Maxine McDonald, 78, of Morehead City, passed away Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2018, at UNC Rex Hospital in Raleigh. Her funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 5, 2018, at Ann Street United Methodist Church in Beaufort, North Carolina, officiated by Reverend Taylor Mills and Reverend George Jones. Interment will follow at Gethsemane Memorial Park.

Maxine was born in Pinehurst, North Carolina, on Aug. 26, 1939, to the late Carson James and Annie Ruth Dunn Jenkins. There Maxine met the love of her life, Charles L. McDonald, whom she married in 1957. Seven years later, Maxine and Charles moved to Aurora, North Carolina, where they weaved their young family into the fabric of a small company town for more than 40 years. Maxine’s life was centered on faith, family and friends — committed to her church, Aurora United Methodist Church; to her children, Melanie and Lawrence; and to her many dear friends, both at TexasGulf (now Nutrien) where she worked and within the community as a whole. Maxine and Charles moved to Morehead City in 2012.

Maxine’s life will always inspire those she touched. She deeply believed in the power of prayer — sharing her grace with many and loving people where they are. With Mark 12:30-31 as her guidepost, she would often say, “It is our place to pray for and be kind to everyone.” Her strength, perseverance, humility, encouragement and her faith are examples for all of us and especially for her five grandchildren and great-grandson — each and every one, truly, the light of her life.

Left to honor Maxine’s memory, in addition to her husband of 61 years, are their children, Melanie Crockett (Ken), of Raleigh, and Lawrence McDonald (Kaky), of Charlotte; grandchildren, Charlie Crockett (Caroline), of Boston, Massachusetts, Thom Crockett, of San Diego, California, Anne Campbell Crockett, of Denver, Colorado, Chase McDonald (Morgan), of Charlotte, and Callie McDonald, of Charlotte; and great-grandson, Grafton Duvall, of Charlotte. She is also survived by brothers and sisters Bobby Jenkins (Edna), Larry Jenkins (Sandy), Roger Jenkins (Sue), Irene Frame (Sonny) and Pam Jones (Jesse). She was preceded in death by her brother Darrel Jenkins (Helen).

Family will receive friends prior to the funeral service on Sunday, Aug. 5, 2018, in the Fellowship Hall at Ann Street United Methodist Church beginning at 12:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be sent to Ann Street United Methodist Church in Maxine’s name. Online condolences may be made at www.mundenfuneralhome.net

Arrangements by Munden Funeral Home and Crematory in Morehead City.