Margie L. Downing

Trustee Margie Downing was born in Chesterfield, South Carolina on November 20, 1944 to the late James T. Ratliff and Mother Juanita Myers Ratliff. To this union were born twelve (12) children; Margie was the eldest of the twelve. Margie was married to the late Franklin Roosevelt Downing, Sr. for forty-four years until his death on December 10, 2006. From that union five boys were born, which yielded fifteen grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Margie was a resident of New Haven, Connecticut. She graduated from James Hillhouse High School. She worked at Bradley Coat Factory, Southern New England Telephone Company for twenty-seven years until retirement and resumed employment at Marlin Firearms as an Accounts Payable Clerk for twelve years until it closed. She was an avid attendee of Gateway Community College, where she took piano lessons and keyboarding classes. Margie has been a lifelong active member of Faith Baptist Church of West Haven, Inc. a/k/a Faith Missionary Baptist Church in West Haven, CT. In her years at Faith she was a faithful Usher, who held positions as the secretary and treasurer and later in her life she became the President of the Usher Board. She was also the assistant secretary of the New Haven Ushers Unit. She was a member of the Trustee Board Ministry, Flower Club, Missionary Society, a Bible Scholar, and she attended the Young Baptist Training Unit (YBTU). She was also the President of the Pastor’s Aide Ministry for many years. Margie leaves to mourn five sons: Franklin Roosevelt, Jr. (Woodrina), Kevin, Gregory, Michael and Joseph Downing; fifteen grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, nine sisters; Rev Margaret Glover (late James), Elder Mae Jordan (late Parnell), Nina Williams, Cheryl Thompson (Tony), Denise LaBoone (Jimmy), Vera Ratliff, Geraldine Sonia (Jerome), Patricia Weaver (late Lenny), Sylvia Hagans and two brothers: James “Rat” C. Ratliff (late Bonnie) and Deacon Jesse James Ratliff (Yolanda); two Sisters-In-Law and four Brothers-In-Law; and a God-daughter, Wanda Crudup. She also leaves a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, her best friend Beatrice Pitter, her Church family and other friends. She was predeceased by three sisters-in-law, seven brothers-in-law and her Mother and Father-In-Law (Lola & John Frank Downing).

Margie L. Downing

November 20, 1944 - September 29, 2016