Ethel McCoy

Ethel Ruth Spence was born on November 26, 1933 to Dock and Daisy Spence in Camden, Tennessee. She departed this life on Tuesday, May 12, 2020 in the home that she loved.

At a young age, Ethel came to Cincinnati, Ohio to live with her aunt, Ethel McDaniel where she met the Hill Family and became part of their family. Ethel attended church with her aunt and loved to sing in the choirs. Ethel was a member of the Greater Cincinnati Choral Union. She also sang with a lot of prominent singers all over the country.

Ethel was educated in the Cincinnati Public Schools, where she attended Washburn Elemen-tary and Woodward High School — Go Bulldogs!

Ethel worked for General Hospital in the Dietary Department.

She attended Bethlehem Temple Apostolic Church on Seventh Street under the late Bishop Elize W. Young and later under Bishop Johnnie L. Johnson, where she was President and Director of the choir for 42 years and was ordained a Mother of the Church. She later attended Hope for You Family Life and Worship Center under Bishop Larry Dempsey, where she continued to sing on the Praise and Worship Team and in the Choir. Known as “The Queen of Gospel”, Ethel traveled all over the country to conventions and councils singing the praises of the Lord and touching the people’s hearts.

If you saw Mother McCoy and asked her, “How you doing?” she would respond with “I’m Holding On and I Won’t Let Go.”

Not just known for her singing, Mother Ethel McCoy had many talents: Drawing, Sewing, and Oh we can’t forget cooking: Yeast Rolls, Cinnamon Rolls and Cookies.

Ethel was married to the late Alfred McCoy on May 27, 1955. To this union, four children were born: Dietrick “Butch” McCoy, Alan B. McCoy, Audrey L. McCoy and Robert “Buddy” McCoy.

Ethel was preceded in death by her parents, Dock and Daisy Spence; her aunt, Ethel McDaniel; her husband of 64 years, Alfred McCoy; son, Robert McCoy; granddaughter, Jasmine Clark; her sisters, Polly Edmonson and Novella Anderson, both of Nashville, TN; her Cincinnati mother, Mildred Hill; and Cincinnati brother, Nathaniel Hill.

She leaves to cherish her loving memories: sister, Margaret Bradley of Nashville, TN; sons, Dietrick (Glenda) McCoy of Nashville, TN and Alan (Anita) McCoy of Cincinnati, OH; her lovely daughter and caregiver, Audrey McCoy of Cincinnati, OH; grandchildren, Marquis (Rochelle) Reed, Marisa Reed, Demetria Reed and Lolita (Tim) Beasley, all of Nashville, TN, Brooke (Daniel) Jackson, Alan Jr. (Sara) McCoy, Morgan McCoy, Rhyan McCoy and Jalen Bell, all of Cincinnati, OH and Robert McCoy, Jr. of Columbus, OH; her Cincinnati, OH sisters, Lois Hill, Carolyn (Lloyd) May, Emma Walker, Earlene Hill-James, Gloria Hill and Ronnie Hill; and a host of great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

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