Mr. Rome Ovell Barbee

BARBEE, Mr. Rome O. - Age 91, passed away Thursday, December 26, 2013 at Hurley Medical Center. Family hour 10 a.m. Friday, January 3, 2014 at Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church, 424 Kennelworth Ave., with funeral service commencing at 11 a.m. Rev. Dr. Major A. Stewart officiating. Interment Sunset Hills Cemetery, G-4413 Flushing Rd. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the Church 10 a.m. Friday. Mr. Barbee will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 906 W. Flint Park Blvd. and may be viewed from 12 p.m.-8 p.m. Thursday. Mr. Rome Ovell Barbee was born March 5, 1922 in Shannon, Mississippi, the son of Arthur and Cliffie (Hill) Barbee. Rome was a graduate of Shannon Public Schools in Mississippi. Rome was called “Joe Bug” as a kid and was a very quiet, mild mannered guy with a sense of humor and was known for his “one liners.” He married Emergine Harris in 1939 and celebrated their 74th anniversary this December. Rome, Emergine and baby Bertha moved to Flint in 1943. Rome was Honorably Discharged from the Civilian Conservation Corps (better known as C.C. Camp) in 1944. He was a mechanic at Hertz for 30 years, retiring in 1977 and a Diesel Mechanic at McDonald Dairy for 10 years, retiring in 1987. Rome received numerous certificates of recognition from Hertz Corporation Truck Division. He started his own trucking business in 1951, where he gave more than 60 years of service to the community, Rome’s work ethics far exceeded the ordinary person, and he very seldom took a sick day. He loved working on cars and trucks; you could find him most days in his garage working on his car or truck. He had one of the most organized garages you have ever seen with every tool in place. Rome was a dedicated sports fan, especially for the Detroit Tigers. He attended several baseball games and would never leave the house without his baseball cap. He also enjoyed hunting with his brother-in-law Gillie Harris and Gillie Jr. He loved music and even took guitar lessons at one time. Rome was a dedicated family man, his wife and children always came first in his life. For vacations, he would take them to Chicago and Niagara Falls and always included his niece, Norma with the family and Melva would always have to sit in the front seat. He loved to sit comfortable in his reading chair in the family room as he reminisced with family and friends. Mr. Rome Ovell Barbee leaves to cherish his memory: wife, Emergine Barbee; daughter, Bertha Barbee-McNeal of Kalamazoo, MI; grandchildren, Michael Barbee of Rochester Hills, MI, Ovell Barbee Jr. of Omaha, NB, Malita Barbee of Grand Rapids, MI, Kim Brown of Southfield, MI, Marty McNeal of Harper Woods, MI, Melva Payton of Byron Center, MI, Kia Barbee of New York, NY, Dr. Nyas Barbee of Jersey City, NJ, Osai Robinson of Vista, CA and Chike Robinson of Ypsilanti, MI; great-grandchildren, Devon Barbee of Atlanta, GA, Kahlisha Mosley of Grand Rapids, MI, Cydni and Spencer Payton of Byron Center, MI, Taniece Cox of Lansing, MI, Devonte Cox of Kalamazoo, MI, Kayla Brown of Southfield, MI; Michael Tyler and Riley Barbee of Rochester Hills, MI; 2 sisters, Amilee Troutman of Flint, MI and Sara Faire of Centerville, IL; brother, Arthur Barbee Jr. of Flint; 10 nieces, Evelyn Barbee Ward, Norma Fairhurst, Janet Davis, Lynn Barbee, Althea Barbee and Mary Louise Barbee, all of Flint; Jeanie Nicholson of St. Louis, MO; Wilma Joyce of Georgia, Ruby Anderson and Ruth Williams, both of Ohio; 5 nephews, Sam Jones of Flint, MI, Robert Harvey of St. Louis, IL, David Barbee, Simon Barbee and Jody Barbee; a host of other relatives and friends including special friends, Patricia Marshall, Theresa Harris, Lanville, Gorden, Loretta Anderson, Jackie Robinson, Shawan and Edna Thompson, Jerry Orr, Kevin Harris, Theresa Woodward, Hamp Morris Jr., and Geraldine. Mr. Barbee was preceded in death by parents, Arthur and Cliffie Barbee; son, Ovell Rome Barbee; daughter, Melva Jean Todd; grandson, Alan Hardwick Jr.; 3 brothers and 4 sisters. The family would like to express special thanks to Hurley Medical Center, Pastor Major Stewart and Mt. Olive Baptist Church and Dr. Abdul Raazak.

Mr. Rome Ovell Barbee

March 5, 1922 - December 26, 2013