Mae McGill

Pastor Mae McGill was born in Chowan County NC to the late Elmo and Golena Burke. Mae worked in the cooking and retail industry for many years until she retired.

Mae was preceded in death by her sons: Elmo Burke and Carter Burke; sisters Odesa Cuffee (Norm) and Maniha Boyd (Alexander); and brothers, Columbus Burke and Herbert Burke.

In 1970 after returning from a European tour of duty with her husband, Mae was led to the Holy Jerusalem Church of God in Christ located on Vick Street in the city of Norfolk, Virginia. It was at Holy Jerusalem under the watchful eye of Elder Queenie J. Barton that she began her spiritual journey.

She attended the Rock Church Educational Bible School in Virginia Beach and completed many other courses. She always had a scripture to reinforce her statements. She loved both God’s word and God’s people. There were many Sundays when she would bring the entire church to her home for dinner after cooking most of the previous night.

Mae was very faithful to God in her service to Him and she was called into ministry. She founded the Helping Hands Church and began her Pastoral work for the Lord. While pastoring, she was able to persevere for many years. She enjoyed singing the songs of Zion and sang with the New Inspirations Spiritual Group for a few years.

Pastor McGill was a person of character and in her mind no one was less than the other. She never opted to do wrong and would always advise others to do the right thing. She operated on the premise that God knows best and we should always listen to God.

Mae leaves to cherish her memories: son, Dwight Burke; and a host of grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews and other family members and friends.