Congregation celebrates a beloved usher battling cancer, giving her “her flowers” while she’s still here
On Sunday, October 18th, in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Eureka Missionary Baptist Church held its annual Pink Out, a service dedicated to honoring a church member touched by the disease.
Each year, the congregation selects a recipient for the Pink Out celebration. Deacon Donald McGee said that when it came time to choose this year, the answer was immediate. “The first person that came to our mind, the First Lady, Pastor, actually the entire church, was Usher Alberta,” he said.
Sister Alberta McGee, a longtime usher, is currently going through cancer treatment. Church members described her as a mother figure to the whole congregation. She raised many children who weren’t related to her, taking them into her home and caring for them as her own.
“We just wanted to give her her flowers today while she’s here,” one speaker said.
Family members who traveled from Texas shared testimonials about her impact. One described the family as a strong circle held together by her. “Your reach is far,” another told her. “The circle is big and powerful because of you.”
For Deacon McGee, the cause is personal. He said he often counsels others facing hardship, but it was different when breast cancer entered his own family. “I had to find the inner spirit on the inside to be able to stand strong,” he said, describing how devastating it was when the diagnosis came home.
He also shared a story about his aunt, who didn’t answer his calls for weeks before revealing her diagnosis. “I went right into prayer,” he said.
A Testimony of Generosity
Senior Pastor Lenell McGee also used the service to thank Mark Bennett, owner of MAB Home Remodeling. After his homeowner’s insurance paid for only half of his garage roof, Pastor McGee said Bennett repaired the entire roof and the metal work around the garage for the money he had set aside. “He must have blessed me with $2,500, $3,000,” the pastor said.
Church members were encouraged to stay for lunch and fellowship, with services continuing into the evening.
