Mrs. Ophelia Waits

WAITS, Mrs. Ophelia - Age 79, passed away Sunday, November 28, 2021 at McLaren-Flint. Family hour 1:30 PM Wednesday, December 8, 2021, from the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 906 W. Flint Park Blvd., with funeral service commencing at 2:00 PM. Pastor Tywan Feimester, officiating. Interment Sunset Hills Cemetery, G-4413 Flushing Rd. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the chapel 1:30 PM Wednesday. Mrs. Waits will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home and may be viewed from 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM Tuesday. Mrs. Ophelia Waits was born April 1, 1942, in Crawford, Mississippi, the daughter of the late Aaron Grace and Lula Ward-Grace. Ophelia graduated from Moor High School, “Class of 1960” in Crawford, MS. She moved to Flint, Michigan in 1961. Ophelia met Lonnie Waits and joined him in marriage. She was hired into Fisher Body I, a division of General Motors Corporation and later transferred to Buick City where she retired after 26 years of service. Ophelia was a member of UAW Local #599. She was the matriarch of her family. Ophelia loved and was loved, cherish and respected by so many. Her time here on earth with us was nothing short of amazing, but gracefully fulfilled until the end. She was a caring caregiver to her family throughout the generations. A wonderful wife, marvelous mother, gracious grandmother, spectacular sister, awesome auntie and fantastic friend. Ophelia believed in the Lord and attended church at an early age. She was a member of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Pastor Lewis Randolph. Ophelia was a faithful member until her health declined. She loved traveling and returning back home to be with her mother and enjoying her family/friends in Crawford, MS. Ophelia valued knowledge and sharing it with whomever she came in contact with. She had a purpose in life and instilled it in her children. Ophelia was very elegant and enjoyed the finer things, but the simplest pleasures in life which brought joy to her. Mrs. Ophelia Waits leaves to cherish her memory: son, Zachary (Bilal) Scott; daughters, Gloria Maynie and Jamila Waits-Vincent; step-children, Adrian Harris and Lonnie (Tyrone) Waits; grandchildren, JaQuanda Clark, Zachary D. Scott, Qjuanika Swift, Michael Vincent, Kiara Swann, Khadejah Joy, Laturnia Davis, Airyonna Vincent, Kendal Maynie and Jyonnaya Beauregard; great-grandchildren, Brazil, Alayna and Jyi’Asia “Punkin Patch” Vincent, all of Flint; sister, Mrs. Lillie Ware of Grand Blanc, MI; brother, Walter J. Tipton of Flint; a host of nieces including special nieces, Beverly Grace of Flint, Darlyn Stafford of Novi, MI, Gwendolyn Hudson of California and Tykia Tipton of Alabama; a host of nephews including special nephews, Daryl Grace, Alonzo Brooks, Mac Arthur Brooks and Tywan Feimster; special great-niece who she raised as her own, Zakesha McGee of Atlanta, GA; cousins, Dorothy Stallings and Joseph Stallings of Burton, MI; a host of other relatives and friends including special friends, Mr. Johnnie Goodman, “Ricky Rich”, Virginia Varner, Lois Coleman and Mary Palmer of Flint; god-daughters, Lacelia Dixon, Shanda Hunt, Carmen Davis, Darlisha Vincent, Gina Swann and Xenia Swift; god-son, Kevin Scroggins, all of Flint. Mrs. Waits was preceded in death by her husband, Lonnie Waits; son, Ivan Grace; parents, Aaron and Lula Ward-Grace; brothers, Samuel and Caleb Grace; sister, Ida Mae Grace; son-in-law, Jermaine Vincent; great-niece, Zakeya McGee; cousin/daughter, Lucy Ann Tipton; and cousin, Susie Stallings Brooks. The family would like to express special thanks to Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, Pastor Tywan Feimster, McLaren-Flint, Dr. Sudd, Dr. Ali and 6th Floor CCU. Any and all family and friends of Zachary (Bilal) and Jamila.

Mrs. Ophelia Waits

April 1, 1942 - November 28, 2021