Mattie Mary Guinn's Obituary
Mattie Mary Guinn was born August 23, 1927 to Will and Louise (Augusta) Craig in Cruthersville, Missouri, the last of seven children. She accepted Christ as her personal Savior at a young age and was baptized in the Mississippi River in Crouthbill, Missouri. She relocated to Benton Harbor, Michigan following her brother and then moved to Jackson, Michigan. In 1957, she united with the Second Baptist Church under the pastorate of the late Rev. Amos Polk Williams, and began a long tenure of service to her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
In Jackson, she met, fell in love with and later married Walter Dennis Guinn. Together with Brother Guinn they served faithfully at Second Baptist. She served in the Young Matrons, President of Baptist Training Union (B.T.U), President of the Pastor’s Chorus, Vacation Bible School, President of the Missionary Department, Women’s Day Chairperson, Usher Board and founder of Young Women in Faith Ministry. She was also involved with the Chain Lake Missionary Baptist District Association, and the National Baptist Convention USA Inc., and the National Baptist Congress of Christian Education. Her community involvement in Jackson included mentoring, leadership and chaperoning Jackson Enrichment Exploration Exposure Project (JEEEP) Inc. Back to School Program, and volunteered with the A. Phillip Randolph Institute and Goodwill Industries. She also, at one time, owned and operated “Mattie’s Boutique” for ladies fashion and jewelry. Church Women United presented her with a “Certificate of Appreciation” in 2013 as she vacated the position of treasurer, a position she had held since the 1980’s. In June 2014, Sister Guinn united with the New Hope Baptist Church, Ann Arbor, Michigan where she served faithfully as a member and assistant chaplain of the Mother’s Board.
In February 2022, she relocated to Waukegan, Illinois to be with her loving nephew Ronald Johnson and his wife Pauline, who tenderly provided care for her.
On Thursday, October 20, 2022, Sister Guinn answered the call of the Lord to rest from her labor. She was preceded in death by her husband; Walter Dennis Guinn, parents; Will and Louise Craig, brothers; W.C., Will and Willis Craig, sisters; Ruth Douglas, Ethel Blankenship and Verblean Johnson. She leaves to cherish her memory a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends, along with the New Hope Baptist Church family.
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