Edward Leroy Mack

Edward Leroy Mack, affectionately known as Jim, A.K.A. “The Champ”, was born on May 7, 1959 in Orangeburg, South Carolina, to Sadie Mae (Mack) Nance and John Henry Murray. God called Jim home on April 21, 2020, where he passed away peacefully at the Jersey City Medical Center.  Graveside Service will be held Saturday, May 9, 2020 at Bull Swamp Baptist Church, 112 Purity Street, Orangeburg, South Carolina at 11:00 a.m.  Reverend Dr. Ephriam D. Stephens, Pastor and Eulogist.  

He received his formal education from the Orangeburg School system, graduating from Orangeburg - Wilkerson High School, where he played football for the “OW Bruins” and drove the school bus. After graduating from “OW”, Jim attended Claflin College in Orangeburg until his junior year, when he relocated to Atlantic City, New Jersey briefly before settling in Jersey City, New Jersey. Jim continued his education as a Rehab- therapist, once he moved to Jersey City.

Jim was a member of Bull Swamp Baptist Church from an early age, where he was an active member under the late, Rev. J. J. Glover. Upon relocating to Jersey City he joined Nazarene Temple (C.O.G.I.C), under the late, Rev. Leroy Lawrence.

He was employed by the Visiting Homemaker Service for several years before taking a position at the Jewish Nursing Home, (now Alaris), in Jersey City. He worked there for 30 years until a stroke incapacitated his ability to work in 2009 for which he never fully recovered.  Jim did not let his stroke limit his zest for life. He loved to laugh, tell stories and jokes. Jim had the “gift of gab” and a memory like an elephant! Often times, asking, “do you remember when?” Most times he would have to jog your memory, but even then, he was the only one that remembered the events he spoke of growing up.  His favorite pastime was watching his beloved Giants Football and Knicks Basketball Teams play. He loved spending time with his fiancé Toni, family and close friends.  

Jim was preceded in death by parents John Henry Murray and Sadie Mae Nance; siblings, Isaiah Mack and  Linda Barbara Washington; paternal grandparents, Bertha and Morris Murray; maternal grandparents, Emma (Benjamin) Mack, Edward Mack and  Mary Bell (Spigner) Mack; brother-in-law, Dennis Murray and brother/cousin, Samad (Roy) Darby.

He leaves to cherish his beloved memory, fiancé, Toni Moore, three sisters: Catherine Mack of Jersey City, New Jersey, Cheryl Fersner Kelly (Charles) of Orangeburg, South Carolina  and  Sharon Lockett (Carl) of Bayonne, New Jersey; one brother, Darrell Nance; brother-in-law, Darrel Washington both of Jersey City, New Jersey; paternal uncles, Charlie Murray (Dorothy) and  Roger Murray (Cassandra); aunts, Birdie Glen (Roosevelt), Queen Ester Williams, Donna Adams (David) and Dolores Lark (Daniel), all of  New York State; maternal uncles, Herbert Mack (Virginia), Johnny Mack (Loretta); aunts, Eartha and Mary Mack, all of Orangeburg, South Carolina;  brother/cousin, Ledford Mack whom shared a very special bond with Jim as they lived and played together in childhood and remained close, calling one another almost daily up until his passing along with a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

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