Maxcine Mendel Crowder

On the morning of May 31, 2023, Maxcine Mendel Crowder, dedicated matriarch, passed away at 80 years old in Augusta, Georgia. Maxcine was born on February 28th 1943 in Chesapeake, Virginia to Eugene and Cleo Givens. She was their 12th child of 13 and is survived by the last member of the Givens’ immediate family, Woodrow Givens. Maxcine grew up as a caretaker. As her older siblings began raising families, she would often care for their children. She was a natural giver and nurturer, and she treated every child in her care as her own. In 1965, Maxcine married James Daniel “JD” Crowder; the couple relocated to Newark, New Jersey, to raise their five children, Andre, Stefan, Eric, Sherrice, and their late son, Aaron. Her legacy is succeeded by her husband, four remaining children, a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, and adopted children from 611 High Street and 37 Cedar Avenue. To many, she is known as “Big Mama.” Besides serving her family and community, Maxcine’s greatest accomplishment was becoming one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Maxine nearly passed out during her baptism; however, her love for Jehovah was greater than her fear and she courageously symbolized her faith through water baptism in 1973. Maxcine was the true embodiment of perseverance. Although she did not finish high school, she never let that stop her from learning and teaching. She was especially proud of her personal training which consisted of attending three schools for Kingdom Evangelizers. The training was filled with packed Bible discussions, demonstrations, research and workshops designed to help sharpen her skill as an ordained minister. In her last days, Maxcine talked and reminisced about all her children. Maxcine was loved, and she will be missed. She died faithfully and now awaits Jehovah’s call. (Job 14:13-15)