Merry Gay Mcmackin Little

CHAMPAIGN-Merry Gay McMackin Little, 71, passed away after a battle with lung cancer on May 16, 2014 at Carle Hospital. She was with her children, Lisa Gay Little of Champaign, Chad Little (Sonia) of New Lenox, and her former husband and best friend, Jess Little when she died. A Memorial Service will be held on June 21, 2014 at St. Teresas Catholic Church in Salem, Illinois at 11:00 am, with a reception following at the Elks Club. At Merry Gays request, all guests are to wear blue. Merry Gay was born on June 16, 1942 in St. Louis to Captain Charles Lincoln McMackin II and Flora Jane Gibson McMackin. She grew up in Salem, Illinois, attended Nursing School in Chicago, and received her bachelors of science in Criminal Justice from Georgia State University in 1997. Also surviving are her two sisters, Mary Belle McMackin (John) Steiger of Maryville and Ellen McMackin (Jerry) Spencer of Glen Carbon; grandchildren, Tyler Little and Nicole Bernatchez; nephews, Matt Feldmann, Jon Wilson, and Paul Wilson; and one niece, Sarah Eich. Merry Gay worked for the Champaign County Sheriffs Office as the Program Manager for 19 years. She was one of the first women in this field and was known nationally for her expertise. Merry Gay also worked for the Atlanta, GA City and Beaufort County, SC Departments of Corrections. She returned to Illinois in 1998 to be closer to her family. She lived with Chad and provided child care for her grandson, and in 2005 she moved to Champaign and began working for the Center for Women in Transition (now Courage Connections) as an overnight Case Manager. During her career in corrections and jails, Merry Gay was active nationally with the American Correctional Association and the American Jail Association, and served as the first female president of AJA. She was also well respected for her work in gaining professional ACA Accreditation for the Champaign County Jail, implementing jail programs in Atlanta, and steering Beaufort, SC and Portland, ME departments as facility project manager for the construction of their new jails. She was truly an innovative professional in the field of corrections administration. Merry Gay enjoyed reading, spending time friends and family, laughing and sharing her love of gardening with everyone. She helped her daughter put in a lovely garden at their home which will be an enduring legacy to her memory. Merry Gay was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the American Legion Auxiliary, and the Elks (Salem, IL). Merry Gay will fondly be remembered for her outgoing, protective, and vivacious spirit. She was always supportive of her family, and she will be greatly missed by those who knew her. Donations may be made in her name to The Center for Women in Transition/Courage Connections, or your local Humane Society. The family has called upon the care of Sunset Funeral Home and Cremation Center, Champaign-Urbana Chapel, 710 N. Neil Street, Champaign to accord her cremation. If you would like to reach out to Merry Gays family, please join them in sharing photos, videos, and memories of her on her tribute wall at www.sunsetfuneralhome.com.