Mary Massenburg

“I will trust in the Lord, I will trust in the Lord,

I will trust in the Lord, Til’ I die…”

In the “wee” hours of Sunday morning, May 7 th at the home of

her birth, Mary Alice Johnson Alston Massenburg was called

home by her Lord, whom she had trusted throughout her 96 years

of life. She was the eleventh child born into the Johnson family,

of Anthony Thomas and Mary Alice Midder. Alice, as she was

known, was the youngest girl in the family and what was, at that

time, known as “the knee baby,”

The A. T. Johnson home was one that had Christ as its head. The

parents did not just send their children to the family church,

Chapel Hill Baptist, but they all crowded into the buggy and

traveled to and worshipped together. Therefore, Alice was

baptized at an early age by the Pastor, Reverend James Johnson,

who was her uncle. The family belief was “train up a child in the

way that he/she should go and when grown, he/she will not

stray…” This, the family did. As a result, the teaching was truly

learned. It is interesting to note that there were two children who

remained in the home area to help their parents. There were five

others who returned to their birth place, permanently, after

retirement. And, another who began extended stays. Now, to put

this interesting lesson learned into its proper perspective. With

the ending of this “generational chapter” in the Johnson Family,

both parents and eight of their twelve children are back and

interred where their Christian walk began here at the Chapel Hill

Baptist Church. WOW! This emphasizes the quote that,

“There’s no place like home”.

Alice attended public school in Warren County from beginning

through graduation at Warren County Training School in Wise,

North Carolina.

After successfully completing high school, she relocated to

Washington, D. C. There, she lived with her sister, Agnes and

her husband, Grady. Knowing the importance of their spiritual

life, she along with her siblings and brother-in- law all became

members of Shiloh Baptist Church. There, she melodiously sang

in the choir, was ordained a deaconess and served in several

circles.

Alice continued her education by studying and successfully

completed nursing school. She received both her pin and her

cap. However, she did not pursue the career of nursing. Instead

she became a dedicated employee of the Federal Government,

beginning her career with the Navy Department and culminating

it with the Federal Aviation Agency as a GS 9.

Although she was busy in her new life, she never forgot home and

family. She frequently returned home to visit and to help her

parents both physically and financially. She was a real “home

body”.

Now, her spiritual life was in order. Likewise, her career had

been successfully launched. But, what about her social life?

Well, she had a beau who was a native of Warren County.

Marvin was Alice’s love. They were united in Holy Matrimony

after he returned from a successful military tour with an

honorable discharge. It was nothing strange to visit their home

and find a precious family member there. Although there were

no children born into this union, Marvin and Alice shared their

love, home and “wealth” with their many nieces and nephews.

She was very instrumental in the rearing of her niece, Roberta

(Bert), who at an early age determined her “Aunt Alice” was too

close to just be an auntie. So subsequently, Bert said “Aunt Alice

I can’t call you mommy, because I have a mommy. So, I will call

you “MeMe”. The lifeline would then be continued with the

birth of Wilhelmina “CeCe”, who was christened as Marvin and

Alice’s Goddaughter. A bond was established and perpetuated

through the generation to come.

 

In January of 1973, Alice’s loving Marvin died very suddenly

leaving her distraught and very sad. She kept her life busy in

both church and at work in order to try and ease her loss.

However, her loving sister, Agnes came and lived with her during

those sad days.

After several years passed since Marvin’s death, Alice met and

married Cleonie Massenburg . Though they met in Washington,

DC, Cleonie was originally from Raleigh, NC. They enjoyed

several years together before his health began to fail. When he

could no longer successfully go and do for himself and to help his

“MuMu” as he called her, several of her loving nieces and

nephews stepped up to assist them regularly. Just as she gave

and gave and gave to all, you will find that the family

remembered her. To name a few who lovingly helped her at her

home in DC: Charlene and Tim, Charles and Tommie, Eric and

Chauncy. They continued to fondly support her until she

relocated to North Carolina with her siblings and the remainder

of her Warren County family. As you read earlier, Alice believed

in giving but, many were ready to give back to her. She was truly

loved by all.

She sincerely loved her Lord. Sunday morning, her earthly voice

was silenced. One can only imagine that as she entered

Heaven’s Gates, she entered with a song on her lips.

 

“When We All Get To Heaven”

Mary Alice leaves to cherish her loving memory, her god child:

Wilhelmina “CECE” Ratliff, “grandchildren: Alicia (Brian) and

French (Ashley), four sisters-in- law: Eloise Alston Carter, Ethel

Johnson, Alice Irene Alston and Mary Alston; and many nieces,