Mary Anne McDonald Funchess

Mary Anne McDonald Funchess

Sunrise Sunset
May 1, 1965 March 28, 2022

Saturday, April 23, 2022
11:00 AM

Second Baptist Church
925 South Shamrock Avenue Monrovia, California 91016

Pastor Christopher A Bourne Sr., Officiant



Order of Service

Musical Prelude ................................................................. Delores Sanders

Processional ................................................................... Clergy and Family

Holy Scriptures

Old Testament Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 & 11a
Reginald Funchess Jr.

New Testament 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 John 3:16
Cameron Funchess

Prayer of Comfort.........................................................Pastor Eric Johnson

Hymn ............................................ “Amazing Grace” Gathered Assembly

Original Poem................................................................... Dajanel McGhee

Expressions of Love (2 minutes max please) ..................Friends & Family

Acknowledgement of Condolences ................Diakana LaVonne Husband

Solo................................................................................ Brianna McDonald
“Make You Feel My Love”

Resolutions & Tributes

Second Baptist Church ...................... Evelyn Jenkins-Coleman

Second Baptist Ushers.............................. Sister Laura Bullock

Second Baptist Media.................................Sister Ferrari Green

Solo................................................................. Lady Emeritus Betty Dillard
“If You Could See Me Now”

Obituary ............................................................................ Cathy Valentine

Eulogy/Invitational Prayer.................... Pastor Christopher A. Bourne Sr.

Recessional .................................................... Clergy, Family, and Friends

Repast immediately following in Fannie M. Goodwin Banquet Hall.

Social distancing limits seating to 130 capacity.
It is our endeavor to keep everyone safe; therefore, masks are

required indoors and in the service at all times.

Obituary

Mary Anne “Lala” McDonald was born on May 1, 1965 in Los Angeles,
California to her proud and loving parents, John Smallwood “Jack” and Hazel
Juanita McDonald. She was the third of four siblings: Sharri Fern, Brian Sean,
and Joni Michelle. Those wondering how Mary gained the nickname “Lala”
should know that she was not named Mary Anne at birth. In fact, her mother
had originally named her Lorna Caren. But Jack, who wanted his first daugh-
ter named after his mother and grandmother, changed his baby daughter’s
name to “Mary Anne” without telling his wife. Despite this, Hazel continued
to call her daughter Lorna. Brian, who struggled to pronounce Lorna, gave
her the nickname “Lala.”
Lala was raised in Monrovia, California. Anyone who visited the McDonald
home could feel the warm and inviting atmosphere there. If you know any-
thing about the McDonalds, you know how loving and protective Jack and
Hazel have always been when it comes to their family. You did not want to be
on the wrong side when it came to Jack and Hazel’s children and grandchil-
dren. Lala had her mother’s gentle and loving nature and her dad’s protective
and caring spirit.
Lala had many natural gifts and talents, and she loved to learn. She attended
and graduated from Monrovia High School, where she took home econom-
ics, sewing, and mechanic courses. She learned to build and repair computers
when she studied IT and computer networking at Computer Education Insti-
tute. She regularly used this skill, helping her family and friends. She later be-
came a life insurance agent and entrepreneur. Having always been beautiful,
you would have never guessed by looking at her that she had impressive me-
chanical skills. She often fixed things for herself and her family members. She
learned to drive and repair diesel rigs, and she reupholstered the car seats in a
1954 Ford, which looked better than if someone had been paid professionally
to do the job. The list of her gifts and talents goes on and on.
In her early twenties, she met Coy Youngblood Sr. at her sister Joni’s wedding
reception. Although he was a bit older than Lala, age did not matter when it
came to her heart. She was young and beautiful, but boy did she fool every-
one. There was an amazing, mature woman behind those good looks. Lala
always knew what she wanted. She embraced life wholeheartedly. She learned
a lot from Coy, including how to drive and repair diesel trucks. She helped
Coy manage the diesel truck business he owned and operated. They also
spent years working on a Lamborghini Countach in their garage as a shared
hobby. To her union with Coy were born two wonderful children, Candice
Liana and Coy Lee III. Although they later separated, Lala continued to be
the love of Coy’s life until his passing in 2010.

She was a loving wife, an amazing mother, and a great homemaker. It is well
known that Candice and Coy III are her greatest achievements. She made
sure her children were well-educated and successful. Through raising them,
Lala continuously displayed Hazel’s gentle and loving nature and Jack’s strong
commitment to family. During their adolescence, Lala showed up to every
one of Candice’s band performances and Coy’s basketball games. She often
made dinner for the basketball team and the team loved it when she did. She
frequently gave her children’s friends rides home. Many of them called her
mom. Lala poured her heart and soul into making sure her children achieved
all that they endeavored. Because of her, Candice earned her bachelor’s and
law degrees from UC Berkeley. Coy earned his bachelor’s degree from UC
Santa Cruz. Lala also played an important role in her nieces and nephews’
lives. She took in and raised her nephews, D’Adrian and D’Andre Graham,
and niece, Dajanel McGhee, as well as her nephew, Sean McDonald and
niece, Brianna McDonald, who viewed her as their second mother.

