By Staff
On February 3, 2010, The Reverend Joshua Tayloe MacKenzie entered into glory to join all the saints that have gone before him.
Josh was born in Washington, N.C., on November 25, 1930, to Athalia Tayloe MacKenzie and Robert Preston MacKenzie, Sr. He attended Davidson College as a business major, after a public school education in Washington. After three years, he left Davidson and enlisted and served in the U.S. Coast Guard for four years. On December 20, 1952, he married the love of his life, Elizabeth Earle Gary (Betty). They recently celebrated their fifty-seventh wedding anniversary. Betty and Josh moved to Alexandria, Virginia, where he attended Virginia Theological Seminary. He was ordained into the priesthood in 1962.
Josh and Betty have three daughters. Elizabeth Gary married Mark Copes and they have two sons, Joshua Beverley Tayloe Copes and Peyton Dabney Copes. Hazel Dabney married Dan Mason and they have twin boys, Carter Dabney Mason and Walker Reid Mason. Mary Tayloe married Andrew Mason and they have a daughter Lucy Randolph Mason and a son, MacKenzie (Mac) Williams Mason. Josh also has a sister, Athalia MacKenzie Cooper, and brother, Robert Preston MacKenzie, and many relatives in Washington, N.C. If you spent any time with Josh, you know just how proud he was of his daughters, grandchildren, and family.
Josh was the shepherd of a flock too vast to number. His first church, St. Christopher’s, was in Havelock, N.C. From there, Josh, Betty and the girls went to St. Andrew’s, Rocky Mount, N.C. Their next move was to Durham, N.C., and the parish of St. Stephen’s. Finally, Josh and Betty ended up here, in Elizabeth City, where he was rector of Christ Episcopal Church. In 1995, he technically retired, although his ministry continued until his last day. Josh’s legacy will live on in the stories and prayers that he spoke and the lives that he touched in such a warm and lasting way. Those who met Josh and knew him were so much the better for it. The memory of his kind eyes, warm smile, gentle touch and great sense of humor, will remain in our hearts always. Thanks be to God.
The funeral will be held for Josh on Saturday, February 6, at 3 p.m., at Christ Episcopal Church, 200 South McMorrine St., Elizabeth City. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be given to the Organ Fund at Christ Episcopal Church.
Paid Obituary