Amelia Dunfee McKenzie

Amelia Jane McKenzie died on Sunday, June 9, 2024, at her home in Charlotte, NC, after a short illness. She was surrounded by her children as she entered the presence of her Lord.
Amelia was born on July 15, 1946 to Arthur and Glennis Dunfee in Milo, Maine. She grew up with a wonderful family who taught her to love the Lord and to love others, and anyone who was blessed to be in her life knows she did both so well. She fell in love with Keith McKenzie when she was 17 years old, and after she graduated with honors from high school, they were married in June of 1964. She always said her mission in life was to be a helpmate to her husband, and she worked hard at that job for 52 years, 30 of them as a pastor's wife, until his death in 2016. Together they had four children who are blessed beyond measure to have had her as a mother.
Amelia had a truly miraculous life. After lymphoma threatened to take her life at age 12, she was treated with radiation that saved her life but caused a lifetime of physical trouble. Throughout her 77 years of life, she had cancer several times, damaged heart valves, lung disease, and even dropped-head syndrome - all caused by the radiation treatment. She handled every bit of it with grace and humility, concerned only with her testimony of salvation through Jesus Christ, and the love and comfort of her husband and children. She was truly "clothed in strength and dignity, with no fear of the future" (Proverbs 31).
Amelia loved to study and learn, and although she never graduated college, she became a Licensed Optician at age 62 and worked for eight years in that capacity, loving every minute. She also enjoyed coloring and spent the years after her husband's death contentedly coloring and generally enjoying life and family.
Amelia loved her Bible, which she read through every year. When her eyesight began to fail, she didn't stop reading her Bible... she started listening to it. She was excited by the new things she discovered in God's word year after year and she would often text her children with something she had read that day. She also loved studying prophecy and would talk about it to anyone who was interested. She could not wait for the return of Jesus! She was a prayer warrior and she prayed daily for each of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Amelia filled every room she entered with gentleness and peace. She loved people and she wanted everyone to know the surpassing joy of knowing Jesus. We pray that gentleness, peace, and joy will be her lasting legacy.
Amelia was preceded in death by her parents, Arthur & Glennis (Williams) Dunfee, her husband, Rev. C. Keith McKenzie, and her grandson, Simon James Wright. She is survived by her four children: Rebecca (Robert) Frye, Jennifer (Steve) Wright, Keith McKenzie, and Heather (Nate) Bunner; eleven grandchildren: Bethany (Mike) Laffey, Joshua (Brooke) Frye, Cody (Talia) Frye, Lily Rose (Caleb) Cibas, Jack Wright, Amelia Wright, Gavin McKenzie, Garrett McKenzie, Grant McKenzie, Gabbi (Tyler) O'Brian, and Cole Bunner; and five great-grandchildren: Chandler Laffey, and Jayanna, Hugh, Carter, and Henry Frye.
A viewing will be held Wednesday, June 12, 2024, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the Strickland Funeral Home in Hartwell, GA. Funeral services will be Thursday, June 13, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. in the Chapel of the Strickland Funeral Home of Hartwell. Burial will be in the Rock Springs Baptist Church Cemetery.
The Strickland Funeral Home of Hartwell is in charge of all arrangements. On-line condolences can be sent to the family at www.stricklandfh.com.