Annie Maxine McAllister

HENDERSON — Funeral services for Annie Maxine McClendon McAllister of Longview, Texas, will be 11 a.m. today, September 20, 2011, at Red Oak Baptist Church, Longview, with the Rev. Homer Rockmore officiating. Burial will follow in the New Hope Cemetery, Timpson, under the direction of Garmon Funeral Home of Henderson.
The symphony of life began for Annie Maxine McClendon McAllister on April 8, 1942, in Timpson, Texas. God gave this musical prodigy to Mr. LeRoy McClendon and Mrs. LeOra Williams McClendon. It was evident that Maxine had God-given talents and thus, a legend began. She was a noted songbird by the age of five and continued to emerge musically by playing the piano at the age of seven. While engaging the family and sharing her love for music, she organized the "McClendon Sisters" in Mount Enterprise, Texas.
Maxine's passion for singing went beyond the church. While attending Concord High School, she competed as a contestant in the UIL Solo Division where she received a scholarship to attend the Marian Anderson School of Music in Washington, D.C. Maxine graduated from Concord High School. She entered into Holy Matrimony with Homer J. McAllister, and they lived in the Long Branch community before moving to Longview.
Maxine blessed many with her gifts and talents serving as a musician for New Hope CME Church, Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, Hall Spring CME Church, Bethel Clayton Baptist Church, Mount Hebrew Baptist Church, Zion Hill Church, Red Oak Male Chorus, Harmony-Pirtle Male Chorus, The Cherub Choir-Red Oak Baptist Church and the H.C. Rockmore Tots Choir. Additionally, she was a member of the Interdenominational Choir, Longview, Texas, Gospel Music Workshop of America, The Harman Finley Singers, The South Central Music Conference and The Lufkin IDC.
Without intermission, Maxine devoted thirty years to educating children as a teacher at Happiness Hill Day Care. Maxine, a born-again Christian, extended her spiritual duties to include: President of YAW (Young Adult Women) of the East Texas Baptist Association, active member of the Evangelist Board of the Gospel Music Workshop of America Inc., where she visited many cities in the USA. She recorded with IDC of Longview, The McClendon Sisters, National Mass Choir of Gospel Music Workshop of America, The Newhouse Singers, the Rev. Demetrius McClendon and Pathway.
In 2001, Maxine recorded her first CD, "Let Jesus Fix It For You." In 2003, the Agape Learning Academy was established and Maxine was named Assistant Director; and, utilizing her gift of song, composed "The Agape Song."
Her beautiful life came to a close Wednesday, September 14, 2011, at Longview Regional Hospital, Longview, Texas.
Preceding her in death were her parents, LeRoy McClendon Sr. and Missionary LeOra Williams McClendon; and her siblings, LeRoy Jr., Ray, Jimmy Earl, Mary, Doris and Rose.
Maxine leaves behind many who will remember her gift of music: Homer J. McAllister, her loving husband of 51 years, of Longview, Texas; brothers, Roy McClendon (Sandra) of Spanaway, Wash., and Dr. B.W. McClendon (Bernetta) of Austin, Texas; sisters, Yvonne Barron, Maurine Armstead and Stella Deal, all of Forth Worth, Texas; sisters-in-law, Mildred McClendon of Mount Laurel, N.J., Sandra McClendon of Frisco, Texas, El Doris Mc Gill (Ezell) of Mount Pleasant, Texas, Cellar S. Wilkins (Herman) and Dorothy N. Fuller (Richard), all of Austin, Texas, Nellie Hill (Lee) of Whitehouse, Texas, Lavern Hardin of Tyler, Texas, and Debra Alexander (Larry) of Beaumont, Texas; brothers-in-law, the Rev. Dewayne McAllister (Willie) of Tyler, Texas, and the Rev. Alex King (Blair) of Atlanta, Ga.; and a host of nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins.
Public viewing for Mrs. McAllister was held from 1-8 p.m. Monday, September 19, 2011, at the funeral home. Public viewing will be held again from 9-11 a.m. today, September 20, 2011, at Red Oak Baptist Church.
Condolences and guestbook may be made at www.garmonfuneralhome.com.

This obituary was originally published in the Longview News-Journal.