Mary Mccaskill

Mary E. McCaskill was born on March 18, 1918 in Dundee, Mississippi to the proud parents Thomas and Mary McElvaine. She was one of eight children including Robert, Rosie Lee, Thomas Jr., Amos Earl, Early Henry, Lawrence Waddell and Willie D.
Mary grew up and was educated in Mississippi. She received Jesus Christ as her personal Lord and Savior when she was a young girl. Later in life she relocated to Chicago, Illinois.
In the 1940?s she met and married William James in Chicago, Illinois. To this union two children were born, Wilma and Arwanda. Mary would often tell us that Wilma and Wanda were her greatest accomplishments. William died in 1961 leaving a wife with two young children to raise. After the death of her husband Mary moved her family into a three story house owned by her brother Lawrence. Even though Mary received social security benefits for her children, she decided to work as a ?day worker? to ensure that her family had everything they needed. For those of you wondering what a day worker did, it means she cleaned the homes of white people and was paid a daily wage. She was also employed as a laborer at Curtiss Candy Company.
Mary knew the importance of maintaining her faith and joined Mt. Moriah Baptist Church where she served faithfully in many positions. One thing we all remember is that she didn?t send us to church; she would pack that station wagon full of her children, nieces, nephews and mother and carry us each Sunday.
At the end of 1972 Mary married Isaac McCaskill and moved with her youngest daughter Arwanda to Saginaw, Michigan. Isaac died in 1994 leaving Mary as sole landlady to a five family apartment building. This had been her job since that time along with working on the polls during each local, state, and national election.
In Saginaw she is best known for her work as a grandparent volunteer for the Saginaw School System where she had worked for over ten years. She often said that the children kept her young and they truly loved her. As she celebrated her 90th birthday, the entire school gave her a surprise party where she received many well wishes. When one young man asked her the secret to her long life, she looked up with a smile and said, ?don?t die, just keep living.?
The St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church was her church home. She was quite active serving as part of the Greeters, Mothers Board, Missionary Society and Sunday School Department. In 2012 on Mary?s 94th birthday, her church family surprised her with a celebration commemorating her work as the founder of the Mary E. McCaskill Angel Scholarship Fund. Mary started this fund as an encouragement to the college students of the church.
Many people asked Mary why do her children and extended family love her so much, again with that smile she would explain the only thing she had to give them is love. She never had a whole lot of money to buy things, but she had more than enough love to spread around. When you said, ?I love you?, her response was, ?You better!?
Mother Mary leaves to celebrate and cherish her memory her daughter, Arwanda Conner; sister, Rosie Lee Hudson; brothers, Lawrence (Rosie) Waddell and Willie D.; grandchildren, Equilla James, Sylvia Lee, Robert (La?Tasha) Conner IV, William Conner Sr., Derrick Lee Sr. and Trashina Conner; great-grandchildren, Sioban Durruthy, Na?I?Cesses McKether, Derrick Lee Jr., Jeremiah Lee, Lyric Conner, William Conner Jr. and A?zaria Conner; great-great-grandchildren, S?nya Pollard, Joey Jackson, Jr. and Jovon Jackson; a special sister, Irene Conner; a host of nieces, nephews and countless friends; a special caretaker, David.
Her daughter Wilma Lee and her son Reverend Robert Conner, Jr. preceded her in death.
?Baby, God makes no mistakes.?
Mother Mary McCaskill
Visitation: Paradise Funeral Chapel Obituaries
Service Plans: Paradise Funeral Chapel Obituaries