Mother Mattie M. Drain

***A SERVICE IN LOVING MEMORY WILL BE HELD THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2026 AT THE NEW JERUSALEM CHURCH OF GOD IN CHRIST FOR MOTHER MATTIE M. DRAIN. PLEASE SEE VISITATION, SERVICE TIMES & LOCATIONS LISTED BELOW NOTE: MASKS ARE OPTIONAL AT THE CHURCH AND HAND SANITIZER WHEN WILL BE PROVIDED. ______________________________________ ***NOTE: Full Obituary & DVD Memorial Tribute will be available soon ______________________________________ The Obituary Missionary Mattie Melissa (Mahone) Drain went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, at home with her family. She was born August 27, 1934, in Waverly Hall, Georgia, to Elder Eddie and Fannie Lou (Terry) Mahone, who proceeded her in death. Missy Mattie graduated from Thomaston Training School, and worked at Upson County Hospital in Thomaston, Georgia after graduation. She was united in marriage to Leon Drain on March 25, 1956. After the wedding, she moved with her husband to Michigan. Missy Mattie accepted Christ as her Savior and was a faithful and dedicated member of New Jerusalem Church of God in Christ in Kalamazoo, MI, under the leadership of former pastors Rev. Mack Russell, and Administrator Rudolph Thomas, who preceded her in death, and current pastor, Supt. William Adam’s III. Missy Mattie loved the Lord and she loved her church. She served the church faithfully in many capacities including Adult Sunday School teacher, District Missionary, Church Secretary, Sunshine Band President, Home and Foreign Mission President, and Church Fundraiser. Even though she was a licensed missionary, she preferred the title “Sister Mattie”. Sister Mattie also enjoyed reading her Bible. She would rise early and spend time praying and reading her Bible on a daily basis, in the quiet morning hours, before starting her day. The Lord always blessed Sister Mattie’s fundraising efforts, and she raised monies for the church with sales of various items including candy bars, women’s fashion scarfs, bake goods, paper drives, craft items, dinners, rummage sales, and pop can drives. Sister Mattie also enjoyed knitting and crocheting, and she made and sold items for the church such as winter scarfs and caps, shawls, afghans, baby sets, and wreaths. Sister Mattie was employed at Smith Memorial Nursing Home, The Upjohn Company, and Pfizer Corporation in Kalamazoo, Michigan for a total of over 40 years. She had a strong work ethic and enjoyed helping others. Sister Mattie also enjoyed traveling. She attended the COGIC Women’s International Convention in at least 12 different major cities with her daughter, including Los Angeles and San Diego, California; New Orleans, Louisiana; Tampa Bay; Florida; and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In addition, she took numerous trips to the Holy Convocation in Memphis, Tennessee. She also took yearly summer family excursions with her children and grandkids to Cedar Point, Great America, Boblo Island, and Michigan Adventure. Sister Mattie was a wonderful homemaker and the heart of the family, a loving, devoted and precious wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend. Sister Mattie was preceded in death by her parents, Elder Eddie and Fannie Lou Mahone; four brothers, Edgar, Robert Floyd, Ben Henry, and John; and two sisters, Nellie Mae Greene and Isabell Prater. She leaves to forever cherish her memory her loving husband of 69 years, Leon; son, Raymond Drain Sr. (Banita) of Battle Creek, MI; daughter, Deborah Drain of Kalamazoo, MI; three grandchildren, Tausha Gingerich of Lansing, MI; Raymond Jr. and Dartagnan Drain of Kalamazoo, MI; one sister, Fannie Lou Drain of Battle Creek, MI; one brother, Elder Terry (Annie) Mahone of Covert, MI; and sister-in-law, Mary Ann Ferrell of Detroit, MI; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and her New Jerusalem church family. Sister Mattie’s favorite scripture was Acts 17:28 “For in him we live and move and have our being”. She truly loved the Lord and showed it on a daily basis. She was a beautiful example of a Proverbs 31 woman: “Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands and let her own works praise her in the gates” (Proverbs 31:30-31). Sister Mattie will be forever cherished, lovingly remembered, deeply missed, and never forgotten. Her strong faith and loving spirit left a lasting impression on everyone who knew her.

Mother Mattie M. Drain

August 27, 1934 - March 18, 2026