Mr. Billy J. Straham

STRAHAM, Mr. Billy J. - Age 85, passed away Thursday, March 2, 2017 at Hurley Medical Center. Family hour 10:00 AM Thursday, March 9, 2017 from the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 906 W. Flint Park Blvd., with funeral service commencing at 11:00 AM Pastor Michael Dexter officiating. Interment Great Lakes National Cemetery, G-4200 Belford Rd., Holly, MI. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the funeral home 10:00 AM Thursday. Mr. Straham will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, and may be viewed from 1:00 PM - 8:00 PM Wednesday, with family present from 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM to receive friends. Billy J. Straham made his transition to be with his Lord at 1:07 am on March 2, 2017. He was born on January 17, 1932 in Moffett, Oklahoma, the second son of Earnest Sr. and Virgil (Toles) Straham. Billy was raised in a Christian family and accepted Jesus as his Savior at an early age. At the age of 17, he joined the United States Army and served his country for a term of four years. He retired from Ford Motor Company. Billy was politically astute and felt blessed to see the first African American President Barack Obama take office. He enjoyed dancing and was an award-winning Ballroom Dancer. He also was a “Golden Glove” boxer while in high school. Furthermore, Billy was an outdoorsman that enjoyed activities such as fishing and landscaping. In 1994, Billy worked for the Mr. Rogers Garden Program mentoring at risk youth in the community at Bunche Elementary School. He thoroughly enjoyed working in this capacity for two years. Billy would tell Mr. Gaines that when his group of kids would see him out in the community, they would call him “Mr. Rogers” and this made him proud. Billy J. Straham leaves to cherish his memory: wife, Mrs. Lenora Straham; children, Mrs. Gina (Bill) Ratcliff, Ms. Gianna Straham, Mrs. Dee (Pastor Mike) Dexter, Mrs. Pam (Gregory) Gaines, Mr. Charles Blake (Beulah) Montgomery and Ms. Jennifer Montgomery; 11 grandchildren; 9 great-grandchildren; siblings, Mr. Milton (Nisha) Straham, Mrs. Bobbie Kay (Amir) Houshiar, Mr. Sherman (Quincy) Straham and Mrs. Freddie Mae Strims; sisters-in-law, Bessie Straham, Mammie Straham and Edith Robinson; along with a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends. Billy was preceded in death by his son, Robert Wayne Montgomery; parents, Earnest Sr. and Virgil (Toles) Straham; sister, Mary Ann Washington; 3 brothers, Earnest Straham Jr., Curtis Straham and Dr. Clarence Straham.

Mr. Billy J. Straham

January 17, 1932 - March 2, 2017