Due to the Covid-19 pandemic services had to be delayed. Services were held on June 5, 2021 in New York
and final Memorial Services were held on June 11, 2021 in Furman, South Carolina.
Maxine Beckett Pressley was born on August 23, 1942 to the late Jokie and Larcenia Beckett in Furman,
South Carolina. Maxine was the fifth oldest of 12 children born to this union.
Maxine accepted Christ at an early age in her home church, Good Hope Baptist, Estill, South Carolina.
She attended elementary and high school in South Carolina, and a few years later relocated to New
York, where she became a member of Co-Op City Baptist Church, pastored by Rev. Dr. Sheldon Williams,
serving faithfully on the senior choir, the Gospel Ensemble, a member of the Pastor's Aide and where
she served as the chef for the culinary ministry.
Maxine graduated from Apex Beauty School in New York and later became an instructor of Cosmetology
at Wilfred Academy in Brooklyn, Bronx and later in Newark, New Jersey.
She worked as a Nurse's aide at Harlem Hospital, and Lenox Hill Hospital as well as sometime doing
Private home care. She met and married Freddie Pressley to which three children were born to this
union: Adrienne, Kevin and Gail Lashonta.
Maxine leaves to cherish her memory, her children: Adrienne, Kevin and Gail Lashonta; 4 grandchildren:
Gary Dennis Jr., Denzell Dominic Dennis, Karin (Lance) Wright, Kamrin Pressley and two great
granddaughters: Kayhoni and Lundyn.
She leaves to cherish in her memory her seven surviving siblings: George (Joyce), Mary Harris, Annie
Henderson, Jeanette Jefferson (Lee Roy), Nettie (Earl) Williams, Ira Thurstine Bacon, Jokie Beckett, Jr.
(Clarice), an adopted sister Annease (Ed) Goodman. A host of church members, nieces, nephews,
relatives, and friends. She was preceded in death by four siblings: Elizabeth Beckett, Rena West,
Alphonso Beckett, and Johnnie Ruth Beckett.