Dr. Muriel Esther Pegues

PEGUES, Dr. Muriel Esther - Age 78, passed away Wednesday, April 2, 2025 at McLaren Flint. Family hour 10:00 AM Saturday, April 12, 2025 from the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 906 W. Flint Park Blvd., with funeral service commencing at 11:00 AM. Interment Gracelawn Cemetery, 5710 N. Saginaw St. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the chapel 10:00 AM Saturday, April 12, 2025. Dr. Pegues will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home and may be viewed Friday, April 11, 2025 from 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM, with family present 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM to receive friends. Muriel E. Dedrick was born on March 14, 1947, in England, Arkansas; she was the only child born to parents Cecil James and Travlee Van Buren. Muriel spent her formative years in the south with her grandmother Sophronia Dedrick where she learned the value of hard work and perseverance, but she moved north to Flint, Michigan at the age of twelve to reunite with her mom who was now married to her wonderful stepfather, Andrew Ollings. Muriel enjoyed singing, roller skating and playing cards as a young woman growing up during those adolescent years. Muriel completed her primary schooling in Flint, Michigan and graduated from Flint Central High School in1965. She met and married Private John Henry Pegues in 1969, and their union produced one daughter, Angie Pegues, and cultivated a blended family for a lifetime. Muriel worked for Michigan Bell as a Telephone Operator for a short time before hiring into General Motors Corporation where she worked on the assembly line at AC Spark Plug for many years. Although her marriage to John Henry lasted for only a short while, the love in that union allowed her to remain an influential part of their blended family. Now on her own, and as so many before her, Muriel worked full time, raised her children and simultaneously attended college. And as if that were not enough, she also sang in 2 gospel music quartet groups for many years with close friends: Henry Thompson, Jesse Thompson, Carmen Thompson, and Ora Williams as The Echoes of Joy, and Linda Thomas, Martha Rae Lane, Josephine Clark and Johnny Connors as The Voices of Deliverance. Muriel had a knack for numbers, a savvy business sense and a heart for God’s people, and this prompted her to pursue an undergraduate degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting at The University of Michigan-Flint. Still thirsting for knowledge and the pursuit of higher education, Muriel pursued her Graduate Degree from Kettering University where she earned her Master Degree in 2011, and ultimately her Doctorate Degree in Theology from Midwest Bible College in 2017. Muriel was a faithful member of Greater Ephesians Church Of God In Christ, where her Pastor is Rev. Harold W. Jones. She facilitated a national Bible Study and Prayer Line Call each Monday and Thursday where she and her students studied God’s Word and sought revelation through collective prayer for many years. Unlucky in love in her youth, Dr. Pegues decided to give love a try once more when she and her late husband, Henry Connor, reunited, fell in love and married in 2009. Muriel spent her last days on this side of heaven surrounded by her family, friends and loved ones before she expired on April 2nd at McLaren Hospital. She was the rock of her family, she was a beautiful soul, a wonderful human being and she will be missed beyond belief. Muriel leaves to cherish her memory: daughters, Vernice Ollings-Roberts of Flint, MI, Angie Clarke of Lawrenceville, GA, Phyllis Pegues (James) Jones of Oxford, MS, Dana Clay of Lakeland, TN, Gerlean Leverette of Flint, MI, Sharon (Greg) Hester of Southfield, MI; stepdaughter, Deborah Connor of Flint, MI; brothers, Michael James and Brett Parker; sister, Charlene (Keith) Griffie, all of Indianapolis, IN; grandchildren, Alexis (Dennis Jr.) Causey, Shanayah Burden, and Muriel Ollings all of Flint, MI, Jessie Betts of Lawrenceville, GA, Bishop A. Clarke of Richmond, VA, Damon Clay of Dallas, TX, Keisha (Daiquiri) Hines, Eugenia Leverette, Danielle Leverette, Danny Leverette Jr., Jeremy Leverette, all of Flint, MI, Jasmine Pegues and Jaqurius Jones of Oxford, MS, and Phillip Jones of Nashville, TN; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other family members, loved ones and friends. Reverend Dr. Muriel Pegues was preceded in death by her husband, Henry Connor; daughter, Johnneice Ollings-Betts; mother, Travlee Van Buren; father, Cecil James; stepfather, Andrew Ollings; stepdaughter, Louise Connor; sisters, Cecilia James-Craft, Janice Bussell, Carolyn James and Cheryl Harris. Muriel was a woman of purpose, a pillar of strength and love, but she was always a light unto those that God entrusted to her care. She was a straight shooter, but she would always try to sprinkle a little sugar on it to help soften the blow of bad news or hardship. She bridled her tongue in such a way that always let anyone know that her walk with God was real, and that she was a soldier in the army of the Lord. One of her favorite songs was Faithful Is Our God by Hezekiah Walker, and another was Shotgun by Jr. Walker and the Allstars… IYKYK!!! Muriel was someone who wore many hats, but the one that truly defined her was God’s servant.

Dr. Muriel Esther Pegues

March 14, 1947 - April 2, 2025