Elzada Mack

Portrait of Life

On July 10, 1945, at home on Route 7, God blessed the world with a gift named Elzada Mack. She was born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas to Dan, Sr. & Millie Dobbs Mack. She was later blessed to be raised as his own, by her bonus father, Elder John Wesley Madden.

Elzada spent her first few years in Arkansas, but later moved to Kansas City, Kansas with her Mother and family. She attended Northeast Jr. High, and graduated from Sumner High School in 1963. After high school, she went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from Emporia State Teachers College, a Master of Science in Special Education from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, a Master of Divinity from Central Baptist Theological Seminary, and numerous other certifications. She retired from the Kansas City Missouri School District after 25 years of service as a Special Education Teacher and also taught one year in the Kansas City Kansas Public Schools. After retirement, she frequently worked as a Substitute Teacher and volunteered at the Mt. Carmel Church. Elzada had a strong work ethic, and at the time of her death, was applying to work at the Kansas City, KS Community College.

Elzada loved spending time with her children, grandchildren, siblings, nieces and nephews. She enjoyed just sitting around laughing and talking with them, as well as a good game of dominoes, spades or bid whist. In recent years, she had taken up playing bridge and would play every chance she got. She was a member of the Royal Trumps Bridge Club, part of the Greater Kansas City Bridge Unit, and played with them every Tuesday evening unless she was sick and couldn’t make it. She also attended their annual bridge tournament in Kansas City, as well as those in neighboring states. She was also a member of the Intercity Booklovers Club in Kansas City, Missouri and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.  

Elzada was saved as a child, but rededicated her life as an adult under the ministry of her first cousin, Dr. Vernard Johnson. After rededicating her life to Christ, she lived a holy and sanctified life before God until she went to be with him. She had many testimonies of his healing and deliverance power and never neglected to give him praise. She was a TRUE woman of God and used her life to glorify him.

With the help and grace of God and her village, Elzada was blessed to raise two saved, Holy Ghost filled, beautiful, successful daughters who both love the Lord and are actively involved in the work of the church and the preaching ministry! She was extremely proud of them and “bragged” on them every chance she got!

She was also proud of her sons in love and often testified how although she never married, both of her daughters did, and they had “GOOD” husbands! She was thoroughly pleased with how well both of her sons took care of her daughters and most prized treasures, her grandchildren.

In her youth, Elzada was a member of the church her father, Elder John W. Madden pastored in Emporia, Kansas, and as an adult, she joined Faith Deliverance Church of God in Christ, under the leadership of her Uncle, the late Elder Lee Harold Johnson & her Aunt, the late Mother Adlee Johnson. She was a faithful member there until 1984. In 1984, at the leading of the Lord, and the blessing of her then pastor, Elzada moved from her family church to the Mt. Carmel Church of God in Christ, where she served faithfully until the time the Lord called her home. Even at 71 years old, Elzada was not a “pew member” or a “bench warmer”. She was ACTIVELY involved in the WORK of the church. Some of the ministries she worked in were the Missionary Circle, Sunday School, Nursing Home Ministry at Medicalodge, Training Ground Youth Ministry and any other place she could find an opportunity. She was also one of the original announcement readers. Missionary Mack was largely responsible for starting and facilitating the original Children’s Church at Mt. Carmel and re-igniting the current Singles Ministry. When she saw a need in ministry, she didn’t simply ignore or complain about it, she got busy trying to meet the need. One of Elzada’s greatest joys in ministry at Mt. Carmel came just a short time ago when she was named to the Mt. Carmel Mothers Board. That had been a desire of her heart for many years and God allowed it to happen before he called her home. She took her position very seriously and made an effort to be in place every time the mothers were called upon, including intercessory prayer and funerals.

With her various health challenges, Elzada’s life consisted of MANY appointments … Dialysis 3 times each week, doctor’s appointments, procedures, exams, tests, lab work, just to name a few. Every now and then she would be tired or dealing with something else and have to cancel or reschedule an appointment. On Saturday, September 10, 2016, however, she had an appointment she couldn’t cancel or reschedule. She had an appointment to meet her Savior, the one she had given her entire life over to serving. She peacefully crossed over from labor to reward surrounded by her children, family, friends and loved ones. While we wanted God to heal her and raise her up on this side, God chose to heal her COMPLETELY and call her home to him.

Elzada was a tremendous and devoted Mother, Grandmother, Daughter, Sister, Aunt, Niece, Cousin, Friend, Church Member, Neighbor and so much more.

Mother Elzada Mack was preceded in death by her mother, Mother Millie Everlena Fields, her fathers, Dan Mack-Woolridge, Sr. and Elder John Wesley Madden, her sister, Kathryn Hillman, her brothers Algie Ray Woolridge, Michael Woolridge, Flotilla Farr Madden and Raymond Madden, Sr., and her nephew, Stephen Bryan Hillman.

She leaves to cherish her memory: her daughters, Lady Rashonda Yvette Mitchell (Pastor Donnie) and Reverend Gayle Shaunte' Mack-Mason (Johnny); her grandchildren, Anthony D. Yancy, Jr., Miracle U. Mason, CaiLyn R. Mitchell, MiLon J. Mason, Carnest “Donnivan” Mitchell, MyLah J. Mason, Johnny Mason, Jr. and Shanika Mason; her brothers and sisters, Dan Mack-Woolridge, Jr. (Lula), Vivian Lamb, Juanita Webb, David Woolridge, Celia Woolridge, Hattie Tate, Renaee Washington, Donald Woolridge and Lewis Woolridge; her brother in law, Deacon Willie D. Hillman (Sonya); godchildren, Pastor Michael W. Portley, Jr. (RaQeisha) and Bridget Davis (Vincent); and a host of nieces, nephews, great and great great nieces and nephews, cousins and friends too numerous to count or name. Her presence here on this earth is already greatly missed, but what a joy to know that she is NOW joyfully present with the Lord until we see her again!

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