Sunday October 6th 2019
Rev. Luvenia King McLean was born on August 11, 1928. She is firstborn as a twin to her sister Lugenia (Reed) Collier, from the union of Ida and Herbert Reed in Philadelphia, PA. Before she turned two years of age, her mother and newborn brother passed away from a difficult pregnancy and Rev. McLean and her twin sister were raised by their grandparents, Anderson and Ellen Collier in Greenwood, SC. Rev. Mclean had an extremely tenacious drive for education, which she believed was her vehicle to living her best life. At the age of fifteen, both Luvenia and her twin sister made a courageous decision to relocate from Greenwood, SC to Atlanta, GA in pursuit of higher education and a career in nursing. They embarked on this journey with meager provisions and she stated many nights they only had a candy bar to share between the two of them for dinner. In 1946 she wed William King, an Enlisted Sailor in the U.S. Navy. The newlyweds settled in Washington, DC and from their union they birthed three daughters and one son, Barbara, Doris, William and Giselle. Being a young, married mother did not dampen her dreams but fueled her motivation to excel in order to offer her children a life that exceeded mediocrity. While living in Washington, DC, she earned her Diploma as a Licensed Practical Nurse. In 1957 Rev. McLean made a purposeful decision to move to Boston, MA. She strongly believed that Boston was the mecca of education and medicine and she desired to be in an environment where she could continue to thrive in education and occupation. Shortly after her arrival, Rev. McLean teamed up with her 2 sisters, Lugenia and Otelia to purchased a three-family home together where they could maintain an internal support system to assist each other while raising their children and pursue their career goals. This home was centered around love and strong family values. Caring and sharing was the vibrant model and no sister would allow the other to lack in any way. There was always more than enough. Their property made a notable statement on their street and in their neighborhood for the beautiful pink roses bushes that bloomed in the front yard seasonally. Confident that Boston would be her permanent residence, Rev. McLean began her search for a spiritual home to worship. She loved God and was determined to raise her children in fervent reverence of the Lord. Her searched ended in the early 1960’s when she joined the Historic Charles Street A.M.E. Church under the extraordinary leadership of Rev. Walter C. Davis. This decision was inspired by her spiritual upbringing in Greenwood, SC at Old Field Bethel A.M.E. Church. Her grandfather, Anderson Collier, served in the office of Deacon and worked on the construction of the edifice that is still standing to date. With her spiritual and maternal priorities in place, Rev. McLean ambitiously aimed higher and earned an Associate’s Degree in Nursing at North Shore Community College, a Bachelor of Science Degree in Sociology and a Master of Arts Degree in Human, both, from New Hampshire College. She would always impress upon her children and grandchildren that education was the key to opening the doors of success. She has an extensive history working in various Boston area hospitals and nursing homes, which include Boston State Hospital as a Nursing Supervisor of the Medical Surgical Unit/D-Building, Assistant Director of Resthaven’s Nursing Home, the Visiting Nurses Association and as a Private Duty Nurse for patients at the former Peter Bent Brigham Hospital and the Massachusetts General Hospital/Philips House. In 1978, Rev. McLean married Francis D. Mclean. He and his twin brother Frederick McLean where the first African American Patrolmen on the Boston Police Department. Both brothers served the City of Boston honorably and retired as detectives. Rev. McLean traveled extensively with her husband; she was particularly fond of their visits to the U.S. Virgin Islands. In addition to traveling with her husband, she faithfully traveled to Greenwood, SC every year for the family reunion and to various states throughout U.S. to visit her family. In the early 1990’s when it would seem that Rev. McLean would plan to retire, her vitality and motivation continued to soar. Defying social stigmas regarding age, she became a foster grandparent to both Isaiah Fletcher and later, Anthony Rice; she enrolled in Harvard University Extension School with the intention of earning a doctoral degree and writing an autobiography; and she enrolled in seminary after answering her call to ministry. Her favorite hymn was, “I Decided To Make Jesus My Choice.” With her plate full and the benchmarks set far beyond normal reach, Rev. McLean completed seminary and was ordained Deacon, then Elder and remained assigned to the Historic Charles Street A.M.E. Church under the Pastoral Leadership of Rev. Mickarl D. Thomas, Sr. She founded the Our Space and Our Time Senior’s Ministry that has continued to serve the seasoned members of the church. Rev. Luvenia King McLean loved God, her family and her church family without measure or condition. She was an advocate for children and seniors. Very rarely did you see her without her grands or great grands. She cared for her Isaiah, Anthony and elderly patients well into her early eighties. On early Sunday morning, October 6, 2019, at the age of 91, Rev. McLean was peacefully called to her heavenly home at her residence. Affectionally known as “Nana, Aunt Tiny and Rev. Lu” she will be deeply missed by her firstborn daughter, Rev. Barbara abdurRaheem and son-in-law, Imam K. Awwal abdurRaheem, her firstborn grandchild Rev. Dr. Robin A. Smith (Troy), her grandsons: Roland M. Meadows, Jr. (Darlene), Ronald A. Meadows, Reginald Meadows (Family), Shawn R. King (Kyanna), Idris abdurRaheem (Shelita), Joseph King, Isaiah Fletcher and Anthony Rice; her brother Reginald Collier of Alexandria, VA; her niece Betty Nolan and nephew-in-law, Dr. James A. Nolan, her nieces: Gwendolyn Perry and Mallerrie McCoy, son-in-law, Anthony R. Lawson and a host of great grands, great-great grands, nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and her church family. She is preceded by he husband Francis D. McLean, her twin sister Lugenia Collier and her sister Otelia Collier, her brothers George David Collier and James Collier, her daughters, Giselle E. Lawson, Doris R. King; grandson Ramone A. Meadows and granddaughter Leta M. Lawson and great grandson Devin D. Johnson. God blessed Rev. McLean to live to see four generations and to be loved by many. Read Less To send flowers in memory of Reverend Luvenia King McLean, please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store. Afficher cette page en : Français Traduire Désactiver pour : Anglais Options ▼
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Reverend Luvenia King McLean Sunday October 6th 2019.
Death notice for the town of: Dorchester, state: Massachusetts