Mrs. Willie Marie McCall McPhail

With heartfelt sympathy, Mitchell-Josey Funeral Home, Inc., and members of the McCall and McPhail families announce the transition of Mrs. Willie Marie McCall McPhail of Darlington, SC. Mrs. McPhail transitioned Friday, February 20, 2026, at home surrounded by love.

The family will be receiving friends at the home, 2649 Society Hill Rd, Darlington, SC, daily from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM.

There will be no public viewing.

Funeral service will be held 1:00 PM, Sunday, March 1, 2026, at Mt Rona Baptist Church, 245 Lumber Rd, Society Hill, SC.

Interment will be held 1:00 PM, Monday, March 2, 2026, at the United States National Cemetery - Florence, 803 E National Cemetery Rd, Florence, SC.

My Story

    I was born into the already large family of Edward and Mittie McCall on April 8th, 1956. My family consisted of seven girls and two boys. Mary Evelyn, Rosa Mae, Ruth, Edneatha, Tommie (Sammie Jean), Edward Jr., Willie Mae, Willie Marie, Barbara (Reese). Being a first for our family, I was born at Coleman-Aimar Hospital in Darlington, SC. Back in those days, a mother was only allowed to stay in the hospital for a day if everything went well during birth. Well, on the day of my mother’s departure the nurse asked her for a name for me. Boy what a chore. Having five girls already, what will we name this girl? My dad said “Marie”. My mom said, “Marie what?” In these times you had to have two names (first and middle). In her impatience, my mom said, “Willie Marie” and that is how I got my name.

    After growing up, I graduated from high school only to land my first job the day before graduation. Wow, my own money! I began working at L’eggs Products as a Machine Operator, After the initial training sessions, I found this was not what I wanted to go with the rest of my life. I begged my mom to let me go to school. Being this late getting registered, the only school I could get into was Florence Darlington Tech. So, I registered and received a degree in Secretarial Science. Now it was time to face the workplace again. There were no jobs to be found, and I ended back at L’eggs Products as a Machine Operator. I worked there for ten years but that was not for me. I started looking for a job again and this time I took another avenue. One of my old tech teachers recommended I apply for Blue Cross Blue Shield and just before Christmas, I got a job offer as a Data Entry Clerk and was later promoted to HR Recruiter. I later joined the SC Department of Social Services and retired from Performance IFH.

    I am married to my high school sweetheart, the love of my life for the past 47 years, this year would be 48 years, John McPhail, Jr. I am the proud parent of two adult children, Jonathan (Trena) and Kandice. I am the grandmother of Shondavia (reared as my own), Jonathan Jr, Malatia, Kylee, and Nyla and the great-grandmother of Devin and Jaxxon. I have a childhood best friend named Gloria Bennett Smith and a best friend from my old job at L'eggs Products named Juanita Graham Ham. We have been friends for over 30 years.

    I am a born-again Christian, I love to read, do crossword puzzles and I am an active member of Mt. Rona Baptist Church where I serve as the Church Secretary and member of the Deaconess and Senior Missionary. 

I hope that I have shared something of interest to you about me.

Written by: Willie Marie McPhail

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