Anne Shepherd McKee

GREENSBORO — Anne McKee, Ngolela wa Ngulumingi, moved to heaven on January 24. Her family and friends will celebrate her life on Friday, February 3, at 3 p.m. at Friends Home West (6100 W. Friendly Avenue).

Born on August 11, 1927, to David Craig and Annie Ward Shepherd in Redan, Georgia, Anne received a new name (Ngolela) and a new country (Congo, Africa) when she married Charles McKee (Ngulumingi). As a missionary in Africa, Anne embraced the people and country where Charles had been born and shared with him the ministry of strengthening the Congolese church. They retired to Greensboro in 1988, joining New Creation Community Presbyterian Church and actively supporting ministries with African refugees and people experiencing homelessness, as well as churches in Nicaragua, Mexico, and eastern Congo. After Charles' death in 2004, Anne continued their amazing legacy of social justice and love.

Anne's four daughters have surrounded her: Dr. Elsie McKee (Tshimunyi) of Princeton NJ, Beth McKee-Huger (Mualakana) and Katherine Mpeshi McKee (Mbongampeshi) of Greensboro, and Charlene McKee (Tshitenga) of Denver CO, along with sons-in-law Dr. John McGlaughlin (Yone), Ray Huger (Tuyaya), and Tom Fenske. Anne delights in her grandchildren: Theodore Dylan McKee Fenske (Ntalasha), Marianne Huger (Dikema), George Huger, Liam and Jeanne McGlaughlin, Mary and Lou McGlaughlin Benucci, and Theresa and Chris Cambria and great-grandson Sebastian McGlaughlin Benucci. Also, her sister-in-laws Elizabeth McKee Gerding and Marianne McKee and her brother-in-law Wade Burnside and wonderful nieces and nephews. Her Congolese family includes Paul Kabeya and Baba Ngosa in Kananga, Congo, and the Beya family in Greensboro-plus all the Congo mission co-workers. Anne "adopts" many who welcome having another loving mother.

Anne graduated from Agnes Scott College in 1948 and taught in French, Tshiluba, and English in Congo and was a full partner in Charles' ministry with churches in Congo, Arkansas, Georgia, and Louisiana. They inspired faith communities to reach into the needs of their immediate communities and beyond into the world.

In honor of Anne's life, gifts can be made to People to People Liaison Project, PO Box 751, Greensboro, NC 27402, serving eastern Congo, Greensboro Housing Coalition (122 N. Elm St. Suite M-2 Greensboro NC 27401), or the charity of your choice.

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