Earl Hairston

HAIRSTON, Mr. Earl - Age 68, passed away Wednesday, December 8, 2010 at McLaren Regional Medical Center. Family hour 10 a.m. Friday, December 17, 2010 at Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, 1083 E. Stewart Ave., with funeral service commencing immediately at 11 a.m. Rev. Wallace Hill, III officiating, Rev. Lewis Randolph, Host Pastor. Interment River Rest Cemetery, G-4413 Flushing Rd. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the church 10 a.m. Friday. Mr. Hairston will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 906 W. Flint Park Blvd., and may be viewed from 12-8 p.m. Thursday. Mr. Earl Hairston was born December 5, 1942 in Crawford, Mississippi, the son of the late James W. and Mattie Inez Hairston. Earl accepted Christ at an early age at Fairview Missionary Baptist Church in Crawford, MS. Many knew him as “Sonny”, other as “Puck” and to a few as “Big Duke.” He was the eldest of 11 children. He departed from Crawford, MS in 1961 to his prize destination, Flint Michigan. Earl initially worked odd jobs before landing a position on March 3, 1963 with SPO Otterburn in Swartz Creek, which is known now as GMSPO in Grand Blanc. He retired after 37 years of dedication. In his leisure time, Earl enjoyed watching world news and sporting events. He appreciated political leaders Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X and Barack Obama. Baseball, basketball and football were his favorite sports, with the Detroit Lions noted as his #1 team win or lose. Who was his greatest athlete of all time? Muhammad Ali! Many enjoyed Earl’s “laid back” style, and were drawn to his charismatic and confident personality. He leaves to cherish his memory: daughter, Phyllis of Grand Blanc, MI; 3 sons, Kevin, Kareem (LaSheca), all of Flint and Khalil (Rachel) of Grand Blanc, MI; 8 grandchildren, Sequanna, Taylor, Ayanna, Jania, Kayla, Kier, Kareem Jr. and Kameron; 5 sisters, Ida (TJ) Thomas of Muskegon, MI, Regina (Morris) Hill, Kay (Amos) Buford, all of Flint, Maxine (JC) Allen of Columbus, MS and Peggy Webber of Crawford, MS; 4 brothers, Herman (Sandra) of Jackson, MS, Lloyd of Crawford, MS, Oscar (Monya) of Flint and Michael of Crawford, MS; a host of other relatives and friends too many to name. Mr. Hairston was preceded in death by his father, James W. Hairston; mother, Mattie Inez; brother, James, Jr. The family would like to express special thanks to Dr. Rajakumari Swamy, Primary Care Physician, Dr. Ali Mohammed, Kidney Specialist, Genesys Regional Medical Center, the staff of Davita Dialysis.

Earl Hairston

December 5, 1942 - December 8, 2010