Reverend Dr. George Edward McRae was a native son of Palatka, Putnam County, Florida.  The eldest son of Theodore and Carrie (Gaskins) McRae, he was born on Wednesday, August 13, 1941.  He was converted at an early age, accepted Christ as his personal Savior and was baptized at Greater Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of the Reverend James A. Wright.  He was educated in the Putnam County School District and a 1959 graduate of Central Academy High School. Dr. McRae was a U.S. Army veteran and earned an honorable discharge. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in ministry, Bethune-Cookman University; Master of Divinity, The Interdenominational Theological Center; and a Doctorate of Ministry, Columbia Theological Seminary, degrees, respectively.  His doctoral dissertation is entitled, The Triangle of Death in the African American Community: Drugs, Prison, and HIV/AIDS.  His obedience to his ministerial calling has taken him to Germany, South Africa, and West Africa where he saw first-hand the Gate of No Return. He has also ministered in Israel, Egypt, England, France, the Virgin Islands, North and South Korea, and countless other places where he could preach and teach the word of God.  His humanitarian services to the Miami-Dade community specifically, and his services to mankind in so many other places are proof positive of the measure of the man, the help he provided, and the spirit of love he exemplified.  Over his half a century pastoral career, he pastored four churches, including Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, Palatka (Lundy); Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church, Palatka; Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church, Daytona Beach; and Mt. Tabor Missionary Baptist Church, Miami. He served as President of the Florida General Baptist Convention, Congress of Christian Education and hospital chaplain at Miami Jackson Memorial Hospital.  He facilitated and organized numerous outreach ministries including Narcotics Anonymous, Alcoholics Anonymous, HIV/AIDS. Dr. McRae personally and professionally catered to the lost, the addicts, the incarcerated, the less fortunate, the distressed, the hungry, the homeless, the helpless, the unemployed, and the sick and shut in.  If he could see the need of others, he definitely opened his heart.   For fifty years, he embarked upon a path of service that would ultimately touch thousands of lives and alleviate the pain of the community's most underserved populations. He counseled many families, conducted hundreds of community workshops on education and ministry, assisted substance abusers and their families and attended to aged persons and bereaving families.

Aside from his daily spiritual work, many regard Pastor McRae's greatest achievement as his establishment of Minorities Overcoming the Virus through Education, Responsibility and Spirituality. The community-based organization supports the community's HIV/AIDS population through educational and spiritual services.

Pastor McRae received numerous honors and recognitions for his religious and humanistic work. In addition to receiving a certificate of commendation from the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida and the Charles Whited Spirit of Excellence Award from The Miami Herald, Pastor McRae became the subject of a one-page feature in The Wall Street Journal. He has also held notable positions with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and Florida Baptist Congress of Christian Education.  His affiliations include the Miami Youth for Christ Association, Florida Health Care, Youth Vision, the Children and Parents Society and New Birth Cooperation. In his free time, Pastor McRae enjoys spending time with his loving family.

On Wednesday, February 24, 2021 at 11:08 p.m., Dr. McRae heard the welcoming voice of his Lord and Saviour saying, come on home and rest from your labors, your battle has been well fought and the victory has been well won.

In addition to his parents, George was preceded in eternal rest by his brothers, Freddie Sharp, Theodore Sharp, Charlie McRae, Earnest McRae; sisters, Helen Brown, Queen McRae.

To cherish his memories: devoted wife, Mary Williford McRae; sons and daughter, George E. McRae, Jr.; Theodore (Venus) McRae, Kenneth D. McRae, Cheral L. McRae, Kelvin "Danny" (Christine) McRae, Nathan Taylor, Norman Taylor; 15 grandchildren; 34 great-grandchildren ; brothers, Deacon Alphonso (Vivian) McRae, Sr., Rev. Dr. Andrew (Mittie) McRae, Sr., Dea. Herman (Victoria) McRae, Sr.; sisters, Mary Brown, Carolyn McRae, Barbara Leonard, and Dorothy (Gustine) Moore; sister-in-law , Georgia Mae McRae; uncle, Eddie Gaskins; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Legacy Celebration will be held at 11 o'clock a.m., Friday, March 5, 2021 at New Birth Baptist Church, 2300 NW 135th Street, Miami, FL.

Homegoing Celebration will be at 2 o'clock p.m., Saturday, March 6, 2021 at Veteran's Memorial Stadium, 1100 South 18th Street, Palatka, FL.

Interment will be in the McRae family's plot at Resthaven Cemetery, 690 Old San Mateo Road, San Mateo, FL.