Maurice S. Muhammad

Livestream hosted on Facebook by American Gospel Quartet Convention, Inc.

The “beautiful life” of Maurice Stephone (Mack) Muhammad began on August 9, 1969, in the Edgewater Community of Birmingham, Alabama with his loving mother, Dr. Jacqueline Whitfield Stewart, and his father, Walter Mack, who preceded him in death. This “picturesque journey” concluded Monday, August 12, 2024. 

Maurice was denoted as a leader since childhood. He was always willing to help and find a solution to the problem for his family and his friends. From childhood through college, Maurice was a faithful member of St. John Baptist Church Edgewater in Birmingham under the leadership of Rev. Jonathan McPherson, Sr. He served on the Junior Usher Board and sang in the Sunday School Choir. 

As a student, Maurice was an accomplished leader. Maurice was an esteemed product of the Jefferson County School System and graduated from Minor High School in 1987 where he played varsity basketball and was recognized as an outstanding point guard and shooter. While in high school, he was a proud member of the high school fraternity, Phi Alpha, Inc. and Jack and Jill of America, Inc. where he served in various leadership positions with the “Teen Group”. Maurice earned his bachelor’s degree in business management from his beloved alma mater, Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee in 1992. While at Fisk University, Maurice continued to enhance his leadership skills serving as a freshmen orientation leader and a student ambassador for the university. He was affectionately known by all on campus “Mo Mack”. Maurice was a leader on the basketball court for the Fisk Bulldogs for four years and became the university’s third all-time leading scorer with over 2,000 career points. He also played baseball and hosted the “Slow-Jam Radio Show” on the campus radio network WFSK-FM. “Mo Mack” was a stranger to no one and a friend to everyone. He made sure that all Fiskites he encountered were embraced with genuine Fisk love and pride. He always said that “It is a privilege to be a Fiskite!” His enthusiasm, love and admiration for Fisk was expressed in his weekly “Fisk Friday” paraphernalia posts on social media. He wore Fisk paraphernalia every Friday. 

Upon matriculation from Fisk University, Maurice continued to be a leader and returned to Birmingham to help his mother advance her day care centers, Huggs and Kisses. This was not enough for Maurice, he wanted to expand his knowledge base to incorporate law with his business acumen. Maurice received his Juris Doctorate degree from Miles Law School. 

In 1995, Maurice was initiated into the Alpha Phi Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. with 12 other men known as the “13 Rolls of Thunder”. Maurice truly embodied the concept, “Friendship is Essential to the Soul.” Not only was he a great Omega man, but he was a great friend. From attending the Grand Conclaves to just “Good Bruh Thursday”, he shared his friendship amongst all the men of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. and was recognized as a dynamic leader in the fraternity. 

While at Fisk University, Maurice was introduced to the Nation of Islam and the Teachings of The Honorable Elijah Muhammad under the leadership of The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan. He became a member of the Nation of Islam (NOI) in Muhammad Mosque #60 in Nashville and served faithfully in Muhammad Mosque #69 in Birmingham until his untimely transition. Maurice quickly assumed his role as a leader with NOI. Bro. Maurice served as the Mosque #69 Secretary. Brother Captain and Protocol Director where he planned and organized numerous NOI programs across the country. Additionally, he served as the Student Minister in Tuscaloosa, Alabama and Montgomery, Alabama where he worked tirelessly for the community and with community leaders to improve the lives of anyone who needed him. He also worked on the NOI National Legal Team where he worked with legal advisors across the country to develop policy and strategies for the NOI. 

Maurice also led off the basketball court. In 2005, Maurice’s deep love of basketball was expressed with his purchase and development of the Magic City Court Kings, a professional basketball team of the World Basketball Association. Maurice designed the logo and team uniforms, recruited sponsorships and mentored a team of young men that remained in contact with him. Maurice also founded Sports Potential, a sports agency service to help under-recruited athletes find scholarship opportunities. He was responsible for hundreds of male and female athletes receiving athletic scholarships in all sports. 

Professionally, Maurice continued to be a leader serving as the Chief Magistrate in the municipal court system for the city of Bessemer, Alabama. He also served as a past magistrate for the city of Birmingham. Although magistrate was his title, he embodied his profession as a calling to serve and assist anyone in need. He assisted countless citizens in awarding second chances and rehabilitation opportunities. He never failed to offer advice and discretion in assisting anyone who called or stopped by his office. He felt his position was his vocation. He continued to illustrate his leadership abilities by developing job programs and domestic violence programs to assist those in need. He never hesitated to answer the phone day or night to provide legal advice or counseling to anyone, whether he knew them or not. 

Maurice enjoyed life to the fullest. He was not afraid of challenges because he believed that challenges make one stronger. He would always comedically say, “if you fall down, you cannot do anything but either get up or lay there.” The most important aspect of life was his family. It was always of the utmost importance that his family never went without the necessities of life. He was selfless and always put family needs before his needs. 

Maurice never wanted to see a sad face. He could sense if someone was having a bad day and would find some type of way to make that person laugh and forget their pain. Any person in his presence would feel loved, seen and heard. Maurice was also a comedian in his own right. He always found a way to make everyone laugh. Maurice was known for his social media “jailisms” posts which highlighted humorous stories from worklife. 

 He fought daily for social justice and advocated for victims of domestic and gun violence. Additionally, he lectured inmates, civic and youth groups. His expertise and passions in these various topics opened doors for him to be a guest lecturer and panelist across the country. His legacy of community service and advocacy will forever be remembered. He was truly an extraordinary man and leader.

He was preceded in death by: his maternal grandparents, Mrs. Eloise Whitfield and Mr. Willie Whitfield; paternal grandparents, Mrs. Mary Mack Powell and Reverend Primus Mack; beloved uncle, Willie Whitfield, Jr. and his mother-in-love, Katherine Z. Dudley.

With a life well lived, he leaves to carry on his legacy, his wife, Dr. Fanchon Dudley Muhammad; his daughter, Nayirah Adia Muhammad; his sons, Asad Maurice Muhammad and Samad Amin Muhammad; his parents, Dr. Jacqueline and Elder George W. Stewart; his father-in-love and line brother, Mr. Frederick G. Dudley, I; his siblings, Walter Clark, Tangee Edwards Williams, Latoreia Mack and Walter Mack, Jr.; his brother and sister-in-love, Frederick, II and Tina Dudley; his nephew, Will (Gloriana) Dudley; his niece, Chloe Dudley; his uncle and aunt, Wilbert (Tony) and Vanessa Whitfield; cousins, Jasmine and Kayla Whitfield; a dear godsister and friend, Chantay Walker; a host of other close family members and friends.