The Life of Michael Macon
Michael Gunsalla Macon
Life Story
Michael G. Macon was born on June 22, 1976, 4:19am at the Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Mr. Gunsalla Macon and Mrs. Florence Beatrice Grimes Macon. Michael was the second oldest of their four children. He was a spirited, loving, and funny child. He loved to play with his cousins and lots of toys. Legos, Tonka trucks, Tinker toys, GI Joe Men and Hot Wheels Race Cars were among the toys he most often enjoyed as a small child. Michael also loved music and made his own drum set out of pots and cans and would play them in the garage for the whole neighborhood to hear.
Within the School District of Philadelphia Michael attended Pennypacker Elementary School, Samson Freeman Middle School and Martin Luther King High School for ninth grade. His parents decided it would be more opportunities educationally outside of Philadelphia. Michael’s Uncle Daniel and Aunt Brenda welcomed him to live with them in Linglestown, PA where he graduated from Central Dauphin East High School in 1994. He played baseball, football and was a part of a district-wide art design program where he won an award for the best drawing and designs in a National Competition. While in High School, Michael made many friends including Mr. Joe Stretch whom he lived with for some time as an adult. Michael moved back to Philadelphia and attended Philadelphia Community College for two years. He then went on to Lincoln Tech and earned a certificate in Computer Programming. One of his first jobs was working for Breyer’s Ice Cream with his father. He also worked as a cook at Friendly’s for a short time. In his twenties he began working full time for Sloan Nissan and Devon Nissan and stayed in that industry for ten years. Sadly, in July 1999, Michael was hit by gunfire and suffered severe damage to his leg but the Lord spared his life on the request of his mother’s prayer minutes before the incident. After physically healing from that incident Michael continued working for Sloane Nissan. As Michael grew older, memories of the tragic incident bothered him and his leg began to cause him pain, which grew worse in time. Holding several jobs in sales, Michael’s physical pain and complications from his injuries limited his ability to work.
Michael loved his family and made sure he told them all the time that he loved them. Even when others looked down on him, Michael always found something nice to say and would give people anything he had. In the West Oak Lane Community, Michael was known as a nice guy who never bothered anybody. He always was willing to lend a helping hand to anyone who needed it. Many times he gave things that he didn’t really have to give. Michael always told people close to him, “I love you”.
Michael was raised in Diamond Street Mennonite Church and accepted Jesus Christ at a young age. He always loved listening to his mother sing on the choir, especially the song, “When All God’s Children”. As a young adult he rededicated his life to Jesus Christ at his sister Corinne’s trial sermon at Gospel Tabernacle in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. In 2012 he joined Flourish Holistic Worship Center where his cousin, Overseer Florenna C. Douglas is the Pastor and his sister, Dr. Corinne Macon-Linus is the Executive Pastor. Michael loved the Lord and was not ashamed to let his light shine in the midst of his circumstance. Less than two weeks prior to his death, during testimony service, Michael wanted to sing a song that he loved since childhood. Everyone knew Michael does not usually sing solos, but he tried that Sunday smiling from ear to ear. Michael began to sing “Tell Me Who’s Side Are You Leaning On? Leaning on the Lord’s Side”. It was as if Michael’s soul was jumping for joy because he knew he was on the Lord’s side. Tuesday, just two days prior to his death, Michael came downstairs reading Psalms 23 to his mother, repeating, “Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil”. Michael knew that his life was secure in the Lord’s hands. The enemy sought to take his life on Thursday, March 3, 2016 not knowing that this would cause Michael to mercifully transition from suffering on earth to Peace and Joy with the Lord Jesus Christ. In an instant, Michael transitioned to Glory! We who are left behind thank God for the 39 years we had with Michael.
Michael Gunsalla Macon was preceded in death by his Grandparents, Asa Leroy Grimes Sr., Florence Corinne Grimes-Gaskins, and Mildred Frankie Mae Macon. His memory will live on in the hearts of his parents, Gunsalla Macon and Florence Beatrice Macon, his siblings, Corinne Macon-Linus (Godwin), Katrina Pollard (Paul), and Joseph Macon; His grandfather Willie Macon (Eunice), his godmother Margaret Allen, his great aunt Barbara Baynard (Charles) and his aunts, uncles and first cousins; Barbara and Laurence Bell, Herman (Cynthia), Florenna, Mamie, Asa Jr. and Vera Grimes, Gasa (Eugene), Jeanna (Jeffrey), Daniel and Brenda Grimes, Charity (Matthew), Seth, Emily, Evan Asa, Verona Brown, Tameka, Bryan, Alicia Faison, Janelle, Perry, Paula (Jamal) Brown, Janiyah, Jasmine along with the rest of the Grimes, Baynard, Macon and Bennefield families. He will also be missed by a host of friends.