Lucretia Cecilia Horne McDonald

Lucretia Cecilia Horne McDonald was born Jan. 5, 1939, in Blytheville, to Cecil V. Horne and Annie Cora Hill Horne.

Preceding her in death include her parents, her sisters Eula Spivey, Carolyn Horne, and Gwendolyn Horne to whom she referred to as her “beloveds”. Also her husband, Lavester, Sr., and son, Lavester, Jr., precede her in death.

Lucretia was a graduate of Richard B. Harrison High School and Hampton University, Hampton, Vir. As an adolescent she attended Palmer Finishing School, graduating from high school at the early age of 16 and off to college at Hampton over 900 miles from home.

Upon her return to Blytheville, Lucretia became a schoolteacher, touching the lives of many for over 30 years. Though teaching was her job, being a funeral director was her passion. Regarding her passion, she often said, “When you love what you do, it is no longer a job, it is your lifestyle.”

Lavester McDonald, Sr. and Lucretia Horne were married on June 5, 1960, and from this union, sons Lavester, Jr. and Cecil Vernell were born. Lucretia loved her family dearly. She even expressed that her goal was to ensure that everyone felt that they were “her favorite”.

Mrs. Mac, as she was affectionately called by many, has been an awesome pillar and historian to our community as well as a dear friend and servant. She will truly be missed. Her hobbies were reading, especially the King James Version of the Old Testament, playing cards, hosting gatherings, and playing Scrabble and other board games. She also enjoyed baking cakes and sharing them with her friends.

She leaves to cherish her memory one son, Cecil McDonald (Dr. Christine Holt) of Blytheville;one daughter-in-law, Janet McDonald of Blytheville; four granddaughters, Katryse McDonald and Kandace McDonald of Blytheville, Michelle McDonald of Little Rock, and Cecilia McDonald of Desert Hot Springs, Calif.; two great-granddaughters, Kendah McDonald and Aeryse Burton, both of Blytheville; one great-grandson, Lavester Burton of Blytheville; one niece, Tina Green of Atlanta, a devoted family friend Jaqueline Burton, a son Timothy Wilson, her life-long best friend Maxine Ford all of Blytheville; cousins from Chicago, Illinois, and Carthage, Arkansas, family from Poplar Bluff, Mo., her Kuykendall family, and a host of other relatives and friends.

The family will receive friends Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2023, from 1-4 p.m. at McDonald-Horne Funeral Home, 1207 South Division Street, Blytheville, and from 5-7 p.m. at Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church 809 East Main Street, Blytheville.

Funeral services will be conducted Thursday, Aug. 10, at noon at First Missionary Baptist Church, 600 East McHaney Street, Blytheville where Reverend Odale Jones is the pastor. Superintendent Johnny L. Moore will deliver the eulogy with services of committal and entombment in the Mausoleum at Dogwood Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the McDonald family is requesting that charitable gifts are made in her memory and honor to the American Red Cross or the charity of the donor’s choice.

Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.mhfuneralhomeinc. or visit us on Facebook at McDonald-Horne Funeral Home.

McDonald-Horne Funeral is in charge of all services and arrangements.