Carrie Lois Dorsey

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith, Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the Righteous Judge will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who love His appearing”. — II Timothy 4:7 MOTHER CARRIE DORSEY, known to her family as “Lois McCall,” was born on July 22, 1924 to the late William Oscar and Flora McCall. Lois was the second eldest of five (5) children. Mother Dorsey “Lois” was educated in the Wilson County Public School System in North Carolina and graduated from Darden High School. After high school, the young Lois relocated to Baltimore, Maryland where she obtained employment. Mother Carrie was united in Holy Matrimony to Charles T. Dorsey. Mother Dorsey gave birth to three (3) children and raised one additional child as her own. Inthe latter of 1952, in the Providence of God and the constant “witnessing” of her dear friend, Winnie Gilliam (later Pastor), Mother Dorsey was baptized, saved and filled with the precious gift of the Holy Ghost, under the ministry of Mother Irene Montgomery and became a member of the United House of Prayer For All People Church (Independent). In the year 1959, feeling led of the Lord to depart from her then home Church with her husband and Founding Pastor, Winnie and her husband, the late Elder Ernest Gilliam, Sr., to become one of the charter members of the Saint Paul Apostolic Holiness Church, Inc. She was an active and faithful member. Sister Dorsey loved Bible study and served on the Sr. Usher Board at St. Paul. In August of 1965, Mother Dorsey transferred her membership to the First Apostolic Faith Institutional Church, then pastored by the late Honorable Bishop Winfield A. Showell. Bishop Showell, immediately put Sister Dorsey to work. She was assigned to the Missionary Board, and became a member of the Usher Board. Mother Dorsey also became a proud member of the Hospitality Guild of which she served faithfully until she became disabled. Mother Dorsey often could be found in the famous kitchen of First Apostolic helping to prepare many dinners for the saints of God. Mother Dorsey was a true local missionary. It would be difficult, if at all possible to pinpoint a time that she didn’t labor to insure that members of the Church had a ride home after Church services were complete. Often she would drive up and down Caroline and Orleans Streets and stop at bus stops to pick up saints who didn’t have an alternate way home. During the course of the year, especially during the holidays, Mother Dorsey would be found preparing food baskets with turkeys, hams, etc. for needy families. She did this at her own expense, without the need for fanfare or recognition. She regularly would visit the sick, often preparing meals and cleaning their homes. Mother Dorsey said, “I am determined not to be a missionary in name or word only”. For Sister Carrie being a missionary and being Christian were synonymous. Mother Dorsey loved her natural and Church family. She loved entertaining and cooking for so many. Often family would travel through and/to Baltimore and stop at her house 1, 2 or 3 a.m. and she would awaken and cook them a meal and make them a bed. Mother Dorsey was afforded, as a result of hard work and knowing well how to save money, to travel the world. Some of the places that she was able to visit were: Paradise Island, Bahamas, the Holy City of Jerusalem in Israel, the continent of Europe, etc. On July 20, 2013, Mother Carrie Lois Dorsey ended a lengthy period of physical suffering and struggle. She departed this life to be ever present with her Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ! Mother Dorsey was preceded in death by: her parents, W. Oscar and Flora McCall; her only biological son, Charles Dorsey, Jr.; her only sister, First Lady Louise D. Cooper; her beloved husband, Charles T. Dorsey; her firstborn child, Cynthia McCall Bannister. Mother Dorsey was also preceded in death by: two of her brothers, William Frank McCall and Henry B. McCall; one sister-in-law, M. Lucille McCall; and one brother-in-law, Bishop John Cooper. Mother Dorsey leaves to cherish her memory and legacy of service: two children, her beloved daughter, Shirley Ann Wilson (Sylvestor) and son, Archbishop Vincent McCall, Sr.; her youngest brother, Carthage McCall (Margaret); eight (8) grandchildren, fifteen (15) great-grandchildren, seven (8) great-great-grandchildren; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, family and friends. Mother Dorsey had many, many special friends in her life over the years, however we make honorable mention of a few: a special daughter-in-law, Ms. Viola McCall; a dear friend, Sis. Doris Cash; three dear neighbors, Mother Catherine Smith, Mr. Vincent F. Johnson, Sr. and Ms. Nona Jenkins; Mother Dorsey’s care providers, daughter, Shirley Ann Wilson; assisted by some grandchildren, Michele R. Wilson, Brittany S. Williams, Nathaniel Blue, Jr. and Isiah B. Wilson.

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Carrie Lois Dorsey

July 22, 1924 - July 20, 2013