on picnics and other outings. At home, he was a devoted husband, a caring and loving father, and a firm disciplinarian. Willie’s love extended to surrogate children who have claimed him as their father. He looked out for the elderly and widows, and often shoveled their snow and tended to their lawns, since he had such a “green thumb.” In 1995, while cutting an elderly couple’s grass, he suffered a massive heart attack, but was discovered by a caring neighbor who lives next door, and immediately summoned emergency medical attention, allowing us to have him many years hence. Willie loved and adored his family, those residing near and far, and the laughter, love and special times we’ve shared will forever remain in our hearts.

Tributes

Willie J. McCrae, Sr.

October 18, 1940 - November 11, 2013