God saw the road was getting rough, the hill was hard to climb; he gently closed those loving eyes and whispered, “Peace Be Thine.”

Catherine Brodnax-Tensley was born on November 4, 1923 in Richmond, Virginia. She entered into eternal rest on June 22, 2018.

She came to NYC at the tinder age of 18 where she attended night school to become a practical nurse. After which she cared for numerous newborns’. Catherine Brodnax-Tensley accepted Jesus Christ as her personal savior in her twenties. She became a member of Shiloh Baptist Church of Jamaica NY during the late 1950’s where she continued to be a member until her departure from this life. Catherine was a member of numerous clubs and auxiliaries of Shiloh.

In the early days she was a choir member, a part of the Helping Hand Club; Willing Workers; Nurses Unit; Usher Board; Director of the Young Peoples’ Choir, just to name a few.

Her loving influence towards her fellow members was well known. Catherine had a flare for style and grace. She was also known for wearing her Nurses uniform and pristine nurses’ cap; shoulders adorned with her navy blue cape with the red satin lining.

Catherine will be remembered as being in the John K. Brewington Fellowship Hall, cooking and serving luscious dinners for programs, visiting pastors, guests’ churches, members and friends, over the span of 70 plus years. And everyone who ever tasted her Vanilla Coconut Cake with the pineapple filling and Fresh Strawberries on top or her Chocolate cake; knew they were blessed.

Catherine cooked tons of Barbeque Chicken, and Spare Ribs on the grill, on Shiloh’s’ lawn. She and other members prepared tons of Potato Salad, Collard Greens, and Cornbread for the sale of thousands of dinners for her church. Because, if it’s one thing Catherine loved, it was God, her family and Shiloh Baptist Church.

Catherine helped to organize numerous trips for the Young Peoples Choir, and for various trips planned by the clubs and auxiliaries she was a member of. Catherine got joy cookin’, workin’, and doin’, for the Lord. She toiled in the vineyard, on assignment for Jesus; with gratitude for the opportunity to serve Him.

After 70 years of working in the church, working at her livelihood, raising her babies. A still vibrant 86 year old Catherine met Mr. Walking Deacon. George Tensley. Well… you’ve heard of cupid, that little angel that zings you with an arrow and next thing you know… you’re in love?…. Well, that’s what happened to Catherine. The sun, moon and stars set and rose on Mr.George. Upon her departure, they were just three days shy, of sharing 8 years of love, laughter, worshipin, praisin’ church goin’ together.

Preceding her in death; are her two sons’ Jesse Carl Brodnax and Robert Lee Brodnax and Four sisters Lillie, Mable, Olive, and Betty.

She leaves to cherish her memory. Her husband George Tensley. Her daughters Doris Brodnax and Linda Brodnax-Massey of Jamaica Queens NY. Grandchildren: Shamika and Danielle Brodnax of Jamaica, NY. Hope Gurley of Bronx, NY. Naquan Gurley of Queens NY, Patricia Patterson of Petersburg Va., Darcell Blango of Bronx, NY, Mark Brodnax, and Paula Cone of Fayetville, North Carolina and Helena Sims of Winston -Salem North Carolina. Son in law, Philip Massey Jr. of Jamaica, NY, Brenda Gurley of Queens, NY, Pearl Brodnax of Fayetville , North Carolina, and a host of great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and friends.

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