Mack Bean Sr.

Mack Bean, Sr., 84, passed away on Sunday, December 13, 2020, following a brief illness.

He was born May 25, 1936 in Troy, Ala., son of the late Joe Tom Bean and Ruby Pearl Hooten-Bean. He moved from Alabama to Erie with his family in 1951. He began working as a construction laborer shortly after, he worked out of Local #6 as a journeyman plasterer and cement mason for many years. Mack was a member of the Eastside YMCA and ran in four marathons, each 26.2 miles.

Mack was an advocate for minority business ownership and in 1978 founded Mack Bean Construction Company. He was certified by Pittsburgh District Small Business Administration as a Bonafied Minority Business Enterprise and began contracting with several government agencies such as the V.A. Medical Center, Army Corps of Engineers and U.S. Coast Guard, to name a few. He also contracted projects with The City of Erie, Erie Water Authority and Erie Housing Authority for a number of years.

Mack was a member of The Apostolic Church of Jesus Christ under the leadership of Bishop Asa Jones, Sr. and former member of The Greater Bethlehem Temple Church. He was a loyal Cleveland Browns fan, and member of the Erie chapter NAACP, Gem City Elks Lodge #328, S.A.L. Barney-Smith Post 700. He loved to take care of his queen, Melvie, his home, and his yard.

Besides his parents, Mack was preceded in death by his daughter, Connie Bean-Gillespie and granddaughter Tiffany Gillespie as well as one nephew, Myron Paul Thomas.

Mack Sr. leaves to cherish his precious memory, his wife of 66 years, Melvie Lee Jones-Bean, two sisters Julia Bean Thomas of Erie and Angela Sykes of Pittsburgh, one brother Kevin Sykes of Erie, brother-in-law Bishop Asa (Floretta) Jones Sr., and sisters-in-law Ruth Jones Stovall and Elnora Jones. He is further survived by his four sons, James (Darlene) Bean, Mack (Dessiree) Bean Jr., Russell Lindsey and Tracy (Ronnie) Lindsey, six daughters, Ruby (Arnell) Bass, Shawn Lindsey, Sonya (Dexter) Curry, Kimberly Brooks, Jackie Lindsey, and Charlene Freeman, 35 grandchildren, 45 great-grandchildren, two great-great grandchildren and many nieces, nephews, re;atives and friends.

Friends are invited to visit with the family on Saturday December 19, 2020 from 11 a.m. until the time of the Homegoing Celebration at 12:00 p.m. at The Apostolic Church of Jesus Christ, 1962 Buffalo Road. All CDC guidelines will be followed.

Professional arrangements are entrusted to Pitts Funeral Home, 2926 Pine Ave., Erie, PA 16504.

Sign the Guestbook at www.GoErie.com/obits.