Uncrowned Community Builders

Burnie C. McCarley was born on October 18, 1894 in Kershaw County, now known as Camden, South Carolina. His parents were Israel and Rebecca McCarley. He accepted Christ at the early age of 14 and joined Bethel AME Zion Church in Camden. He married Alice Neal on February 9, 1913 and was called to preach the Gospel in October of that year.

The McCarleys moved to Buffalo in 1923 and joined Pleasant Grove Baptist Church. Rev. McCarley was ordained as a Baptist minister in 1924. In 1927, he founded St. John Baptist Church with four members, including Mrs. McCarley, her sister, Mabel McCarley and Joseph and Dora Kelly. The small congregation held services at 657 William Street, 481 Clinton Street and 616 Clinton Street. A year later, the congregation was still small and Rev. McCarley acknowledged that he was discouraged. But, he said he received a vision of a church with many members, which encouraged him to continue his ministry. In 1930 St. John Baptist Church was incorporated and moved from its location on Clinton Street to 92 Monroe Street.

In the ensuing years, between 1930 and 1945, St. Johnââ?¬â?¢s membership grew steadily and soon outgrew the building on Monroe Street. For a purchase price of $21,000, the St. John congregation moved to its new building at 183 Sycamore Street in 1945. Under Rev. McCarleyââ?¬â?¢s powerful leadership and vision, St. John became one of the leading Houses of Worship in the City of Buffalo. As the congregation continued to grow, a building fund was established in 1964 to purchase a parcel of land at 184 Goodell Street. Construction of the current church building was completed in 1966 and in May of that year, Rev. McCarley and the congregation marched from 183 Sycamore Street to the present edifice at 184 Goodell. Rev. McCarley continued to lead the congregation until ill health and his ultimate death in 1972.

Rev. and Mrs. McCarley have two daughters, Jannie McCarley Peterson and Rebecca McCarley Savage Brown. Mrs. Peterson is an Uncrowned Queen whose bio can be seen on the Uncrowned Queens site. Mrs. Brown was married to John Wesley Savage, the first Black empire inducted into the WNY Softball Hall of Fame. To this union six children were born. After raising her children, Rebecca returned to Fosdick Masten High School and received her Practical Nursing Degree. She retired from the Veteranââ?¬â?¢s Hospital. The McCarleyââ?¬â?¢s also had three sons, Burnie C. McCarley Jr. who died at the age of 10 months in a fire. Their second son, Thomas served in World War II. He worked as an auto mechanic, as did the third son, Thomas who served in the Korean War.

The legacy of ministers in the McCarley family continues in three grandsons, Rev. Wesley Savage Jr., who is deceased, Rev. Burnie Savage and Rev. Gregory Savage and one great grandson, Rev. Derren Young.