Alice Mae McCrimmon, born Alice Lee Toomer, affectionately known as Mother Alice McCrimmon was born in Robeson County, North Carolina to Fred Toomer and Roseanna Bowens on January 28, 1921.
Alice accepted Christ at an early age at the Williams Chapel Baptist Church where her uncle served as a deacon and her aunt was on the mother’s board. She also sang on the choir. Her Uncle Essex said “Alice is different and he could see the hand of God on her life.” Alice was a great blessing to her family. Her family loved and respected her until her death.
While attending the broadcast at The Temple Church Of God In Christ she experienced the Holy Spirit and it changed her life. Shortly thereafter she joined the church under the leadership of the late Bishop Samuel Kelsey.
Years later she rekindled a friendship with Daniel H. McCrimmon, Sr. and they married on August 12, 1955. To this union was born Daniel (Danny) and Quentin (Ricky).
In 1958, Bishop Kelsey, called the saints to a month of prayer. It was during these weeks that Alice McCrimmon and many others received the higher calling of God referred to by many as another “Azusa Street” revival.
Bishop Kelsey and many local pastors called on Evangelist McCrimmon to conduct many revivals and prayer meetings. Many pastors credit her travail in prayer as key to the establishment and growth of their ministry. She yearned to see souls saved, delivered and healed. Evangelist McCrimmon was appointed to many positions at The Temple: Sick Committee, Youth Leader, Prayer Warriors, State Missionary President, Elect Lady of the Evangelist Department and many others. She sang on the Intermediate Chorus and Mass Choir and was often called upon to lead a fiery selection, such as “Christ Is All.”
After 45 years of ministry at Kelsey Temple, Mother McCrimmon joined her son, Pastor Rick in ministry at the birthing of Capital Temple. The first service was held at the home of Dad and Mother McCrimmon in December 1987. She served as the church mother under her son, Pastor Rick until his transition and continued to serve under her son Pastor Danny and daughter-in-law, Pastor Jayme. In and around the city Mother was known for witnessing on the bus, at the mall and at various restaurants that she frequented. She strived to live by the motto: “If I can help somebody as I pass along…then my living will not be in vain.”
She leaves to cherish her memories and carry on her legacy, her devoted son, Daniel (Danny) McCrimmon, Jr. (Jayme); sisters, Maxie Bobbitt, Lillie Minor, Dorothy Hopkins, Bettie Hall; brothers, Charles Bowens, David Bowens, James Bowens; grandchildren, Jerita Knight, DeJuan (Celeste) McCrimmon, Crystal McCrimmon and Daniel McCrimmon, III and great grandchildren, Jazsmine and Cearra Anderson, Dillon and Collin McCrimmon and Dawson McCrimmon and a host of niece and nephews and the Capital Temple Church family.
“I can be happy or I can be sad; I choose to be happy…” Mother McCrimmon
You can find Mother McCrimmon singing “Traveling Shoes” on “The Bit of the Temple” with her son, the late Elder Ricky McCrimmon’s, project “A Friend Unfailing”. Check it out below.
