Johnnie Mae McCorkle

On February 16, 1937, in Gray, Georgia, Johnnie Mae Phillips McCorkle was welcomed into this world by her proud parents, Mary Smith Phillips and Johnny Phillips. The middle child of three children, Johnnie Mae was the younger sister of Gertrude Parker and older sister of Joseph Phillips. Johnnie Mae McCorkle was a 1955 graduate of Central High School in Mobile, Alabama, and attended Springhill College in Mobile. She moved to New Orleans in 1956 where she attended Charity School of Nursing and worked at S.H. Kress as a Floor Clerk. On March 8, 1958, Johnnie Mae was joined in holy matrimony to Willie Earl McCorkle, Sr., in Columbia, Mississippi. To this union four children were born – Willie, Jr., Lisa, Kevin and Daphne. Johnnie Mae and her husband were married for 20 years and together they built a life full of happiness and love. Johnnie Mae and her husband were the proud owners of Earl’s Cool Spot, and, before his passing, they were part of many social clubs in New Orleans. Johnnie Mae had a loving and caring soul. She deeply cherished her family and enjoyed all the memories made and shared together. She loved traveling, horse racing, cards and music, and she enjoyed watching baseball and football. Johnnie Mae was a former member of St. Jude Catholic Church, and she recommitted her life to Christ at Second Zion Baptist Church in Uptown New Orleans. On Thursday, August 14, 2025, Johnnie Mae McCorkle closed her eyes and fell into a peaceful sleep at her daughter’s home in Winston Salem, North Carolina, and opened them in the presence of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Although her presence will be missed by all who loved her, God’s angels rejoiced when they saw Johnnie Mae and her beautiful smile at the pearly gates. Johnnie Mae leaves to cherish her memories, three children, Willie Jr. (Denise), Kevin Sr. (Tammie) and Lisa McCorkle; eleven grandchildren, Justin (Nina), Willie III (Fabienne), Robert, Trent, Taylor, Paige, Kevin Jr. (Richelle), Jamez, Timothy, Tierra and Treasure; 19 great-grandchildren; a sister, Gertrude Parker; a brother, Joseph Phillips; and a host of nephews, nieces, relatives and friends. In addition to her parents and her husband, she was preceded in death by her daughter, Daphne McCorkle; her stepfather, James Dupree; her grandmother, Mattie Smith; and the mother of two of her grandsons, Janeen McCorkle. Relatives and friends of the family are invited to a Funeral Service at D.W. Rhodes Funeral Home, 3933 Washington Ave., New Orleans, LA 70125 on Thursday, August 28, 2025 at 10:00am. Visitation will begin at 9:00am until 10:00am. Internment: Providence Memorial Park Cemetery, Metairie, LA. Arrangements entrusted to D.W. Rhodes Funeral Home, 3933 Washington Ave., New Orleans, LA 70125. Please visit www.rhodesfueneral.com to sign the online guestbook, share memories and condolences with the family.