Feb. 26, 1922 Dec. 30, 2013

Rebecca Savage, a licensed practical nurse and the longest-standing member of St. John Baptist Church, died Monday in her Buffalo home. She was 91.

Born in Camden, S.C., the youngest of five children, the former Rebecca McCarley came to Buffalo at age six months. She was the daughter of Rev. Burnie C. McCarley, the founder of St. John Baptist Church.

She attended School 75, Hutchinson Central High School, the Fosdick-Masten School of Practical Nursing, and Sawyer Business School.

Mrs. Savage began working as a licensed practical nurse at the Buffalo Veterans Affairs Medical Center in 1960 and took a medical retirement in 1972 due to failing health.

The mother of six, she took part in many activities at St. John Baptist Church and was a member the Bells of St. John Choir, the Pastor Chapman Support Group and the Senior Fellowship.

She also was a member of Paramount Chapter 57, Prince Hall Order of the Eastern Star; the AARP and the Fosdick Masten Practical Nurses Alumni Association. She was a former commandress of Hadji Court 62, Daughters of Isis.

Her husband of 36 years, John Wesley Savage, died in 1975. She married Edward Brown in 1979. He died in 1989.

She is survived by two daughters, Rebecca Jones and Deana Vinson; two sons, Burnie and Gregory; 14 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held noon Monday in St. John Baptist Church, 184 Goodell St.

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Rebecca Savage, longest-standing member of St. John Baptist Church