Mr. Christopher Lensey Echols

ECHOLS, Mr. Christopher Lensey - Age 48, passed away Saturday, December 31, 2022, in Franklin, TN. Family hour 10:00 AM Friday, January 13, 2023, at St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church, 3020 Dupont St., with funeral service commencing at 11:00 AM Pastor Kevin Thompson, officiating. Interment Lovedale Memorial Cemetery, G-5175 E. Bristol Rd., Burton, MI. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the church 10:00 AM Friday. Mr. Echols will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 906 W. Flint Park Blvd., and may be viewed from 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM Thursday with family present to receive friends from 4:00 to 6:00 PM. Christopher Lensey Echols was born on March 4, 1974 to Lensey Earl Mason and Vickie Sue Echols in Flint, MI. At an early age Christopher used to watch his uncle Kenneth take apart radios and TVs. He started to work on circuits and anything electrical while in elementary school. When Chris was in high school he excelled in all his classes and graduated with honors in 1992 from Flint Northern High School. Christopher graduated from General Motors Institute (GMI) undergraduate electrical engineering program in 1997. While working full time and raising his son as a single parent, Chris pursued and accomplished obtaining a master’s in science in Lean Manufacturing with a concentration in GM Global Leadership with a 4.0 GPA from Kettering University. Christopher was employed at General Motors for over 30 years. Chris was much like John Henry, an old folklore about an African American man who worked on the railroads and believed that he could work harder and longer than a steam drill using two hammers. John was right! The steam drill stopped working and John had won the challenge of man against machine. Two days later John died from what folks believed to be from the stress of the competition. Just like John, Chris worked day in and day out and was a ‘steel-drivenman’ The “machine” for Chris was his exemplary work ethic and his dream for his son to graduate from college. Christopher loved the Star Wars franchise, comic books, live boxing matches, collectible action figures, painting and he had an obsession with watches. He was a vintner and wine connoisseur. He is survived by his dear son Christian Luke Echols, step daughter Alexandria Brown, significant other Bianca Alexander and his bonus children Asia, Ty, Taj and India. Brothers Derrick Echols (Michella Johnson), and Connell Howard, Aunts Ella Jane Echols, Tobythia Echols (Eric Perry), Mary, Myrtis, and Brenda Mason, Uncles Evy Echols, Kenneth (Rose) Echols, Rondey Echols (Wanda Mckowen), Gregory (Brenda) Mason, Charles (Cherry) Mason. His dear niece and nephew Tayia Echols and Davontay Ross. Cousins Kenneth Echols jr. , Rhonda Moore, Gwendolyn Echols, Reagan Hobson, Darrington Hobson and Very special cousins Voncha (Derwin) Henderson and Clezelle (Starlin) Swinney. A host of other cousins, family and dear friends including Michael Horne, Kejuan Wilkins, Jacolbi Jarrett, Dante’ McNeal, and DuShawn Marshall. Christopher was preceded in death by his mother and father Vickie Sue Echols, and Lensey Earl Mason, his grand parents Evy (Gwendolyn) Echols, Sammy( Alice) Mason. A special thank you to Susan Richardson and the GM family, Detective Craig Wright of the Franklin PD, Sam Davis and Davis,Campbell, and McClain Funeral Home, Kettering University, and MSU. Your thoughtfulness is deeply appreciated and will always be remembered by the family of Christopher Lensey Echols. To honor Christopher’s Legacy please follow the link below to donate to the Christopher Echols ’97,’22 Scholarship fund https://donate.kettering.edu/o/kettering-university/i/give-to-kettering/s/the-christopher-echols-97-22-scholarship

Mr. Christopher Lensey Echols

March 4, 1974 - December 31, 2022