Merthel Fields

Merthel “Dale” Fields, a devoted woman of God whose bright spirit and radiant smile brightened every room she entered, went peacefully to glory on Saturday, June 14, 2025, at the age of 79, in her Cornelius, North Carolina home. Born December 17, 1945, in Bluffton, Georgia, to Grace Mincy and Claude McDowell, Dale learned early what it meant to serve others, as she often rose early to help her younger siblings dress for school. At a young age, she had already begun practicing the ministry of care that she would live out her entire life.

After graduating from Speight High School, Dale set out for Long Island, New York, where she built a fulfilling career as a nanny. There, she met and married Charles Christian, and together they welcomed three beloved children. Dale’s love for family was boundless, and her home was always open, organized, and prayers were always spoken. Faith was the center of Dale’s life, and she loved doing missionary work and spreading the love of God with others. Friends and family relied on her “Biblical know-how” and the way she could select the perfect verse from memory, and offer comfort, wisdom, or guidance. After living in Long Island for many years, she relocated to Detroit, Michigan.

In Detroit, she served at Faith Temple Church, where she taught Sunday school and was part of the leadership team on the Mother’s Board. It was in Detroit, where she also met her husband, Willie Lee Fields. Their marriage was a partnership filled with adventures, car rides, and laughter until Willy’s passing in 2008. Together they relocated to the Charlotte area in 2007, where Dale continued to bloom and find community. She loved going to the YMCA, where she did water aerobics, leading Bible discussions at the community room, playing bingo with friends at the Senior Center, and she never missed a Hallmark movie that promised a happy ending. Additionally, she loved shopping and finding new items to beautify her space. Those blessed to know Dale will forever cherish her infectious laughter, her keen eye for beauty, especially in flowers, and her gift for turning even the simplest gathering into a moment of joy.

They will remember the Pinterest verses she so often shared, her love of gardening, her domestic prowess, and her impeccably clean, organized, and delightful home, which she took great pride in. Dale kept every corner of her home beautifully maintained and often helped others do the same. Above all, she will be remembered for her unwavering devotion to the Word of God—the anchor that steadied her life and the light she so freely shared.

Dale is survived by her three children: Carletta (Gregory) Christian Davis, Douglas Leron Christian, and Gloria Christian; her grandchildren, Jillian Christian, Brooke Davis, and Blaake-Kirstyn Davis; and her great-grandchildren, Jordan Lee Christian, Aspen Grace Obi, and Jaylen Antonio Thurston. She was preceded in death by her grandparents, John and Willie Mae Mincy; her parents, Grace Mincy and Claude McDowell; and her siblings, Jimmy McDowell, Merl Mincy, Billy Claude Mincy, and Barbara Mincy. She is also survived by her beloved siblings, Shirley Mincy and Valerie (Henry) Veal; her dear brother, Claude (Claudia) McDowell; and a host of nieces, nephews, extended family members, and dear friends who will continue to feel her loving influence.

Though she is no longer Earth side, Dale’s spirit lives on and shines so brightly. Her legacy of love, family, godliness, cleanliness, and beauty serves as an inspiration to us all. May her memory forever be a blessing, and may we honor her by letting our own lights shine just as faithfully.