Rev. Young

YOUNG, Rev. Ervin T. - Age 88, after a long illness went from labor to glory on Sunday, October 19, 2008 at Hurley Medical Center with his wife and family at his bedside. Family hour 12Noon Monday, October 27, 2008 at Austin Avenue Baptist Church, 602 E. Austin Ave., with funeral service commencing at 2:30PM, Pastor Donald Hughes officiating. Interment River Rest Cemetery, G-4413 Flushing Rd. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the church 12Noon Monday. Rev. Young will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 906 W. Flint Park Blvd., and may be viewed from 10AM-6PM Sunday with family hour from 2-5PM. Rev. Young was born November 8, 1919 in Tyronza, Arkansas to Thomas Joshua “Big Papa” and Birdie (Ward) Young “Big Mama”. He was the youngest of 3 children. Rev. Young and his family moved to Flint in December 1938. He was Honorably Discharged from Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) at Camp Bitely in Bitely, MI, serving from October 1939-March 1941. Rev. Young was also a World War II Veteran and was Honorably Discharged from the United States Army in December of 1945. On February 10, 1946, he married the love of his life, Christeen Watkins. He was the first black Machine Repair Machinist at Chevrolet Manufacturing in Flint, MI. In 1969, he received his Journeyman’s card and went on to retire after 34 years at General Motors. He was baptized at Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church in 1946 under the leadership of his father-in-law, Rev. Ira Watkins. Rev. Young was a Sunday School Teacher, who was dedicated to teaching and serving for the advancement of God’s Kingdom. In 1981 he joined Austin Avenue Baptist Church, where he served faithfully as the Church Treasurer, Chairman of the Deacon Board, Sunday School Teacher, Sunday School Superintendent, and a member of the Board of Trustees. In 1992 Rev. Young was ordained a minister at Austin Avenue Baptist Church under the pastoral leadership of Rev. Donald Hughes. He served Austin Avenue Baptist Church faithfully until his illness. He loved Austin Avenue and Austin Avenue loved him. Rev. Young enjoyed fishing, hunting, farming, gardening, growing many vegetables and raising numerous livestock. He loved seeing things grow and loved sharing God’s harvest with others. Rev. Young leaves to cherish his memories: wife of 62 ½ years, Christeen; 5 children, Ervine (Robert) Byrd of Flint, Maurice Young of Apple Valley, MN, Bonnie (Dr. Eddie) Oliver of Riverview, FL, Kenneth (Martinia) Young of Ypsilanti, MI and Terry Young of Hamtramck, MI; 14 grandchildren; 7 great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews survive as well as sister-in-law, MC Lavinia (Rev. Dr. Turner) Hartfield of Flint, MI; brother-in-laws, Rev. Jay (Verneice) Watkins of Flint, Reverends Leion (Lois) Watkins of Tulsa, OK, Eugeno Sylvester (Carrie) Watkins of Vallejo, CA and Larry Watkins, Sr. of Flint. Rev. Young was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas and Birdie Young; brother, Darious Young; sister, Ola Mae Baker; nieces; nephews; aunts; uncles; and cousins. The family would like to express special thanks to Rev. Donald Hughes and Austin Avenue Baptist Church family, Rev. Alfred Harris, Sr., and the Macedonia Baptist Church family, Rev. Dr. Garther Roberson and the Mt. Olive Baptist Church family of Ypsilanti, MI and Rev. Dr. Tara Sutton and the Bethel United Methodist Church family.

Rev. Young

November 8, 1920 - October 19, 2008