Guyvester McKenzie Jr.

Guyvester McKenzie Jr.  transitioned peacefully from labor to reward on Tuesday July 4^th, 2023.  He was born in Richmond, Virginia on November 2, 1955.  He attended Richmond Public Schools.  He gave his life to the Lord at a very young age.  He was a member of First Baptist Church on Ironbridge Road. 

      He loved to sing.  He began singing at the age of five years old at Booker T.  Washington Elementary School in Rocky Mount,  North Carolina.  There, he was constantly singing in many  talent shows and church.  He loved singing at any time he was given a chance.  He was happy to do it!  You could always hear his voice somewhere humming or singing a melody.  

     He sang with different groups in the Richmond and surrounding areas.  He started with an R & B group, “The Criterias.”  They sang from 1970 to 1973, where he was known as “Muchie.”

     He also sang with the “Soldiers of Vision”, the “First African Male Chorus”, the group “Prophecy”, the “Alvin Hargrove Gospel Group” and many others.

     He also worked at MCV Hospital for many years.  He began working in transportation, and later moved to the operating room where he worked for more than seventeen years.  He had many other jobs.  

     Guyvester is preceded in death by his father, Guyvester McKenzie Sr.  and his mother, Mamie E.  McKenzie, one sister, Glenda Garlick, two aunts, Rachel Perry, Janice Lewis, and one uncle Jack Winstead.

     He leaves to cherish his memories two daughters, Wyanika Brown of Farmville, and Tiffany McMahand of Virginia  Beach;  one son, Guyvester McKenzie III;  one granddaughter, Jazmin Gordon;  two sisters, Evangelist Rosetta M.  Garlick and Shirley A.  McKenzie, both of Richmond;  two special and dear aunts, Annie Morris Woodard of Rocky Mount, North Carolina and Dorris Hall of Snow Hill, North Carolina;  a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives and friends among them devoted friend  Roger Benniefield and Donna Tyler.  Remains rest at Joseph Jenkins Jr.  Funeral Home, 2011 Grayland Avenue where Mr.  McKenzie can be viewed Wednesday from 10AM to 8PM and where funeral services will be held Thursday at 1PM.  Interment Maury Cemetery.  Family and friends assemble at funeral home 12:45PM Thursday.