Mr. Kermit Alfonso Welch Jr.

WELCH, Mr. Kermit Alfonso Jr. - Age 88, passed away Saturday, May 17, 2025 at his residence. Family hour 10:30 AM Tuesday, May 27, 2025 at Saints of God Church, 2200 Forest Hill Ave., with funeral service commencing at 11:00 AM. Pastor Alfred L. Harris Sr., officiating. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the church 10:30 AM Tuesday. Mr. Welch will repose in the chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 906 W. Flint Park Blvd., and may be viewed from 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM Sunday, with family present to receive friends. Kermit Alfonso Welch, Jr. was born on February 2, 1937 in Sherrill, Arkansas, the second of three children to parents Kermit Sr. and Mary (Stephenson) Welch. He came to know and accept the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Savior and was baptized at a young age. As a high school student, he and his family moved from Pine Bluff, Arkansas to Flint, Michigan. Kermit graduated from Flint Northern High School. While there, he was a good student and excelled as a member of the track team. Upon graduation, Kermit worked a few jobs before joining General Motors where he would begin his career. In his early years at General Motors, he enlisted in the United States Army along with his younger brother, Tommy. Kermit trained as a paratrooper in the 101st Airborne Division where he completed numerous successful parachute jumps and received an honorable discharge. He subsequently earned an Associate of Science (A.S.) degree from Flint Junior College (now Mott Community College) and became an Electrician which led to a career at General Motors Corporation Chevrolet Truck and Bus Division that spanned over 50 years. Kermit met and married Constance (Wynn) Welch and they raised five children together. During his lifetime he served as President of the Flint Black Caucus, Shop Committeeman and Photographer for UAW Local 598. He joined Oman Temple–Flint, was a lifetime member of the NAACP, and was active in political spaces in his community including serving as a successful campaign manager. Kermit was outgoing and enjoyed engaging others in a wide range of conversations from politics to the weather. His dedication and attention to political issues were instilled in his children as well as his commitment to educational excellence. Kermit was always present for graduations and rewarded scholarly achievement. In his spare time, Kermit was an avid speculator who enjoyed visiting casinos and attending horse races. Kermit is survived by the mother of his children, Constance Welch of Baltimore, MD; children, Kathy Roberts of Flint, MI, Angela Staten of Baltimore, MD, Kermit Alfonso (Zerell) Welch III of Leesburg, VA, Katrina Welch-Smith of Columbia, MD, and Karla Lawrence of Mt. Morris, MI; sister-in-law, Martha Mays; grandchildren, Herschel (Taneshia) Roberts of Columbia, SC, Kayla Welch-Lawrence of Detroit, MI, Amanda (Matthew) Kelley of Richmond, VA, Michael Roberts of San Jose, CA, Stephen Staten of San Francisco, CA, Dr. Kristian Welch of Washington, DC, Brandt Welch of Hyattsville, MD, and Noah Staten of San Jose, CA, Sydney Smith and Simone Smith both of Columbia, MD; great grandchildren, Kalen, Makhi, Kaycee all of Detroit, MI, and Riley of Columbia, SC; cousin Annette Brown of Sherrill, AR; nephew, Reginald (Darlene) Woolfolk of Grand Blanc, MI; cousin, Dr. Angela Brown of St. Louis, MO; step-grandson, Dwan (Valerie) Finney of Buckeye, AZ; and a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins. Kermit was preceded in death by his parents, Kermit Sr., and Mary Welch; sister, Minnie Marie Welch; brother, Tommy Welch; uncles, Johnny Stevens, Alec Brown, and Willie English Sr.; aunts Georgia Coggeshell, Lillian Brown, and Mazie English; father-in-law, Jerry Wynn Sr.; mother in-law, Dora Alma Wynn; brothers-in-law, Jerry Wynn Jr. and Pastor Louis H. Mays; niece, Yasmin Dicks; sons-in-law, Herschel Roberts and David Smith. Special thank you to Pastor and First Lady Alfred Harris, Sr., Saints of God Church Family, Eric and Lindsey Ford and staff at Ford Special Care, and Compassus Hospice.

Mr. Kermit Alfonso Welch Jr.

February 2, 1937 - May 17, 2025