Dr. Stan McKenzie, Episcopal Supervisor and former NBC player has died. (Courtesy photo)
The celebration of life for Dr. Stan McKenzie begins 9 a.m., July 31, with public viewing, followed by a family hour at 11 a.m. and the service at noon; at The Vashti Murphy McKenzie Sanctuary of the Richard Allen Chapel at Paul Quinn College, 13837 Simpson Stuart Road, Dallas, Texas, 75241.
On August 7, a memorial service will be held at noon, preceded by a family hour at 11 a.m. at Bethel AME Church, 1300 Druid Hill Avenue, Baltimore MD 21217
Services will be live-streamed on Facebook and YouTube @BishopVashtiMcKenzie.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to:
The McKenzie Foundation
For Student Athletes of Paul Quinn College
Condolences and donations can be sent to:
P.O. Box 86
Prosper, Texas 75078
Info@McKenzielegacy.com
By Rev. Dorothy Boulware
AFRO Managing Editor
In a heartbreaking second, he was gone. He fought hard. He fought to win at everything he did. “And this morning, Dr. Stan McKenzie won his final game,” said the Right Rev. Vashti McKenzie, newly retired bishop of the AME Church.
“The Lord called his name and he answered,” is the way she bravely announced the departure of her dear husband from “this side of glory.”
With no public knowledge of his illness, attendees at the recent 51st Quadrennial Session of the General Conference of the AME Church could not help but notice Dr. Stan’s absence. And Bishop McKenzie acknowledged it was indeed the first time she’d had to preach in such a venue without his being present.
“To my spouse, Supervisor Stan McKenzie, who is with me in spirit and who is watching online. It’s the first time in 41 years he’s not sitting in front of me cheering me on, but yet he’s cheering me on from where he is. He is the solid rock for me so that the butterfly always has a place to land.”
Dr. Stan distinguished himself as the first male Episcopal Supervisor for the 21 years his wife of years served as bishop after rising to a position that had never been filled by a woman.
The Rev. Vashti Murphy McKenzie, left, and Episcopal Supervisor Dr. Stan McKenzie just recently celebrated retirement after
many years of service in the AME Church. (Photo courtesy AME 10th Episcopal District)
They’ve been married more than 50 years and have three children, Jon-Mikael McKenzie, the Rev. Vashti-Jasmine Saint-Jean (Amos), Joi-Marie McKenzie Lewis (Anton) and two grandchildren.
But Dr. Stan had a story of his own. Born in 1944, the 6’5” athlete ascended from college basketball at New York University to the NBA, drafted in 1966. His journey began with the Baltimore Bullets 1967 and culminated with the Houston Rockets in 1974. He apparently still holds the NBA record in free throws and was inducted into NYU’s Hall of Fame.
He studied international law at the University of Perugia in Italy and his varied collection of awards includes the Jesse Owens Lifetime Achievement Award from Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
In addition to his work in Human Resources and personnel services, he lent his managerial skills to numerous corporations.
This article was updated at 5:14 pm, July 23, 2021.
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