Mrs. Emergine Barbee

BARBEE, Mrs. Emergine - Age 92, passed away Sunday, January 10, 2016 at Hurley Medical Center. Family hour 10 a.m. Saturday, January 16, 2016 at International Gospel Center, G-4126 Fenton Rd., with funeral service commencing at 11 a.m. Rev. Gillie Harris, officiating. Interment Sunset Hills Cemetery, G-4413 Flushing Rd. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the church 10 a.m. Saturday. Mrs. Barbee 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. Friday, with family present 4 - 6 p.m. Mrs. Emergine Barbee was born September 28, 1923 in Shannon, Mississippi, the daughter of Mr. Buddy Duke and Ms. Pauline (Cherry) Harris. She attended the Shannon Public School System where she played on a championship girls basketball team. At a very young age she was delegated to her church in Shannon, where she excelled in leadership skills. Emergine was given her name by a close family friend, Mrs. Berdine, who was her long-time caregiver and loved her very much. All the kids came to their house because her mother Pauline would have food and games for everyone, even drifters. Emergine developed a ‘Big Heart’ at an early age and it continued throughout her life. She and her childhood sweetheart, Rome Barbee, met early in life and began courting. The best-friends married in 1939, working together as a team throughout their 74 year marriage. The couple moved to Flint in 1943 with their baby, Bertha. Three years later the family welcomed Ovell, Jr. followed by Melva Jean. Emergine was the first African American cashier hired by McLaren Hospital – Flint. She was reluctant at first, but with the encouragement of Dr. Kimbrough, one of the first African American Doctors in Flint, she continued forward. Emergine served in this position for 6 years before Rome felt it was time for her to be a full-time stay at home mom; “No Latch-Key for my kids.” Emergine was active at the St. James CME Church serving in the Missionary and choir for 25 years. She later joined the International Gospel Center, under the leadership of Pastor Gille Harris, Jr. Mrs. Emergine had a model figure and was very out-going, fun loving and had a great sense of humor which would come out in the great stories she would tell. Everyone loved talking to her. She was a great listener and could carry on a conversation about anything. Emergine had a way of making things alright. She was a woman of many names: “Big Ma”, “Mother Barbee”, “Mrs. Barbee”, and “Auntie”, just to name a few. Most of all, Emergine was known for her homemade ice-cream and lemon pies. One of her favorite past-times was having pajama parties with her sister, Osie-Mae, where the two would enjoy Big Ma’s delicious hamburger soup. Emergine loved to wear her hats and had a beautiful collection. She loved her family more than anything and will be remembered for all the love she shared. Mrs. Emergine Barbee leaves to cherish her memory: daughter, Bertha Barbee-McNeal of Kalamazoo, MI; grandchildren; Michael Barbee, Ovell Barbee Jr., Malita Barbee, Kim Brown, Martin McNeal, Melva Payton, Kia Barbee, Dr. Nya Barbee, Osai Robinson and Chike Robinson; great-grandchildren, Devon Barbee, Kahlisha Mosley, Cydni and Spencer Payton, Taniece Cox, Devonte Cox, Kayla Brown, Michael Tyler and Riley Barbee; great-great-grandchildren, Mason Stephon Rome Cox; sister-in-law, Odelia Harris; brother-in-law, Arthur (Jack) Barbee Jr., both of Flint; a host of other relative and friends including special friends, Florine Robinson, Evelyn Barbee Ward, Paticia Marshall, Dianna Minor, Geraldine Williams, Pat Holoman, Edna, Shawan Thompson, Brenda, Bryant and Shawan Thompson, Lanville Gordon, The Williams Family of Detroit, The Harris Family of Flint, nieces of Memphis and Chicago, nephew, Lamont Grice of Iowa and The Barbee Family of Flint. Mrs. Emergine Barbee was preceded in death by: husband, Rome Barbee; daughter, Melva Jean (Jimmy) Todd; son, Ovell Rome Barbee Jr.; grandson, Alan Hardwick Jr.; parents, Buddy Duke and Pauline (Cherry) Harris; 4 sisters, Mattie Sue Carvin, Jessie Mae Williams, Ozzie Mae Harris and Eloise Grice; 3 brothers, Richard, Robert and Gillie Harris. The family would like to express special thanks to Hurley Medical Center, Dr. Abdul Razzak, Pastor Gillie Harris Jr., Physical Therapist Mehridad Derakshandeh aka (PT), John Co, Karen Hill and Brian McDermott of Loving Hands Senior Care Services, Inc.

Mrs. Emergine Barbee

September 28, 1923 - January 10, 2016