Mrs. Constance Arlene (McCants) McRae, 83, of Sanford, North Carolina entered into eternal rest on Monday, January 13, 2025. 

Early Monday morning, January 13, 2025, God reached down and gathered one of His faithful servants, CONSTANCE ARLENE, to go home and recieve her new reward! CONSTANCE was born on July 31, 1941, to the late Evelyn Jane McCants and Harold McCants in Sanford, NC. She was the oldest of four siblings: Robert (deceased), Donald (deceased), Jerry of New York, and Bertha of Sanford, NC.

CONSTANCE attended Osgood School, Lee Elementary School, Jonesboro, and graduated from W. B. Wicker School in 1959. While attending Wicker High School, CONSTANCE sang with the  Glee Club under the direction of Mrs. Galloway. She also drove the school bus as a student. Her brothers, Robert and Jerry followed her in this venture. After graduating from high school, CONSTANCE attended Bennett College, in Greensboro, NC, for a year, and then moved to Atlantic Highlands, NJ, where she met and married Damon R. Brown, Jr. To this union, two  children were born: Lewis Edward and Ronnie Damon, both preceding her in death.

CONSTANCE, affectionately called Connie, and Damon divorced, and CONNIE lived for a period of time in Red Bank and Fort Monmouth, New Jersey. She rekindled a relationship with a high  school friend, James Thomas McRae of Sanford, NC, and they married in 1992, at Fair Promise AME Zion Church, where she joined. While a member of Fair Promise, CONNIE was active in  several ministries: The Family In Christ Gospel Singers, the Voices of Praise, and the Chancel Choir. She was also a Deaconess, a member of the Stewardess Board, the Missionary Department, a Class Leader, and a Women of Promise (Women’s Ministry), until her health began to fail. She also served as an Instructor and bus driver for the Children of Promise Afterschool Program,      
serving grades K–8 until her retirement.

She was also an Order of Eastern Star member serving as Past Worthy Matron at Saint Veronica Chapter #53 in Moncure, NC.

CONSTANCE was employed with the Chatham County School System as an Educational Assistant and later with the Lee County School System as an Educational Assistant and bus driver.

Those left to cherish many fond memories of CONSTANCE are, one brother, Jerry, and wife Roselle; their children, Erica McCants, Allison McCants, Rachel and Cody Matherne; their sons, Kal  and Sylas, Jeremy McCants (Tiffany, ex-wife), Jaxon and Carter of NY; one sister, Bertha L. McCants of Sanford, NC, who along with Wendy L. McRae (daughter) patiently and dutifully cared for  CONNIE during her last days; her nieces, Angie Brown (son, Brendon Robinson and daughter Ciera Brown Dixon (Chris), and their children, Kendall and Karrigan, Karen Watson, Kevin Battle,  KaRon Battle, Kentrell Battle and Kenneth Battle; her sisters-in-law, Etha Alexander Baxter, Vera McKoy, Vivian Diane Prince, Faye Brice, Mary Brice and Gwen Dickson; a brother-in-law, Thomas W. Brice; step-daughters, Wendy L. McRae of Fayetteville, NC and Karen M. Woodard; grandchildren, Bryan Woodard (deceased), Minister Stephanie West (Elder William), Maurice Woodard,  and Adrian (Jocelyn) Woodard of TX; six great-grandchildren, Jonah, Marcell (deceased), Gabriel, Adelyn, Ryleigh, and Astrid; she will also be dearly missed by her cousins: Roosevelt McCants  of Maryland and Bennie Rachel White of Florida, ex-brothers-in-law, Douglas and Billy Brown; ex-sister-in-law. Gwen of NJ; a host of relatives, family members and friends. Constance’s church family will miss her dearly.

Special thanks to Ms. Sadie Bright and the staff of Amedisys Hospice for their loving care.

Please keep the family and friends of Mrs. Constance Arlene (McCants) McRae in your thoughts and prayers. 

Arrangements are entrusted to McLeod Funeral Home of Sanford, North Carolina.