Later in life, Lala fell in love again when she reconnected with Reginald Je-
rome “Reggie” Funchess, Sr., whom she had known since elementary school.
They were married on March 14, 2014. Reggie and Lala loved each other and
their blended families. They also shared a love for God and church. Lala had
always attended church but not to the extent that she did after she and Reggie
became a couple. She joined Second Baptist Church Monrovia under the
leadership of Bishop Wm. LaRue Dillard and was baptized on April 27, 2014.
She was active in church ministries. She never missed New Members Training
classes during Sunday School, where she taught sewing; she volunteered as a
Welcome and Hospitality Ministry greeter; and she served with Reggie on the
Board of Ushers.

Lala was always a fighter. This was proven when she beat cervical cancer
nearly two decades ago. But after a long battle with pancreatic cancer, she
passed on March 28, 2022 surrounded by her loving family. Lala is preceded
in death by her paternal grandparents, Michael and Lydia Anne McDonald;
her maternal grandparents, L.B. and Naomi McGhee; and her father, Jack
McDonald. Those left to mourn and cherish her memory are her husband,
Reggie Funchess, Sr.; her two children, Candice Liana Youngblood and Coy
Lee Youngblood III; her mother, Hazel Juanita Victor (Richard); her three
siblings, Sharri Fern McGhee, Brian Sean McDonald (Cyndi), and Joni
Michelle Robinson (Carl); her two step-sons, Reginald Funchess Jr. and Cam-
eron Deon Funchess; a host of nephews, nieces, relatives, and friends; and
her Second Baptist Church family. Lala not only fixed our things in the past;
her love will help repair our broken hearts now and in the future.

**************************************

We Love You, Lala!

They say that home can be a person,
and for us, that is you, Mom. We have
always been, and will always be, three
pieces of a whole.
Candice and Coy

Thank you, Lala, for everything you brought to my life. There
are so many things you added to my life that made it so much
more beautiful, more wonderful, and enjoyable. I will forever
cherish our love in my heart. You were such an amazing per-
son, with a beautiful spirit. I love you, Baby, forever, and I’m
going to miss everything about you, but I know I will see you
again. Rest in peace, my love… Your pain and suffering are
over. I know you are in heaven with your dad and other be-
loved ones. Give my brother, Mark, a hug, and tell him I’m
doing okay. Love you always, Baby!
Reggie

“My La.” My first playmate, my first roommate, my
first idol, my first everything! The most beautiful girl in
the world to me. No one's sister was prettier than
mine. She made sure it was known she was the big sis.
Whenever we took pictures, she would stand in front
of me. We would start out side by side, but she would
take one hand and kinda push me back just a little
because she was the big sister and needed to be in
front. I remember when she would sit on top of the
fridge and sing, "I am the queen of Sheba, I am the
queen of Rome." She was small and quiet but so fierce.
We went on family vacations every year growing up.
Most of the time it was camping and Lala would be the
mother hen inside, cleaning and sweeping the tent.
That was just her. Going to high school was scary for
some but not me, I was excited. I knew Lala was going to be there and all her friends were
going to protect me because I was her little sister, and they were very protective of her. Lala is
the only person I have ever let my daughter spend the night with. She would stay for a couple
of days at a time and I knew my baby was going to be well taken care of. Sometimes she
wouldn't even want to come home with me. I have so many fond memories, and I can hon-
estly say, as sisters, we stuck together. We have a true sister bond! My big sister, my Queen,
my shero, my heart aches without you. I literally feel you took a piece of my heart with you.
Thank you for being the best big sister ever!
Joni

There isn’t a time or a memory I have that LaLa isn’t part of in
some way. Before my dad died, he told me to stay close to LaLa. He
said, “You two have always been close like twins and I want you to
promise me to keep that closeness.” LaLa knew me better than
anyone, she was my best friend, I called her when I was happy,
when I was sad or stressed, she was my rock. We shared the same
birthday, 3 years apart. I will never feel complete again without my
sister, she has taken a part of me with her. I remember when we
were kids, I was about 10 and LaLa was 7, I was out riding my bike
like a maniac and wiped out bad racing down a hill. I left the bike
and came home all scratched up and bloody, crying like a baby. I was explaining to my parents
what happened, then a couple of minutes later LaLa comes up walking with my bike crying, and
we thought something bad happened. We all asked what happened, and she says through tears,
“the bike is too heavy.” We all laughed, but LaLa–being LaLa—had to go retrieve my bike even
though at the time I couldn’t care less about that bike, but miss responsibility wasn’t gonna leave it
there. I miss my sister, and no words can ever convey the pain and loss I feel without her. I love
you baby.
Brian

