Julia Hagans

The life of Julia “Mack” Hagans is a story of faith, drive, duty, generosity, longevity and grace. She was born in Belhaven, NC on November 25, 1913 to Clifford and Cecelia Howard. Clifford and Cecilia had five daughters, Julia, Ernerstine, and Emma Mae, and Bernice and Hilda, who died in infancy.

As a young adult, Mack wed Tony Hoyle. Tony and Mack had one child, Juanita. A tragic incident early in their marriage left Tony dead, Julia a young widow, and Juanita without her biological father. Mack became a single mother, but she was not alone. She had her faith and her family, especially her sisters “Tine” and Emma.

In her thirties Mack took her talents and dreams to New York City. She was one of millions of Black people across the south who left the south in search of better opportunities in urban centers across the north as part of the Great Migration. Juanita stayed behind with family in Virginia while Mack established her footing in the Big Apple. Once Mack was settled in the city, she sent for her daughter.

This mother-daughter duo thrived in NYC and expanded their family. Mack happily remarried Claude Hagans, a military veteran who worked for the NYC Department of Hospitals. Juanita married Nathan Breland, a military veteran who worked for the Metropolitan Transportation Association. Nathan and Juanita Breland gave Mack the joy of being a grandmother when they had Nathan Breland Jr. (“Nadie”) in 1955 and Victor Breland in 1958. She became a great grandmother when Nathan Breland Jr. and Roslyn “Rozy” Levy had Kwan Levy in 1975, and Victor Breland and Katrina Levy had Victor Sheron Breland in 1978 and Alex Breland in 1982.

In 1978, when her kids were adults, Juanita, by this time known as Do’a, earned a Bachelor of Science degree in education from Medgar Evers College and became an elementary school teacher for NYC Public Schools. This was a remarkable feat for a grandmother, made possible because of the unyielding support she got from Mack. Mack was immensely proud of her daughter’s professional success, which was an example of the progress she envisioned when she moved to NYC years earlier.

For decades Mack filled her life with the joys of family and friends, church, and public service. She was an active member of St. Marks Church of Christ Disciples, singing in its choir and supporting its service initiatives. She continued her service in her immediate neighborhood earning recognition from the NYC Housing Authority for her support of family programming for residents.

Mack’s faith, drive, and service were rewarded with unparalleled longevity, and throughout her 106 years of life she spared no expense to provide the same unyielding support she gave to her daughter to anyone fortunate enough to be in beneficiaries of her love and generosity. Whether it was a place to stay, a home-cooked meal, financial support, or just good ole wise counsel she was always present for them regardless of their fortune, and for that they are immensely grateful and always striving to make her proud.

Because of her endless generosity Mack was showered with endless generosity from family and friends, chief among them her neighbors at 268 Osborn Street, the Borden family. Over the years Fannie and Bill Borden’s children Kim, Angeliqua, and Angelica grew to know Mack as their “Nana” andMackcherishedtheroleandmoniker. Shelovedthesegirlsdearlyand understandably so. The Borden family truly exemplified the directive from Mark 12:31 that “[t]hou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself”. They provided direct daily care to Mack when she entered advanced age and could no longer independently care for her well-being.

On January 14, 2020, Mack took her last breath, closing the book on an earthly life that she lived with grace. She was statuesque in the prime of her adult life, and always regal in her dress, presentation and manner, even as she moved into advanced age. She was self-described as “spicy” and unquestionably fiercely independent. She had a voice coated in chocolate that could both sooth and command a room. She was quick-witted and fearless in her expression. She was a phenomenal woman.

Mack is survived by her grandson Victor, and great grandsons Kwan, Sheron and Alex, and his wife Elizabeth Todd-Breland. Much to Mack’s delight, her youngest surviving descendants are a generation of young women, great-great granddaughters Mikaihla Victoria Howe, a freshman at Pace University, Natalie Juanita Breland, a first grader at Bronzeville Classical School, and Julia Roz Breland, a preschooler at Loop Learning Center. Mikaihla is the daughter of Sheron and Sharla Howe. Natalie and Julia are the daughters of Alex and Elizabeth.