Angela M. Freeman

Angela Marie McBride Freeman Angie - Our Queen - The Angelic One “Her children arise and call her blessed” Proverbs 31:28a. Angela Marie McBride Freeman, the family matriarch, Queen Mother, Grandmother, Sister, Aunt, and Virtuous Woman of God whose faith never wavered, knew the Lord was with her as she fought a good fight battling pancreatic cancer. Early Sunday August 13 while sleeping peacefully our Queen Mother surrounded by her children received notice from God that her mansion was ready, and it was time for her to come home, she had won the battle and her reward is eternal life in Christ. Angela was born on November 17, 1950, in Birmingham AL to the late Miller McBride and Lilie Belle Brothers McBride. At age 5 she moved to Chester PA with her parents and big brother Rick. She was educated in the Chester Upland School District. As a teenager Angie (as she was affectionately known by everyone), met the Late John W. Freeman Sr. and on July 20, 1968, the two married; from this union came JoeWana, Lisa, John William Jr, John Lamar, and Jamar. Angie dedicated her life to taking care of her family, friends and serving the community. She was a wife, mother, and caregiver, who loved and cared for anyone who needed it. Throughout her adult life, many family members and friends called her home their home. While raising her two toddler daughters she was also the caregiver for her mother until her passing in 1973. Angie always wanted a big family and God blessed her with the desires of her heart in the early nineties. In addition to her children, her nieces Shareaka and Amerra, and her nephews Robert and Marquis, she went from Aunt Angie to their second mother after the passing of her sister Vanessa and family friend Theresa. She was now a single parent of 6. Her capacity to love children never stopped growing. In addition to her expanded family, in 2005 she was also a foster parent for her nieces Karissa and Kaniyah while she again served as the full-time caregiver for her father until his death, on December 28, 2005. Angie loved her children and though she left school after completing the 11th grade to become a wife and mother, she knew the benefits of education. Not only did she preach the importance of education, but she demonstrated it when she returned to the classroom earning her GED and graduating with her children Shareaka, John, and Marquis in 1995. She vowed and made sure that every child who lived in her home would at least finish high school. All 6 of her children graduated high school including her nephew Rahmir, who lived with her during his senior year. Angie entered the workforce after 11 years of being a full-time homemaker, caregiver, church and community volunteer. She began her career as a CNA at Wallingford Rehabilitation Center from 1979-1984, in 1985 she accepted positions in Environmental Services at Swarthmore College where she worked in various positions from Housekeeper to Forman until 2005. After leaving the workforce in 2005 to care for her father, Angie returned to work in 2006 at CareLink Community Support Services -Torrey House as Client Caregiver / Counselor for over 15 years. She retired from full-time employment but continued to work as a PRN until her health forced her to retire completely in 2022. With each job, she made many lifelong connections. Angie remained friends with numerous coworkers from each company. Many of whom became not just friends but extended family members. Angie’s loves are Jesus, Food, Family, Shopping, and Traveling. Upon moving to Chester her family joined Faith Tabernacle Church under the leadership of the late Pastor Margaret Wortham. Angie loved the Lord, and she accepted Jesus Christ as her personal savior as a child. As an adult, she began her search for a church home for her family. She and her family attended Murphy AME Church with her dear friend the late Joan Shavers for a few years. Although she never joined, she and her daughter JoeWana were ushers at Murphy AME. In 1981, she joined her father Deacon McBride at Saint Paul Church of God in Christ under the leadership of the late Bishop Clarence Lewis now under the leadership of Superintendent Thurston Jones. Sister Angie has been a faithful member of St Paul COGIC for over 42 years. She and her father were pillars of the church. For many years she and her dad recruited all his children and grandchildren as members of St. Paul over half of the congregation