Pastor Joe Ann McCray

Joe Ann Sindab McCray, 78, formerly of Bucksport, South Carolina, peacefully entered eternal rest on November 28, 2024. Born on February 22, 1946, to Alma and Willie Sindab, she lived a life devoted to faith, family, and service.

Joe Ann embraced her faith early in life, becoming a devoted member of Salem AME Church. She graduated from Whitemore High School in 1962, laying the foundation for a life marked by wisdom, service, and love. On November 26, 1965, she married her high school sweetheart, Lynn McCray, embarking on a beautiful journey of love and partnership that spanned decades.

Among her many roles, Joe Ann’s most treasured and celebrated was motherhood. Together with Lynn, she opened her heart and home to over 100 foster children, nurturing them with kindness and unwavering support. Her compassion extended beyond her family, as she also operated a successful home-based daycare, providing a safe and loving environment for countless children.

Joe Ann was a beacon of strength and versatility, pursuing many paths in her lifetime. She earned an associate’s degree in paralegal studies, attended Barber College, and was ordained as a minister. As the founder and pastor of Living Word Deliverance Church in Bucksport, she spread hope and faith throughout her community.

An accomplished author, Joe Ann shared her wisdom and experiences through a collection of books, including Miracles Never Cease and On the Outside Looking In. Her words continue to inspire and uplift, a testament to er enduring legacy.

Joe Ann’s home was a haven not only for foster children but also for family and friends in nee of refuge, comfort, and love. Her life was a living example of selflessness, faith, and an unwavering belief in the power of love and community.

Joe Ann was preceded in death by her son Gregory, her parents Willie and Alma, and her siblings Eugene, Joe, Ambrilla, and Mildred. James, and Willie Jr. She leaves behind her devoted husband of 59 years, Lynn McCray; two beloved sons, Kevin McCray and Jermaine McCray; sisters-in-law, Brenda (Lonnie) Murphy, Denise McCray, Jackie Hunt, Lydia Anderson, Josephine McCray, Elizabeth Sindab, and Jackie Frazier; one brother-in-law, Joe McCray; six cherished grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren, all of whom were the light of her life. Her legacy of love and faith will continue to live on through them.

Joe Ann will forever be remembered for her boundless generosity, her nurturing spirit, and her deep commitment to serving others. Though she has departed from this earthly realm, her memory will live on in the hearts of those who were blessed to know and love her.

Funeral Services will be held at 12:00 Noon on Saturday, December 7, 2024, at Salem AME Church.  Interment will follow in the Bucksport Community Cemetery.  There will be a viewing from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM on Friday, December 6, 2024, at Ocean View Funeral Home and Beach Crematory, Conway Chapel.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Pastor Joe Ann McCray, please visit our floral store.