In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you donate or contribute your special gifts in her honor to the Cancer Society.org or Duke Homecare and Hospice DukeHealth.org/homecare and hospice.
“Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul and with all thy mind” Matthew 22: 37-39
Constance A. (Connie) Cheatham peacefully entered into her heavenly home of Sunday, July 12, 2020. She was born on May 16, 1933 in Durham, NC to the late Eloise “Weese” Smith and Melvin Adams. Connie was married to the late John H. (June) Cheatham Jr. for over 60 years.
She was a native of Durham, educated in the Durham Public School system and also attended Durham Technical Community College.
Well-known for her fashionista-style, Connie worked at Montgomery Ward and Sears clothing stores as a department manager. She retired from Nortel Communications as a valued and well sought after assembly supervisor. She also worked in the community with Meals on Wheels for 18+ years.
Connie was affectionately called by many names such as; “Ma Connie”, “Ma”, “Na Na”, “Auntie” and “Connie Mac”. Rev. Dr. G. Coleman once referred to her as the “Mother of the church” because there was not a baby born in the St. Mark community that she did not have a hand in raising, hugged and kissed on, rocked to sleep, played games with (even during church service) or given a handful of candy to before given back to the parents!
Family jokingly teased her for keeping her girlish figure since she had over 100 children.
Ma Connie loved her church ministries and her church family at St. Mark AME Zion church since the age of 7. Even though her duties as a military wife took her all over the globe, she always came “HOME”. She enjoyed reading scripture, crossword puzzles, family gatherings, and spreading the good news of Jesus Christ’s LOVE and good works. Some “Connie-ism” of hers was “I feel so good I can’t stand myself…I’m so wrapped up, tied up and tangled up in God’s word…I can’t do nothing without him cause HE is my everything!” She loved people of all ages, never really seeing herself as an elder. She was passionate about helping others and giving back to her community. Even the smallest tasks were her greatest accomplishments as long as people were happy and loved. Her church family knew that if they called on her, she would answer (just not her cell phone though…lol) She was committed to her gift of service for St. Mark and served on the Class Leaders Board and later became the assistant class leader, served on the Ushers Board, Human Dignity Ministry, a avid member of the Bouie-Hudson Sunday School, was a Durham District Conference Worker (better known as the three frisky St. Mark women), a member of the Lucille McCoy Senior Citizens, and a life-long legacy member of the White Rose Circle of which her grandmother, Edna Satterfield and mother, Eloise Smith were members.
She is preceded in death by her loving husband, John H.(June June) Cheatham Jr., sister Evelyn “Elboo” Charles, brother Wilbert Tucker, and her devoted nephew Reginald “Ray” Charles (Bridgett), and leaves to cherish her loving memories; nephews Rickey Charles (Pao) of Tampa, FL and Ronnie Charles (Thelma) of Durham, NC, cousin Marian Collins of Lexington, KY, Quincy Tucker of Durham, NC, and Mallory Williams (Leroy) of Fayetteville, NC, her special Sista-friend Theresa Carroll of Durham, NC, and god-daughter Leoncia Gillespie of Durham, NC along with a host of great-nieces and nephews, and other relatives and friends.
We little knew that morning God was to call your name,
In life we loved you dearly in death we do the same.
It broke our hearts to lose you; you did not go alone.
For part of us went with you the day God called you home,
You left us beautiful memories; your love is still our guide,
And though we cannot see you, you are always at our side.
Our family chain is broken and nothing seems the same,
But as God calls us one by one, the chain will link again.
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