[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 16]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 22105]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORING REVEREND ANNABELLE McKUNE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. YVETTE D. CLARKE

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 17, 2009

  Ms. CLARKE. Madam Speaker, Reverend Annabelle McKune was born in 
Brooklyn, New York on November 16th, 1924. The youngest of Francinia 
and Joseph Stanley's six children, she and her siblings Elizabeth, 
Louise, Eleanora, Vivian and Joseph, Jr. were raised with strong 
Christian values at Evening Star Baptist church. Reverend McKune was 
educated in Brooklyn Public Schools attending P.S. 25, P.S. 3 and 
graduating from Sarah J. Hale High School.
  Her appreciation of music and dance led to her meeting her first 
husband, the late Micah Diego Chandler at the Savoy Ballroom. They were 
married in 1941 and the union produced two sons, the late Micah Diego 
Jr., and Paul Fitzgerald Chandler. Known for her strong work ethic, 
commitment and tender touch, Reverend McKune worked at several city 
hospitals, including Baptist Medical Center.
  She met her second husband, Reverend Earl McKune at West Baptist 
Church were they both served as deacons. They were married in 1952 and 
together, they went on to found Christ Memorial, St. Marks Baptist 
Church and Fellowship Baptist Church. Following her calling, she became 
an Evangelist, and later, became the first woman ordained at Fellowship 
Baptist Church.
  After 48 years of marriage, Reverend Earl McKune passed and although 
she remained a faithful member of Brooklyn's Fellowship Baptist church, 
she relocated to Florida in August 2008 and served as an Elder in New 
Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Florida.
  Annabelle returned to New York in June 2009 and passed on the morning 
of August 1st, 2009. She will be remembered as a visionary who believed 
deeply in her work in the ministry. Her family and friends will 
remember her great culinary skills, her sense of style, her willingness 
to listen and her quick wit. Her legacy will live on through her 
children Donna, Sylvia, Eartha Lee, William, Bobby, Cynthia, Valerie, 
Yvonne, Jeffery and his wife Patricia and Paul and his wife Gloria. She 
is also survived by 14 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren, a host of 
loving god-children and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

                          ____________________