Michelle B. Mcpherson

Michelle was born to Joseph and Ernestine Bagley in Chester, Pennsylvania (PA) on October 17,
1956. Growing up in a loving family, she was the sixth of seven children and the youngest of three
girls. Michelle transitioned from her Charlotte home to be home with Jesus Christ on December
22, 2024. She had battled cancer since August 2020.

She is preceded in death by her parents and two brothers: Muhammad Kenyatta, Esq. and
Cornelius Bagley. She leaves to cherish her memories: her husband James of 42 years; two
sisters, Joanne Odotei (Ako) of Tema, Ghana, and Carolyn Kennedy (Tobias) of Aston, PA; and two
brothers: Freddie Brooks (Angie) of Harrisburg, PA, and Alan Bagley of Aston, PA. Michelle also
leaves a loving and caring Aunt Joyce Robinson and Uncle Edward Robinson of Harrisburg and
several nephews and nieces, grand nephews and nieces, God-children and a host of other family
members and friends.

She began her wonderful walk with Jesus Christ in 1966, when she accepted Him as her Lord and
Savior, and was water-baptized by immersion at Calvary Baptist Church in Chester. As Michelle
relocated for law school and employment of her husband and herself, she became a member of
other churches in Washington, DC; Detroit, Michigan; Cary and Raleigh, North Carolina; Vienna,
Virginia; and Fort Mill, South Carolina.

Michelle expressed her love for God and His children through serving in various ministries. She
began her service as a five-year old gospel singer with the Harmonizing Echoes, her brother
Freddie's group. She regularly attended Sunday School and Vacation Bible School, sang in choirs,
and served with the Teenage Club, the Adult Fellowship and Youth Ministries. Michelle also
served as a leader on the Pastoral Counsel, Women's Ministries, Junior Church, and African and
Friends Ministry.

While in Chester, Michelle attended Lincoln Elementary School, Showalter Junior High School, and
Chester High School. In 1981, she received her Bachelor's degree with honors in Political Science
and Sociology from Beaver College, Glenside, PA in 1981. Michelle received her Juris Doctor
degree from Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, NC in 1985.
She and her husband attended law school together from 1982 to 1985. While at Georgetown,
Michelle was selected as a Legal Research and Writing Instructor for first-year students. She was
also selected as a research associate for Professor Elizabeth Patterson, collaborating on writing
and publishing a law review article on international commerce. Furthermore, Michelle was a
coach for moot court participants who engaged in regional competition as part of the Black Law
Students Association. Finally, she worked at the Department of Labor in Washington, DC and the
Philadelphia District Attorney's Office in Philadelphia, PA during the summers of 1983 and 1984,
respectively.

After graduating from law school, Michelle was hired in 1985 as an associate attorney in Detroit
with the largest law firm in Michigan, Dykema Gossett. Her specialty was commercial litigation,
where she primarily represented major car manufacturers and large retailers. After moving to
North Carolina in 1989, Michelle practiced law with the North Carolina Department of Justice in
Raleigh, North Carolina. As a Special Deputy Attorney General, she supervised lawyers and staff
who provided health care counsel to state agencies. Also, Michelle served as an Assistant
Attorney General in the areas of health care and consumer protection. She retired from the
Department of Justice in 2006. After James retired they moved to Charlotte, North Carolina and
joined Eternal Church in Fort Mill, SC in 2021.