Ms. Mary Helen Rankins
Mary Helen “Macie” Rankins, the eldest daughter of the late March Rankins Sr. and Alvie Mae Sanders Rankins, was born and raised through adolescence in China, a rural community outside of Evergreen, AL. She was baptized at an early age at this very Church (Pleasant Grove AME Zion). When the Family moved and settled in New Jersey in 1956 Macie completed high school in Jersey but, returned to Alabama to study at Tuskegee University.
After a ten-year hiatus that included marriage, work, church and community service, Macie returned to Tuskegee, completed the BS Degree, and began a career with Gourmet Food Services as Director of Cafeteria Food Services for several universities. Macie’s outstanding management and inter-personal skills helped win long, lucrative contracts for Gourmet Foods and the honor for her of being named Food Service Director of the Year three consecutive years. Unfortunately, Macie’s tenure with Gourmet Foods ended abruptly in the late nineties when she was diagnosed with a chronic debilitating disease. Leaning on her faith in God, unwavering family and friendship ties, and an awesome inner strength, Macie continued to live her life to the fullest, serving as a substitute teacher, regularly visiting with family and friends, and helping to care for ailing parents. Macie will be remembered as the great “people lover” and the family ambassador, who cherished children. Everyone loved Macie and she will truly be missed.
She leaves to mourn her death and to celebrate her life: two sisters, Celia Rankins Hilliard (Joseph) and Jenice Rankins; two brothers, March Jr. (Earline) and Willie (Patricia Chatman); two aunts, Geneieve Gross and Eula Kate Booker; two uncles, Roosevelt (Daisy), and Bert Carter and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.