Auntie Lala’s house always felt like home. There was something about
spending time over there that made you never want to leave. I loved being
around her, and although she was my auntie, I looked at her more like a
mother. I could talk to her about anything and everything. She made me
feel comfortable enough to express myself without fear of being judged. I
enjoyed being around her because her energy was unmatched, and she
always knew how to make me feel loved. Auntie Lala’s taste in music was
impeccable. She always had the best songs playing throughout the house.
She would listen to artists like Amy Winehouse, Alicia Keys, John Mayer,
Mariah Carey, and so many others who grew to become my favorites. I am
truly blessed to have gotten the chance to have such an amazing woman as a part of my life. My
auntie was a beautiful person, inside and out. She has taught me so many things, and I couldn’t be
more grateful for them. I will forever cherish the moments that my auntie and I have shared. I love
her so, so much and will miss her like crazy. Until we meet again, I know she will be watching over
me from up above.
Brianna

Growing up with Auntie Lala as such an important figure in my life is
one of my greatest blessings and experiences. She was such a driven and
independent person who inspired everyone without even trying. Wheth-
er she was driving and singing along to “Boys Don’t Cry” by The Cure,
or “Everybody Wants To Rule The World” by Tears For Fears, or
mowing her lawn and fixing her own cars, she made everything look so
easy. If independent was a person, it would be Her and because of those
things along with Her undeniable beauty. She was just as intimidating as
she was easy to get along with and definitely caught the eyes of every-
one who’d come into contact with Her. She was the most amazing
woman, with a bright sense of style to match. Her even brighter smile, which gets stuck in your
head . . . once you see it, you remember it for a lifetime.
Dajanel

Lala’s Freedom, No More Worries

You’re free now
Finally
No more daily worries
No more stress and no more strain
No more undue problems
And no more earthly pain
For God has seen it fit
For you to rest now
So rest now
For according to the Lord
It’s okay to shed your armor
And to put down your sword
For you, the war is over now
You can bask in the sun
Take time and truly enjoy the flowers
For your earthly work is done
You’re free now
So let your long, beautiful, golden hair
Flow freely in the wind
Let the soft, gentle breezes of spring
Be your constant and present friend
Run now through the green, grassy fields
With the flow of the sun on your face
And realize that you’ve done your best

To endure and win this race
You’re home now
Be at peace
For all your trials and earthly woes
Have now come to a cease
You’ve shown your loyalty and love for others
The best that you possible could
So put down your crown
Let your naked feet play with the ground
And that with God you’ve done good
Enjoy your rest, Lala
For life can sometimes be bitter and hard
But now you’ve been granted the opportunity
To play for eternity in God’s back yard
For what better place can you be
I love you for your unconditional love
And I thank you for being you
And loving me for being me
No more worries, love!

Rest in peace, Lala
And may God hold and keep you!

–David Palmer

To the Prettiest Woman I’ve Ever Known

To the prettiest woman I’ve ever known,
Never in a million years did I think I’d live a life without you.
From the beginning you’re all my heart has ever known.
You’re gone and I feel like a small confused child who’s lost all the strength
and courage they’ve ever grown,
I love you and I love you, to the prettiest woman I’ve ever known.
Being around you is being at peace, for you bring out my inner child.
Counting down the days till spring break, happy to be with you for a while.
Selfishly wishing it had been someone else,
No angel like you deserves to go through the pain that you’d felt.
Your better place is here with us singing and sewing and being unapologeti-
cally you.
To the prettiest woman I’ve ever known, I love you and I love you.
From the beginning you’re all my heart has ever known.
And in you I certainly found a home.
You and I will surely meet again,
For the love of a mother has no end.
Just seeing your bright style, bright smile, and bright eyes makes my heart
overflow,
I love you and I love you, the prettiest woman I’ve ever known.

–Dajanel McGhee











Expressions of Gratitude

Your prayers, calls, visits, gifts, and other caring gestures show us that you
care. The loss of our beloved Lala hurts our hearts. The care you have
shown us during our bereavement helps and will never be forgotten. Please
know that we appreciate your kindness and presence at the service. We are
especially grateful to Pastor Chris Bourne, Bishop Dillard, and Second Bap-
tist Church Ushers and members for the love and fellowship you shared
with Lala and to Lady Betty Dillard and others for their participation in to-
day’s memorial service. Thank you for the repast meal you provided as well.
Continue to pray for us.

The McDonald/Youngblood/Funchess Families