Minnie Pearl Downie

"A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth." Ecclesiastes 7:1 Sister Minnie Pearl Downie was born on April 1, 1933 to the late Timothy and Narise Lee.  Minnie, affectionately known as "Sister", departed this life the early morning of April 27, 2013.She attended the Randolph School System. She accepted Christ at an early age and became a member of Pleasant Grove AME Church.  She moved to Newark, NJ in 1960 and joined St. Paul Holiness Church under the leadership of Mother Hartfield.  Minnie later moved her membership to Friendship Ministry Church under the leadership of Bishop Gerald Edwards. She was united in Holy Matrimony to Arthur Luther Downie and to this union four children were born. Minnie worked for Murray Street Leather Company in Newark, NJ for many years until she retired. She was preceded in death by her parents Timothy and Narise Lee; two brothers, Jeffie and Roosevelt Lee; one sister, Claudie Gary and one grandson, Rod Downie. She is survived by one daughter, Joyce Downie of Detroit, MI; three sons, John (Betty) Downie and Freddie Downie of East Orange, NJ, Willie Downie of Cuthbert, GA; four sisters, Lucy Lee of Irvington, NJ, Barbara Flowers of Hillside, NJ, Mary McGee of Hampton, GA, Virginia Hightower (Eddie) of Columbus, GA; three brothers, Eddie (Lessie) Lee of Maplewood, NJ, William Lee and James (Evonne) Lee of Newark, NJ; eight grandchildren; ten great grandchildren; a special niece and God-daughter, Janice Renae Lee and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.  Special thanks to Sherry Webster, Perlene Burks, Yolanda Carter, Carolyn Davis, Melissa Jackson, and Louise Barzey for their kind service.