The Rev. Lillian McCoy, 79, preacher and gospel singer

The Rev. Lillian McCoy, 79, of Philadelphia, a printing company employee and longtime pastor of a Pentecostal church in North Philadelphia, died Wednesday, July 26, of a heart attack while on a trip to New York.

She had been excited about attending a meeting of the National Christian Fellowship Conference the week of July 23. "It's all she talked about for weeks," said her daughter Valerie Martin. "She spent seven days packing for this trip."

But quietly, she had told friends she was "tired, had done the Lord's work, and was ready to go home."

Rev. McCoy went to sleep in her hotel room Tuesday night and never woke up. "My mother died a beautiful death," her daughter said.

Faith was the foundation on which Rev. McCoy built her life. "She never partied, never drank, never smoked. The church was all she knew from age 5," her daughter said.

Whatever activities Rev. McCoy took on, she did so for the long haul. She was employed for 29 years until the mid-1990s as a typesetter at Farmer Press Inc., a printing company at 2509 W. York St., Philadelphia.

For 28 years ending in 2015, Rev. McCoy held a high-profile position within the Fire Baptized Holiness Church of God of the Americas, Pennsylvania District.

When the previous pastor, Mary M. Richardson, died in 1987, Rev. McCoy took over what was then the Open Door Mission Fire Baptized Holiness Church at 1609 N. Sydenham St. She was installed by Bishop J.J. Martin that spring.

Rev. McCoy sang beautifully and was known as a "no-nonsense preacher," her family wrote. She changed the church's name to Open Door Community Fire Baptized Holiness Church to make it more welcoming to neighbors. Under her leadership, "souls were saved, set free, and delivered," her family wrote.

Elegantly dressed in suits festooned with rhinestones and lace, and with a commanding presence, she set an example of what a devout follower of Jesus should do and say. Her efforts extended to the less fortunate; she felt called to feed the homeless every fourth Sunday at the church.

Rev. McCoy was the daughter of Raymond Becoate and Lily Mae Nichols. She was born and raised in Philadelphia, and graduated from William Penn High School.

Even as a child, Rev. McCoy was drawn to the church. "She was saved, sanctified, filled with the Holy Ghost, and called to preach in her youth," her family said.

She became a dedicated member of the National Christian Fellowship Conference, the Rose of Sharon Women Pastors and Ministers Conference, the Philadelphia Council of Clergy, and the Philadelphia Clergy of the Fraternal Order of Police.

Her love of music and gospel singing enabled her to join the Heavenly Dew Drops, the Fulton Ensemble, the Gospel Singers Ensemble, the James Cleveland Mass Choir, and the Pentecostal church's Pennsylvania District Choir.

Until she became a pastor, she traveled frequently, evangelizing with the Johnny Thompson Singers.

In 1960, she met and married Amos McCoy. The McCoys had one daughter and were together until he died in November 1975.

When not ministering to her flock, Rev. McCoy enjoyed shopping and fine dining. She was an accomplished seamstress and made many robes for singing groups across the city, sometimes staying up all night to get the job done.

Faced with declining enrollment, dwindling parking near the church, and the financial pressures of maintaining the building, after much prayer and reflection, Rev. McCoy shut down the church on May 31, 2015.

A year later, she joined the Thompson Temple of Faith Fire Baptized Holiness Church, under the direction of the Rev. John A. Thompson.

She faced death bolstered by a firm belief in her faith. "She had done the work of the Lord, and could 'walk around heaven all day,' " as she had often sung in the gospel song "Walk Around Heaven," her daughter said.

In addition to her daughter, she is survived by a granddaughter and a brother.

An 8 a.m. viewing Friday, Aug. 4, will be followed by a 10 a.m. celebration of life at Gethsemane Fire Baptized Holiness Church, 2628 W. York St., Philadelphia. Interment is in Mount Peace Cemetery, Philadelphia.