Ella Backstrom

BACKSTROM, Mrs. Ella - Age 79, passed away Friday, March 6, 2015 at Capital Area Health and Rehabilitation - Lansing. Family hour 10 a.m. Friday, March 13, 2015 at Bethel United Methodist Church, 1309 N. Ballenger Hwy., with funeral service commencing at 11 a.m. Rev. Faith Green-Timmons Host Pastor. Rev. Russell McReynolds officiating. Interment River Rest Cemetery, G-4413 Flushing Rd. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the church at 11 a.m. Friday. Mrs. Backstrom will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 906 W. Flint Park Blvd., and may be viewed 12 p.m. - 8 p.m., with the family present from 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. Thursday. Mrs. Ella Mae Backstrom was born December 28, 1935 to Jesse Lee Campbell and Walterine Simmons in Philadelphia, Mississippi. She graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in May, 1953 and married Charles “Sonny” Backstrom on July 30, 1953. They subsequently moved to Flint, Michigan for employment opportunities. To this union 7 children were born. Ella Mae & Charles joined Bethel United Methodist Church on May 6, 1962. Ella Mae was active in many church activities until her health failed her. She loved her church and her church family. Sunday worship was a special time each week. Ella Mae was employed as a Phlebotomist by Flint Osteopathic Hospital (FOH) and then moved to Genesys Regional Medical Center where she retired in 1998. She was known as a hard worker and very respected by her co-workers. She was very kind and compassionate towards the patients. She had a great listening ear and was loved on the job. “Miss Ella Mae” as she was affectionately known, loved working out in her yard. She loved planting flowers and having her lawn well maintained. She was known to tell people to “get off my grass”. This was a pet peeve of hers and the Baltimore Boulevard neighbors knew it. She loved to visit her neighbors on the block and participated in block club activities. The years spent on Baltimore with her neighbors were truly special. Ella Mae’s children were her world. She gave them her all and pushed them to be the best they could be. She instilled respect, discipline, hard work, education, pride, and a love for the Lord. She had her children in church faithfully each week and if you could not go to church on Sunday, you could not participate in any activities during the week, LOL. She supported her children in all of their many activities, career pursuits, and life endeavors. She taught her children so many important life lessons. Ella Mae could COOK! Her family loved to eat her Sunday dinners and chill afterwards on the porch watching the cars go by. Saturday morning homemade biscuits for breakfast were a family favorite. Ella Mae loved watching sports and in her youth she participated in basketball. Mrs. Ella Mae Backstrom leaves to cherish her memory, daughters, Charlene Yount, Evelyn (Bobby) Tucker, Regina (Henry) Jones, Paulette (Johnny) Wallace; sons, Charles (Vicki), and Ronald; 1 brother, Lee Campbell of Philadelphia, MS; 12 grandkids; 5 great grandkids; along with nieces and nephews including special nephews, Allen Campbell and Pete Smith, and cousins including special cousins, Terry Watson, Bobby and Shirley Foster; a host of other relatives and friends including the Grady, Kirkland, the Moore and Seales families and close friends, Marie Whitehead, Marion Eley, and her Baltimore Boulevard neighbors. Mrs. Backstrom was preceded in death by her former husband, Charles; son, Gregory, son-in-law, Charles Yount; parents; grandparents; sister, Dorothy Smith; brother, Walter (Bill) Campbell; aunt, Emma Foster; special cousin, Nettie Ann Cox, and close friend, Velma Seales. The family would like to express thanks to the staff at Capital Area Health & Rehab Center in Lansing, MI, Bethel United Methodist Church, Dr. Rev. Russell McReynolds, family and friends for the many acts of kindness, love, and support.

Ella Backstrom

December 28, 1935 - March 6, 2015