Obituary of Bishop Michael Keyes, Sr.

It's with profound sadness that we, the Prestige Funeral Home Staff, announce the passing of Bishop Michael Keyes, Sr. The family will receive friends at 437 E Countryside Road, Dillon, SC. Please remember the Keyes Family and the BWTC Ministry Family in your prayers as they prepare to celebrate the life and legacy of Bishop Michael Keyes, Sr. ~The Life of Overseer Michael Lee Keyes, Sr ~ Overseer Michael Lee Keyes Sr was born on September 12,1962 in Brooklyn, New York to the late Ann Keyes. Adopted at birth by the late Reverend Willie Burgess and the late Asalee Burgess. Overseer Keyes received his High School Diploma from Dillon High School in Dillon SC in 1980. Overseer Keyes always demonstrated a thirst for knowledge. His daily routine was to rise early in the morning to study the Word of God. He furthered his post-secondary education at the Cathedral Bible College, receiving his Doctor of Theology degree. He would often refer to II Thessalonians 3:10, “If a man does not work, he should not eat.” He was employed by Beneteau Inc, in Marion SC where he would be the first one there every morning until he retired. He loved God, Family, and Football. His favorite teams were the Dallas Cowboys and the LA Lakers. Overseer Keyes grew up in a neighborhood called “The Quarters” located in Dillon, SC where he so often referred to his days where he would ride his little red bike. He grew up attending Mt Hermon Church of God in Dillon SC. At an early age, he learned the necessity of having a relationship with God. He later joined Mars Hill Bible Way Church in Dillon, SC where he received the gift of the Holy Spirit under the leadership of the late Bishop Arthur Morgan. While serving at Mars Hill Bible Way Church, then under the leadership of Bishop William Swindler, he was called into the ministry to preach and teach the gospel. There he trained for 17 years to be the leader that God had called. He was assigned several duties including teacher, Sunday School Superintendent, associate Pastor, bus driver, and many more. With the blessings of Bishop Swindler, Overseer Keyes left his church home to fulfill the vision he had been given years before. January 2001 Overseer Keyes founded the Bible Way Tabernacle Church, Inc, Dillon SC in the same neighborhood he grew up in “The Quarters”. His purpose for Bible Way Tabernacle Church was to bring people to Jesus, membership in the family, and develop them to be Christ-like, mature in the Word, equip them for their ministry in life and for their life’s mission in the world to magnify God’s name. He served faithfully and there he and his wife juggled all the duties that came with the ministry. He loved the quarters community and believed in giving back to the community. The annual Thanksgiving Dinner was a much-anticipated dinner throughout the years. He would coordinate Food, Clothes, Toy/Supply drives just to bring the community together. In 2016, he opened a second location in Lumberton NC where he felt a need to reach more people to teach them about God and the importance of having a relationship with God. Overseer Keyes established an extension of the Bible College at Bible Way Tabernacle Church. Several students were able to come and learn. His mission was to equip the total man and woman for the mighty move of God. Despite sicknesses, adversities, highs, lows, struggles, and even a pandemic, he served faithfully in the ministry. Overseer Keyes cared deeply for his members at Bible Way, he stressed that Family Matters! Some of his favorite sayings include, “Must I preach, shall I preach; just because the chicken brown on the outside, doesn’t mean it is done on the inside, this one free, I aint gonna charge you a dime, out in the middle of the ocean and drowning is not an option, Do the Shirl, we need you, we on the wall and we can’t come down, gimme 5 more minutes. During his last briefing at Bible Way Tabernacle Church, he stressed the importance of getting your life in order, He would always say when I get to heaven, I want to hear God say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.” On Thursday, July 20, 2023, Overseer Keyes departed this earthly life peacefully at home. He was preceded in death by biological mom the late Ann Keyes and his parents Willie and Asalee Burgess. He leaves to cherish his precious memories his loving and devoted wife of 41 years Interim Pastor Mary Alice Keyes; his children Alicia (Alan) Boston, Evangelist Michelle (David) Gibbons, Crystal Keyes, Michael (Tierra) Keyes Jr., Mitchell Keyes; 15 grandchildren Joseph, Aaliyah, Jykya, De’Arion, Da’Vion, Di’hanna, Christian, Kae’Yonsay, Tristan, Aumareon, Mariah, Zha’Myiah, Jamiah, Madison, Mitchell Jr.; two great grandsons Jayceon, Jazier; three special grandchildren Emmanuel, Yasriyyah, Lasha; bonus mom Dorothy Burgess; one brother Donald (Helena) Stephens, three sisters Elder Jennifer Litmon, Geraldine Gibson, Shirley Swinton; a special family member Dianna Keyes, one special god-son Russell Nelson Jr.; four special god-daughters, Quanisha Breeden, Jessica Swindler, Miracle Miles, Sa’riah Graham; multiple brother and sister in laws, Bishop Henry (Agnes) McRae, Dr Russell (Esther) Nelson, Elder Leavy (Shirley) Wells, Superintendent Linda Davis, Roderick (Blanche) Madison, John (Cynthia) McRae, Anna Rogers, Thaddeus (Connie) McRae, Betty Graham, Larry McRae; The Bible Way Tabernacle Church Family, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, and friends.