Almeda Fitzgerald McDonald

Deaconess McDonald was the daughter of the late Katherine Womack Thompson and Deacon Ross Fitzgerald, and the stepdaughter of the late Deacon Carson Thompson (a faithful and caring stepfather). She was born March 25, 1927, in Java, Virginia and went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, November 23, 2022.

She was the wife of the late Edward T. McDonald, who went to be with the Lord on July 26, 1983.

She leaves to mourn her three (3 ) sons – Milton L. McDonald (Jeanette), Francis C. McDonald (Joy), and James A. McDonald (Letitia). She also leaves six (6) grandchildren – Christopher, Jonathan, Lindsey, Kory, Brandon, and Shaun, and six (6) great-grandchildren – Emerson, Charlie, Elliot, Kamden, Corrie, and Quincy.

She also leaves a brother, Milton Thompson (Jean) and sister Vivian Austin, and a host of nephews, nieces, cousins, and friends. 

She graduated from St. Paul’s College and received at Certified Teacher’s Certificate from Hampton Institute. She then taught at the School for the Deaf and Blind in Hampton, and in the Hampton School system for 32 years where she retired from Thomas Eaton Middle School in 1986.

She was a dedicated member of the Queen Street Baptist Church in Hampton, Virginia since 1953, and taught the Junior class of the Sunday School Ministry from 1989 until 2019. She served as president of the Queen Street Missionary Union and president of the Wo-He-Lo Ministry from 1994 until 2010. In 1991, she answered the call of God and Pastor Anderson  W. Clary, Jr. to accept the position of vice-president of the Pulpit Committee at Queen Street Baptist Church.

She was a charter member of the Lambda Kappa Mu Sorority, Inc., Sigma Chapter, holding several offices, and a life member of the NAACP and the Hampton Retired Teachers Association.  

She was a member of the Peninsula Chapter of St. Paul’s College Alumni Association, and a life member of the Baptist Sunday School Union and the Black Teacher’s Union, where she served for ten (10) years as vice-president of the Baptist Sunday School Union of Hampton and adjoining cities.

She was a member of and office holder of the Woman’s AGLOW Fellowship, which is an organization (international) with a purpose to evangelize world women and men worldwide. She was also an active member of the Church Women’s United (Hampton). She was also a member of the Queen Street Baptist Church Wise Hope, sanctuary choir (purpose to sing at funerals), the Aberdeen Historical Society, and the Barnabas Club (Encouragement).

She participated as a student of the Chronological Bible Study class. Her favorite saying was, “Blessed by the Best,” which she constantly uttered after Sunday School when she initiated this with the late Sister Blanche Taliaferro.

She grew spiritually through her relationship with her prayer partner, the late Sister Lillian Davis, whom she met at a prayer breakfast at Queen Street Baptist Church in November 1991. They began to communicate by phone at 6:30 every morning for morning prayer and Bible study until February 15, 2017, when Mrs. Davis passed away.

“Many thanks to Pastor Clary, who taught me well. His teaching opened my ears and eyes to so much about our Savior, Jesus Christ. I love him as a son,” she said. “And thanks to the late Sister Brenda Tyson, Sister Goodloe, and Sister Elois Bracy, who faithfully served with me as Junior High School teachers. Thanks to members and friends of Queen Street Baptist Church who supported me in my efforts to do the work of the Lord,” she said.

“I have fought the good fight. I have finished my course. I have kept the faith. Henceforth, there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day, and not to me only, but to all them also that love His appearing.” 2Tim 4:7-8. 

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