Eld. T. Perry

PERRY, Eld. Melvin T. - Age 79, passed away Thursday, April 21, 2011 at his residence. Family hour 5PM-7PM Tuesday, April 26, 2011 from the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 906 W. Flint Park Blvd. Family hour 10:30AM Wednesday, April 27, 2011 at Southeast Christian Church, 4171 Lapeer Rd., with funeral service at 11AM. Pastor Jonathon Graves, officiating. Eld. Kenneth M. Brown, Sr., Host Pastor. Interment Great Lakes National Cemetery, 4200 Belford Rd., Holly, Michigan. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the church 10:30AM Wednesday. Eld. Perry will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, and may be viewed from 12Noon-8PM, with the family hour from 5PM-7PM Tuesday. Mr. Melvin T. Perry the son of Lizzie (Harwell) and Clarence Perry, was born July 12, 1931 in Tula, Mississippi (Lafayette County). Melvin grew up in Tula, Mississippi and received his early education at the Valley Chapel Christian Methodist Episcopal Church and school. Later he, his mother and siblings joined Rock Hill Missionary Baptist Church in Delay, Mississippi. Melvin enlisted in the United States Army in 1951 and served in active duty until he was Honorably Discharged in 1953. Following his discharge from the Army, Melvin served in the United States Army Reserve until 1959. Melvin was employed at Chevy in the Hole, a division of General Motors as a Heavy Duty Truck Driver, retiring on July 1, 1994 after 38.3 years of service and was a member of UAW Local 659. During his employment with General Motors, Melvin was part of the Gundry School Smart Start program, being appointed by Ruben Burks of the UAW. He was a part of the Brothers and Sisters of Labor through UAW 659. He served as a District Committeeman and was an internationally appointed UAW GM Benefit Representative. Melvin also was the recipient of the Walter Reuther Distinguished Service Award. Elder Perry has been a faithful, committed and loyal servant of the Lord for his entire life. In 1958 he joined Vermont Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Flint. While at Vermont, Elder Perry did everything and served in almost every position in the church. He has been a Sunday School Teacher (preparing the membership); Custodian (making the house ready for the membership); sang in the choir (providing a joyful praise to the Lord); served as Chairperson of the Board (imparting God’s divine order for the administration); Chairperson of the Trustees (maintaining the property); was the transportation ministry (making a way for everyone to get to the church); was a Deacon (preparing him for his greatest ministry); served on two Pulpit Search and Call Committees (searching for the best spiritual leader for the church). He finished his earthly appointment as an Elder and also served as Chairperson of the Elder Board. As an Elder, he had the opportunity to bring the message of God to the people of God. He served on the Crystal Conference Center Commission of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), was part of an anti-racism video for the Christian Church (DOC) Michigan Region. In the City of Flint, “Mel” served with the Flint Neighborhood Coalition. He was a member of the Steering Committee for FACTER (Flint Area Citizens to End Racism) in 2003, where he was the FAITH Co-Chairperson. He also served on LDIR – Leadership Development Interethnic Relations. On November 23, 1983, Melvin and Edna met at 1:00 PM. One year later on November 23, 1984, Melvin and Edna were married at 1:00 PM. They shared many experiences together and traveled extensively visiting family and friends in the country and outside of the country. Their favorite vacations were spent on cruises. Their favorite times were spent walking hand in hand along the beach. Elder Perry was an ordinary man sent forth by God to do extraordinary work. God gave him great wisdom, which he used to help everyone. He had many hobbies including: his love of all kinds of music, restoring houses, restoring old cars, bowling, traveling, playing cards, dominoes and helping God’s people. He also loved to tell stories; collected model cars and played the guitar. Elder Perry leaves to cherish sweet memories: loving wife and caretaker, Edna. He leaves life lessons to his 3 daughters, Melvenus Perry-Dunn of Flint, Delphine (Elder Daryl) Smith of Flushing, MI and Vanessa P. (Anthony) McCarty of Clinton, MS and their mother, Queen E. Perry; 7 grandchildren, Diondra Perry, James Dunn, Jr., Kelvin D. Tippit II, DeWayne E. (Karen) Tippit, Terrence M. A. Smith, Robert A. Smith, all of Flint and Anthony R. McCarty, Jr. of Clinton, MS; 2 great grandchildren, Keondra L. Whidbee and Jeremiah D. Tippit, both of Flint; 1 stepdaughter, Yasmin (Dr. Kyron) Tamar of Orlando, FL; 2 stepsons, Theo Green (Edith McGee) and Dorian (Cheryl) Green, all of Flint; 4 step grandchildren, Kiaya Geohagan and Yasmina Taylor, both of Orlando, FL and Kinra and Koran Green, both of Flint; 2 sisters, Mary Perry (Matthew) Smith of Wesson, MS and Evangelist Floretta Perry of Flint; 1 brother, Jesse W. (Elizabeth) Perry of Flint; 5 step brothers, Osia (Lavell) Jones, Los Angeles, CA, Rev. Cleophas (Pat) Jones, Oklahoma City, OK, Rev. Elton (Alice) Jones, Marvin (Bernice) Jones and Harvey (Ila) Jones, all of Oxford, MS; 4 step sisters, Odessa Williams and Ruth Key, both of Oxford, MS, Rosie (Sam) Crawford of Chicago, IL and Elder Voeller (Fred) Young of Tupelo, MS; aunts, Bertha Harwell of Bruce, MS, Cloyes Harwell and Ruth Brown, both of Oxford, MS; stepmother, Mother Mary E. Harwell of Oxford, MS; in-laws, Augusta (Ervin) Thompson of Philadelphia, PA, Ester (Rev. John T.) Boyd of Pahrump, NV, Joe L. (Joann) Pegues of Flint; Bettie Leverette of Conyers, GA, John H. (Marilyn) Pegues of Newton, TX and Alma Buggs of Grand Rapids, MI; a host of nieces, nephews and special friends including, Earl Watson, James Stevens and Curtis Jones. Elder Melvin T. Perry was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Marvin and Jimmie Perry; step brother, Frank Buggs; grandparents; aunts and uncles. The family extends special thanks to Mrs. Ella Aubrey, Dr. and Mrs. Samuel Dismond, MD, Dr. E. Saeed, MD, Diane Junior, NP; the staff of Avalon Hospice including: James, Shannon, Jennifer and Peggy and Cathy Cook our Social Worker. We are also grateful for Elder Kenneth M. Brown and the Southeast Christian Church of the Apostolic Faith family and for Rev. Jonathan Graves and the Vermont Christian Church family.