was Deacon McBride’s children and grandchildren for many years. Angie also recruited many of her in-laws the Freeman and Stringfield family as members of the Saint Paul during the early years of her membership at St. Paul under Elder Lewis’ leadership. Angie has served in many areas of ministry as a choir member, usher, member of the kitchen staff, and on the Pastoral Aide Committee to Elder Lewis. For many years she has been president of the usher board of her church and a member of the Chester Vicinity Ushers. Lastly, she faithfully served as a trustee until her health forced her to move to Delaware with her daughter in June 2023. Even during her yearlong battle with Pancreatic Cancer Angie never stopped serving God, her family, her church, and her community. She lived her life in love and faith she will be remembered as a Woman of Faith (Provers 31:30). Angie loved to eat; food made her happy, and seafood (shrimp) was her favorite. At every family function, she had to make her delicious potato salad or macaroni seafood salad. Red Lobster’s Shrimp Fest is the Queen's favorite meal. Every year when it was time for Shrimp Fest, she is there at least 3 times with JoeWana, with Shareaka, and with John, respectively. She said she went so much because she didn’t want to play favorites 😉 we know it was for the food. Every year for her birthday and all family gatherings a big dinner was served with multiple main dishes. Angie celebrated life and all accomplishments big and small. She attended every family & friends’ birthday celebrations, graduations, weddings, etcetera. Most celebrations included her children, grandchildren, her sister Dessa and her children Rahmir, Chonte, Latoria, Rahneir, and their families, as well as other family and friends. Angie enjoyed traveling with her family. There were many family vacations to Florida, weekend getaways to surrounding area beaches, and many trips to New York City and Alabama to visit her family. All trips included shopping and eating, there were at least 2 trips to the local 5&10 store and later Walmart every time. We always found the best restaurants and/or buffets in the area. Angie and JoeWana took many mother-daughter vacations. On their last vacation in Hawaii, Angie made JoeWana take her to the Walmart in Maui. The Luau that she and JoeWana attended was the ultimate buffet with entertainment. At all the COGIC events Shareaka and John were often right by her side; these trips were about Worshiping the Lord and finding the best food. She has a collection of t-shirts and hoodies representing her travels. She had to buy at least one t-shirt or hoodie per vacation/getaway. For many of the surrounding beaches 2 or more t-shirts/hoodies. To her girls JoeWana and Shareaka she was their faithful plus one. For Shareaka she was her shopping and church events partner. For JoeWana she was her concert/play partner & ride-a-long to the newest location. Angie was always on the go hanging out with all her children, family, and friends. She made individual time for all her children spoiling all 6 of them in some way. She lived her life to the fullest conquering all of life’s challenges by faith. She will always be our Proverbs 31 - Virtuous Woman. Angie was proceeded in death by her parents Lilly Belle Brothers McBride, and Miller McBride, and her children Lisa, John William Jr., and Jamar, Grandmother Willie Mae McBride Temple and Aunt Margaret McBride Brewton, brothers Rick McBride, Christopher McBride, and Jerome “Tony” King, sister and best friend Vanessa McBride Douglass and the family pet Bear. Angie leaves to cherish her memory her children JoeWana Freeman, John L Freeman, Robert Forney, Shareaka Douglass, Marquis Forney, Amerra Douglass, and her bonus daughter Rochelle Freeman. Nine grandchildren Sabrina, Vanessa Michelle, Briana, Vera, Alex, Leah, Shamer, Marquis Jr, Vanessa Shamera, and one great-granddaughter Nalani. One brother Micheal Collier (Vanessa), and two sisters Frandessa McBride White (Daryl) and Emily Freeman Durham (Marshall) of Chester. One Uncle James Clarence, one Aunt Mary Bell Horton, her companion Thomas Billups, special sons of the heart William Daniel McKenzie, Eric Whitaker, and Eric Freeman. Godchildren Michelle Todd Primeaux, Levette Keisha Todd, Steven Jones, and Lahneir McBride. A host of nieces, nephews, cousins, the Saint Paul COGIC family, and a circle of friends.

Angela M. Freeman

November 17, 1950 - August 13, 2023