Mrs. Gloria Dean Alford

ALFORD, Mrs. Gloria Dean - Age 88, passed away Monday, August 29, 2016 at her residence. Family hour 11:00 AM Wednesday, September 7, 2016 at Greater Galilee Baptist Church, 4418 Industrial Ave., with funeral services commencing at 12:00 Noon Pastor Ronnie Williams officiating. Interment Flint Memorial Park, 9506 N. Dort Hwy. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the church 11:00 AM Wednesday. Mrs. Alford 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 - 8:00 PM Tuesday, with the family present from 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM to receive friends. Gloria … was known to most as “Dean” or Big Mama was born April 5, 1928 in Little Rock Arkansas, the daughter of Willie James Yarbrough and Mattie Marshall-Yarbrough. She came to Flint Michigan in 1946 shortly after she married Austin Alford, Jr. and later started her family having three children. He preceded her in death on November 23, 1983. Gloria was employed at Flint General Hospital as a head cook for many years, cooking up excellent meals for many patients and staff. She also took pride in her community by helping and giving to families in need, not only did she take care of her children, she would also watch out for all the neighbor kids. She took in Darryl and Teine as part of her family. She loved to spend time with her family as it grew with grandchildren, Sunday dinners and get-togethers were a tradition she took pride in and knowing her family was together. Gloria later started and organized the Alma Street Block Club and was elected as president for five years where she got funding through the City of Flint to have yard lamps installed in most of the neighbor’s front yards. Gloria later received a community service award from the City of Flint. In earlier years, she was an eastern star, part of the Lady Mason Shriners. Loving the Lord, she joined Second Friendship Missionary Baptist church has been a member for many years. She enjoyed working in her yard cleaning and planting flowers and sweeping the streets and her music. Gloria became a collector of ceramic angel figurines that she have throughout the house. She enjoyed cooking, shopping and going out to restaurants to eat and meet people. Gloria’s motto for life was “Just keeping on living.” Gloria Dean Alford leaves to cherish her memory: 3 daughters, Phyllis Jenkins, Barbara Alford and Teine Deal; son, Harold Alford; grandchildren, Maurice Alford, Terrance Alford, all of Flint, Timikia Suttle (Marcus) of Fort Wayne, IN, Marque Alford of Flint, and Arieal Johnson of Texas; great-grandchildren, Latonya King of Lansing , MI, Likita Alford, Maurice Alford, Jr., both of Flint, Trinity Vaughn of Saginaw, MI, Tah-jai Alford and Jada Alford; great-great-grandson, Kemarion Alford, all of Flint; sisters, Wilberlene Street of Pontiac, MI, Ola Mae Dotson of Flint; special nieces, Gwendolyn Huddleston and Marva Porter; special cousins, Gladys Dawkins and Gracie Mae McCraw-Kelley; sisters–in-law, Cleora Magee, Rose Yarbrough and Mattie Alford; brother-in-law, Theodis Dotson; a host of other nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends including special friends, the Strozier family, Ceolia Mosley, Vicki Reaves, Sylvia Teamer, Katie Robertson, Evelyn Beverly, Joyce Lee and many more. Mrs. Alford was preceded in death by husband, Austin Alford, Jr.; son, Darryl Deal; mother, Mattie Marshall-Yarbrough; father, Willie James Yarbrough; sisters, Bertha Lee Willis, Kathryn Hall and Esterlena Yarbrough; brothers, Elmer Yarbrough, Earl Yarbrough, Willie James Yarbrough, Jr. and Freddy Lee Yarbrough; aunts, Alberta Johnson, Lillie Alexander and Marie Yarbrough; uncles, Joseph Yarbrough and William Marshall; sisters-in-law, Marie Nash, Cleo Ambers, Cora Malone, May Frances Gray and Athalene Alford; brothers-in-law, Leo Alford, Ben Alford, Robert Lee Alford, Furdy Willis and Morris Street, Sr. The family would like to express special thanks to Dr. Tommie Stevens and the staff at Hurley Medial Center 9th Floor and 6 East, the Medical Team Hospice and AZ Hospice Care, Alma Street Block Club.

Mrs. Gloria Dean Alford

April 5, 1928 - August 29, 2016