With profound sadness, we announce the passing of Mother Mattie Bell Dunkerson, born on April 6, 1930, in Alabama, who departed this life on July 20, 2024, in Texas. Mattie was a loving, caring, and kind woman of God, known for her generosity and preference for intimate, one-on-one interactions over large gatherings.

Mattie's life was a testament to her deep faith and commitment to caring for others. She taught us to center our lives around God, step out in faith, and trust in the Divine for the impossible.

Mattie was born to Norman Lee Jackson, a master carpenter and beloved school worker, and Emma Jackson, a family caregiver. Her father passed away when she was just 8 years old, a loss that profoundly impacted her. As a young girl, Mattie enjoyed activities like jumping rope, braiding hair, listening to music, and playing basketball.

At 15, Mattie moved from Alabama to New York to live with and help her older sister, Fannie. Despite dropping out of high school to make this move, she later completed her GED in her 70s, showcasing her determination and resilience. She took on several odd jobs in New York to make ends meet and, at some point, decided to enroll in catering classes. She launched a catering business that grew by word of mouth, serving a broad clientele from the Hampton crowd to theater district celebrities and New Jersey socialites.

Mattie married Bishop Harold Dunkerson Sr. (deceased), the love of her life. They built a lovely home in Queens, New York, that became a gathering place for family, friends, and the community. Together, they launched several successful businesses, from flipping commercial real estate properties to owning and operating stores and laundromats and even becoming one of the first Black-owned companies contracted by the City of New York.

During this time, Mattie was part of a traveling ministry group. She was the lead singer and was often asked to speak and teach at tent revivals, women and youth retreats, and church conferences. She had a beautiful voice, played the piano by ear, and was known to bring a powerful word of God when she spoke. She was also a woman of great prayer and someone people often sought out for her counsel and guidance.

Mattie and Harold shifted their focus to not-for-profit ventures, establishing the Church of the First Born and leading mission activities in Sierra Leone, Ghana, Jamaica, and South Queens as they grew older. They set up a food pantry program to help supplement the community's needs and provide nourishment to at-risk families. Mattie ministered to missionaries and lay leaders within the local church community, earning her the affectionate titles of "Mother" and "Grandma" from many. She also deeply loved children and raised several kids both through and outside the foster care system. Grandma was often a beacon for young people, offering them hope, guidance, and support.

Mattie was deeply committed to putting God first and anchoring her life in scripture. Her great prayer was to see her family saved. This obituary also reminds us to take stock of our relationship with God. In honor of Mother Dunkerson, let us examine where we are and determine if we need to make things right with God, fulfilling her legacy of faith and dedication.

After Harold passed in 2003, Mattie moved to Texas with her great-grandson Trevon to live with her granddaughter Tessa and her husband. During this time, she welcomed the birth of her great-grandson Joseph, a joyful addition to the family. In 2011, she moved back to New York before returning to Texas in 2014 to recover from a stroke and traumatic brain injury. A week before her 94th birthday, Mattie fell and broke her hip and elbow, resulting in two major surgeries. She experienced a stroke during surgery, and the subsequent complications from the stroke and the physical therapy demands from the surgery were too much for her to overcome. Mattie eventually passed away peacefully to be with the Lord.

She leaves behind her daughters, Glenda and Gloria; her son Alphonso; her grandchildren, Tessa, Byron, Tiffany, Yolanda, Christina, Christopher, Starlena, Joshua, Skyler, and Aliasia; a brood of great-grandchildren and her first great-great-grandson, plus extended family and friends. Mattie’s legacy is also cherished by Tessa’s husband, Akoaya, and his family, who loved and supported Grandma, frequently visiting and spending time with her, creating a nurturing community around her while she lived in Texas.

Mattie’s legacy is one of kindness, generosity, and love. She lived a rich and fulfilling life that impacted those around her immensely. Her presence will be deeply missed, and her life is a wonderful model for us to celebrate.

Mattie's memorial will be held on August 3, 2024, in Arlington, Texas, at Moore Bowen Road Funeral Home at 6pm. A viewing and funeral will follow on August 8, 2024, at Paul Lane Funeral Home, Inc. in Queens, New York. She will then be interred at Calverton National Cemetery, resting alongside her beloved husband, Harold.

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