Minister Mahalie A. Leftridge Obituary (1952

Minister Mahalie Leftridge Went home to be with the Lord on October 13, 2019. A public visitation will be held Friday October 25, starting at 10 am; family present to greet friends from 5-7 pm at Henderson's. Funeral services will be held at 1pm Saturday, October 26th, 2019 at Union Baptist Church. Interment to follow at Restvale Cemetery in Chicago. Mahalie Ann Leftridge, the daughter of the late Reverend William Henry Billups Sr. and Joe Willa Billups was born on May 16, 1952 in Chicago, IL. She received her education at James Harvey Bowen High School in Chicago, IL. After graduation in 1970, she attended the University of Illinois. In 1991, she received a certification and license in Cosmetology from the Iowa School of Beauty. Mahalie attended Drake SBA Business Program, where she received a Targeted Small Business certification. She was also employed at Bankers Trust. Mahalie was a born entrepreneur. She established, owned and managed Mahalie Leftridge Enterprises, L.L.C. in Des *Moines from 1999 until January 12, 2019 when she retired. It was a Christian atmosphere where she trained and mentored others. She was encouraging, supportive, creative, artistic, nurturing and elegant. Her smile lit up a room and her intellect moved you to action. You could not be with her and stand still. On June 11, 1972 Mahalie married David Milton Leftridge. To this union one child was born. Dianna was the love of their lives and they doted on her. The first priority in Mahalies life was serving God. She served the Greater New Providence Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of her father, Reverend William H. Billups Sr., in Chicago, IL. On September 8, 1982, she joined Union Baptist Church in Des Moines, IA under the leadership of Reverend Dr. Henry I. Thomas. She was active on the Praise Team and Anniversary Committee. God called her into the ministry and she was licensed by Kingsway Fellowship International Ministries of Des Moines in 2009. As God enlarged her territory, she went to assist Reverend Harold Davis at King of Kings Missionary Baptist Church. There she was a Sunday School Teacher, Worship Leader and Weekly Prayer Ministry facilitator. Later she assisted Pastor Jordan Rabon with preaching and communion. Mahalie served at Elim Christian Fellowship for 7 years in hospitality and Holy Christmas activities. She also visited the sick and shut-in at various nursing homes. On September 1, 2019 she reinstated her membership at Union Baptist Church. On October 13, 2019, our Heavenly Father made his stroll through his garden of life and picked a very special rose for his bouquets that are needed for his many mansions in his kingdom. That rose was Mahalie Ann Leftridge. She was preceded in death by her parents, Reverend William H. Billups Sr. and Joe Willa Billups and sister, Kathleen Iver Billups-Coley. She leaves to cherish fond and happy memories a loving and devoted daughter, Dianna (John) Thompson; two grandsons, Joshuah and Elijah; two sisters, Mamie and Joe Willa; brother, Rev. William (Stephanie) Billups Jr.; a devoted niece, Minister Kassandra Barrett, and a host of other nieces, nephews, cousins, family members and friends. Interment Friday, October 25, 2019 Starts at 4:30pm Henderson's Highland Park Funeral Home