Mother Dorothy Ann McCoy

Dorothy Ann (Yancy) McCoy was born January 1, 1934 to Perry and Annie Mae (Porter) Logan in Round Pond, Arkansas. At a very young age her parents separated and she and her mother relocated to another city. Sometime after, Annie married Willie Yancy, a sharecropper. Dorothy, the third eldest of her mother’s children was a quiet and timid child who loved school and education but was unable to attend regularly because she was required to work the fields. After the untimely death of her mother at the tender age of twelve, Dorothy as the eldest sibling in the house, was left the difficult task of caring for her younger siblings whereas the baby was three months old. After some years, Dorothy met and married Hal Burton at the age of sixteen.

Searching for a better life, Hal and Dorothy migrated to Benton Harbor, Michigan from the south. To their union was added seven children. Dorothy briefly worked as a housekeeper in the hospitality industry. However, due to a back injury on the job, she was unable to continue working in that field and settled in as a homemaker thereafter. Meanwhile, Dorothy still yearned to complete her high school education and after much encouragement, enrolled in night school to do so. In May of 1985 Dorothy attended the commencement ceremony at Benton Harbor High School and proudly received her diploma, graduating with honors along side her youngest daughter Starr. She was the eldest classmate of the Benton Harbor High Class of 1985. Not long after, Dorothy and Hal eventually separated amicably and later Dorothy married Phillip McCoy.

Dorothy was extremely intuitive and resourceful. She loved to bake pies, biscuits, teacakes and maintained a neat and tidy home environment at all times. She loved nature and flowers and her yard was always adorned with beautiful arrangements. She and her neighbor Dora Robinson repeatedly petitioned City Hall to ensure that their neighborhood was always clean and aesthetically beautiful. Her children affectionately nick named her “Headquarters” because of the disciplined manner in which she managed her home. In spite of the fact that she was unemployed, she remained a financial resource for others as she was always able to loan money to those who needed it. In addition, she frequently opened her home to many who sought refuge and needed a temporary place to stay. She and her sister Ruby (Hatten) Burton were self-taught seamstresses who produced wedding gowns, male and female fashion attire and various styled choir robes for their church. Dorothy faithfully served under the pastoral leadership of the late Bishop Nathaniel “Papa” Wells Sr. and the late Bishop Nathaniel W. Wells Jr. at Community Church of God In Christ. Dorothy was a devout Christian from a young age and she eagerly devoted her life to the church and winning souls for Christ. She diligently served under the pastoral guidance of Bishop Melvin Burton at Refreshing Fountains Outreach Ministries as a church treasurer, in the choir, the kitchen committee, the children’s ministry, the mother’s board and was a well-respected prayer warrior known for her powerful prayers. She loved geography and travel! She was fortunate to have vacationed and visited various locations including: New York, Illinois, California, Minnesota, Tennessee, South Dakota, Maryland, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and a host of many more states. She was also gifted a trip to Edmonton Alberta Canada to attend her son Maurice’s professional football game as an Edmonton Eskimo.

In September of 2022, Dorothy suffered a major stroke and lost her ability to swallow. She thrived on the use of a feeding tube until additional strokes caused further complications and finally overcame her.

Dorothy leaves to celebrate her life: one sister Mildred Nelson; seven children: Melvin (Vivian) Burton, Carolyn (Norris) Fort, Terri (Willie “Troy”) Mays, Sondra (Vincent) Woods, Maurice (Jolita) Burton, Maverick Burton, and Starr (Pernell) Ridley; nineteen grandchildren: Ervin “Poncho” Eddie, April Eddie, Norris (“BJ”) Fort, Jr., Nicholas (Angel) Fort and Annamaria (Rashad) Gross; Derek (Destiny) Burton and Amber Mzuka; Willie (Chiquita) Mays, Jr., Andrea (Eric) Cross, Adrienne (Dakata) Brodie; Shawn and Kendra Woods; Marcellus (Shakinna) Burton and Imyn Burton; Diamond Burton; Renell (Quashe “Q”) Granville, Ian Sadon, Kentrell Ridley and Aaron (Ashanti) Golliday; thirty great-grandchildren; four great-great grandchildren; one god daughter Lady Sandra (Pastor Kenneth) Reed; one best friend Mae Earl and a host of extended family and friends. Also celebrating her life: our compassionate, dedicated and loving caregiver, Tawana Taylor to whom this entire family is ever so grateful for the services and love that she provided; Floyd Thomas, Sheren “Shell” Washington, Thurmis Denise “Bug” Washington and Norman Young. A special thanks to these neighbors for their tireless efforts, assistance and loyalty to the family.

Dorothy was proceeded in death by: parents Annie Mae Yancy, Perry Logan, Willie Yancy (step father), husband Phillip McCoy and former husband Hal Burton, brothers Lee Jr. and S.T. Logan, Wil Edward and Curtis (Otis) Yancy, sisters Ruby Lee Burton, Lois Evans, and Janet Tates; and one great granddaughter Ava Fort.

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