Dr. Christine Mccaskill

Dr. Christine McCaskill completed her life’s work of serving her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and the body of Christ, on March 28, 2019, just shy of her 92nd birthday. True to her word she wore out, but didn’t rust out, as she preached her last sermon in January, 2019.

Mother McCaskill, as she was affectionately known, was born May 1, 1927 to Reverend Hezekiah and Hattie Smith in Cleveland County, North Carolina. She grew up in Decatur, Georgia and Hickory, North Carolina. She married Frank James McCaskill in 1943 and remained in North Carolina until they moved to West Virginia in 1950, where they raised two sons, Benny and Robert. In 1961, Mother McCaskill received the gift of the Holy Ghost, and six days later accepted the call to preach the gospel.

In 1965, she was ordained under Dr. Quander L. Wilson, the founding Bishop of Greater Emmanuel Apostolic Faith Tabernacle, Inc. (GEAFT). Shortly thereafter she relocated to Pennsylvania. She served as the GEAFT National Evangelist for 16 years, traveling throughout the United States and Central America. In the mid 1970’s Mother McCaskill moved from the Philadelphia area to Scottsdale, Georgia to care for her father. All of this time she continued to evangelize throughout the world.

In 1979, Mother McCaskill was called to Bridgeport, Ct. and founded House of Prayer and Deliverance Church, and served as Pastor until she retired in 2010; at least 7 churches started through her ministry in the Connecticut area, alone. In the early 1980’s, she moved both of her parents to Bridgeport and cared for them until their last days. Mother McCaskill served as the founding National Mother of Higher Ground Always Abounding Assemblies, Inc. and continued to mentor, encourage, teach, preach, sing, and love the people of God until her passing. Always in fashion, Mother was known for her millinery collection – she wore some of the most amazing hats, and wore them well!

Mother McCaskill never met a person in need of help that she did not embrace. She welcomed many spiritual sons and daughters into her home and heart, leading them to Christ. She loved to cook and bake, and she would pass on that gift to those who wanted to learn. Her specialties were pineapple coconut layer cake, sour cream pound cake, Parker House rolls, and the best beef roast. Because of her love for children and teenagers, she became a foster parent while in Connecticut. She was awarded the Foster Parent of the Year Award, two years consecutively, by Casey Family Services in Bridgeport, Ct.

In 2012, Mother McCaskill moved to Columbus, Ohio, and attended the Apostolic Lighthouse Temple Church, under the leadership of her son Pastor Robert McCaskill. At 85 years of age she continued to travel and preach the gospel whenever asked. Mother was a powerful woman of God, gifted in the area of laying on of hands for all manner of sickness and diseases, and known for casting out demons. Many, many souls came to know the Lord Jesus after hearing her preach, teach, and sing! She sang with a gospel group called “The Canaanites” that traveled throughout West Virginia before she was ordained to preach. She was an anointed singer and recorded a single “Did you Ever Wake up Shouting for Joy?”

Mother McCaskill loved to learn. She was never afforded the opportunity to graduate from high school, but that never stopped her. She obtained her GED when she was 60 years old, then subsequently obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Theology from Vision Christian University. She earned a Master’s Degree in Theology, a Doctorate of Philosophy & Christian Counseling, and a Doctorate in Theology from His Excellence Theological Seminary, where she was the Valedictorian of her class and eventually went back to teach. She was a near professional Scrabble player until her last days, playing on her prized Franklin Mint Collector’s Edition Scrabble board.

Mother McCaskill is predeceased by her parents, sister Rosa Smith, brother Guy Smith, ex-husband Frank James, son Johnnie, grandsons Paul McCaskill and Robert McCaskill, II, and great-grandson Kai Lamar. She is survived by sons, Benny (Sallie) McCaskill, Beacon, NY, and Pastor Robert (Pamela) McCaskill, Columbus, OH; sister-in-law Helen Lipscomb; Spiritual son, Bishop (Serita) Thomas D. Jakes, Sr.; special daughters, Shirley Huggins, Dorothea Dixon, Monique Bentley, Thashia Bentley and Tonnisha Lamar; special son Gordon (Mary) Ford; 5 grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren, 4 great-great grandchildren, many nieces, nephews, and “sugarlumps”, whom she loved deeply.

Visitation 5:00pm and Home Going Service 7:00pm Tuesday, April 2, 2019 at Higher Ground Always Abounding Assemblies 870 St. Clair Ave. Interment 10:00am Wednesday at Green Lawn Cemetery. Ministry of Comfort entrusted to MARLAN J. GARY FUNERAL HOME, THE CHAPEL OF PEACE NORTH. 2500 Cleveland Ave