Bennie Earl McCall

HAMPTON - On the afternoon of July 19, 2008, God's finger touched Bennie Earl McCall and she slept.
She was born on Nov. 23, 1919, to the late James Henderson Staton and Mozell Johnson Staton in Tarboro, N.C., where she spent her formative years. She accepted Christ as her personal Savior at an early age and was a member of St. Paul A.M.E. Zion Church in Tarboro until her family moved to Norfolk, Va., in 1930. In Norfolk, she united with the Metropolitan A. M. E. Zion Church and graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in June 1938.
She met Morris Otis McCall while he was stationed at the Norfolk Naval Base. They were married on June 22, 1942. Upon his separation from the service, the couple settled in Phoebus, Va. A short while later, the family relocated to Newsome Park in Newport News. It was there that they raised their six children. The family initially resided in the community of Newsome Park on 41st Street. When the housing was demolished and replaced with updated homes around 1998, the family moved to a Marshall Avenue address in Newsome Park. In 1999, Mr. and Mrs. McCall moved to their current home off Queen Street in Hampton.
Mrs. McCall was very active with the activities at Newsome Park Elementary School and G.W. Carver High School and was an active member of both PTAs while her children were in attendance. Mrs. McCall was also a very active member of Walters Temple A.M.E. Zion Church when it was located on 23rd Street in Newport News. At the time of her death, her membership at Greater Walters Temple A.M.E. Zion Church exceeded 45 years where she taught Sunday school, played the piano and organ, sang in the Senior Choir, organized and directed the Buds of Promise Choir, organized the Youth Adult Missionary Society (YAMS). Sis. Bennie, as she was fondly known by church members, enjoyed attending church conferences and conventions or any type of meeting where she could learn more about the organization of the church. To that end, she was president of Greater Walters Lay Council, president of Church Women United for two years, and secretary for the District Lay Council. She also travelled to Jerusalem with Church Women United.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 65 years, Morris Otis McCall, and her son, neQiniso Abdullah (nee Walter McCall).
She leaves to cherish her memory her five children, Dr. Maurice Henderson McCall (Ernestine) of Pontiac, Mich., F. Ellen McCall Bartley (Spencer) of Mansfield, Texas, Mozell Yvonne McCall Davis (Burton) of Harrisburg, N.C., Eileen R. F. McCall, Esq., of Mitchellville, Md., Dr. Alvin Clinton McCall (Anna) of St. Louis, Mo.; daughter-in-law, Muminah Abdullah of Austin, Texas; 15 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; two great-nieces; goddaughter, Brenda Miller Kirk; devoted life-long friends, Alice Booker and Olivia Miller; cousins, dear friends and neighbors.
Funeral services will be 11 a.m. today at Greater Walters A.M.E. Zion Church, 656 28th St., Newport News. Interment will be in Hampton Memorial Gardens. View and post condolences on our online guestbook at dailypress.com/guestbooks.