Nathan McGlothen Jr.

Nathen McGlothen Jr., 73, a native of Indianola, Mississippi, transitioned this life on Wednesday, November 18, 2020 peacefully at home in Trenton, New Jersey surrounded by his loving and devoted wife, Letha of 53 years, three children, one son-in-law, and two grandchildren praising and worshiping God. Nathen lived a spiritual life that epitomized the spirit of Christ. While he may be absent from this earthly body, he is present with the Lord.

He was the fourth child and second son of twelve children born to Nathen Sr. and Mattie McGlothen in rural Sunflower County, in Indianola, Mississippi on a mild wintry day on January 14, 1947. As a child growing up, Nathen was known by his family, friends, church family, school administration and staff to be a young man who demonstrated true virtues of being faithful, prayerful, patient, loving, humble, obedient, giving, virtuous, wise and forgiving. He was never one who claimed to be a perfect person or condemned others but rather would simply say, "Well, I don't know, but God does." He knew how to take a compliment and how to use constructive, criticisms to better himself so that he could live out his hope as taught by Jesus Christ in John 14:6: "1 am the way, the truth and the life; no man cometh unto the Father but by Me." His whole heart, mind and soul was set on going to his prepared home in heaven to spend eternal life with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

His greatest pleasure in life, other than his love and devotion to his family, was serving the Lord at Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church as a member of the male and senior choirs. He had a deep passion for the Word of God through the ministry of music. Nathen was never shy or hesitant to sing the melodies of God at home, in church or traveling to and from New Jersey or various states when visiting his family. As a matter of fact, singing and reflecting about the goodness of the Lord helped to make the journey exciting and short traveled. Nathen's wisdom and life application served as an inspiration to countless youths and adults. When he was home, he loved to watch the old and the classic westerns, military, and martial arts movies.

For 42 years, Nathen was employed at Ocean Spray Cranberry Company in Bordentown, New Jersey while working seven years part-time at Hills Refrigerate in Trenton, New Jersey. An industrious and devoted employee, Nathen worked his way from worker to supervisor. In 2014 the Lord blessed him to retire from Ocean Spray Cranberry Company to spend time with his family and to pursue his Continued interests at Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church.

On First Sunday, July 7, 1968, God united Nathen in Holy matrimony to his high school sweetheart and love of his life, Letha Mae Phillips. Through this union, Nathen and Letha were blessed with three healthy and beloved children, Cheryl, Tammy and Anthony. Nathen and Letha spent 53 years honoring and caring for each through the better and worse, in rich and poorer times, in sickness and health and certainly until death separated them on Wednesday, November 18, 2020.

Nathen was preceded in death by his parents, Nathen Sr. and Mattie McGlothen, two sisters, Eva L. Williams and Monzola Mabrey and six grandchildren, Nathen Ismail Johnson and Jacelyn Diana Knox, Ka'janae Bre'anna McGlothen, Ma'zell Letha Mae McGlothen, Anya Kadaria McGlothen and Anthony McGlothen Jr.

He is survived by his wife, Letha M. Phillips McGlothen, three children: Cheryl(William) Redd, Tammy Bell, and Anthony (Cynthia) McGlothen; thirteen grandchildren; twenty-one great grandchildren; one great-great grandchild; two brothers: Jerry McGlothen and Johnny McGlothen; seven sisters: Dorothy Johnson, Betty Wideman, Ora (John) Nellum, Annie (Cleotha) Whitley, Magnolia (Alexander) Brown, Marvie Thomas, and Patricia McGlothen; mother-in-law, Mrs. Letha Inman, two brothers-in-law, James (Rose) Phillips and Abraham (Claudia) Phillips; six sisters-in-law: Druza Myers, Virgie (James) Brown, Irene (Gordan) Phillips, Pairalee Phillips, Birdie (Steve) Cason, and Mattie Weeks; a host of nieces, nephews, great and great -great nieces and nephews, and a host of loving cousins and friends.

Funeral services will be 10am Saturday, November 28, 2020 at the Hughes Funeral Home, 324 Bellevue Ave., Trenton, NJ 08618. Calling hours will be 8am until the time of service at the Funeral home.   Interment will be at Greenwood Cemetery, Hamilton, NJ.  

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