Travlee Van Buren

VAN BUREN, Mrs. Travlee Ollings - Age 78, of Flint, earned her wings, Wednesday, March 23, 2011 at her residence. Family hour 1:30 p.m. Thursday, March 31, 2011 from the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 906 W. Flint Park Blvd., with funeral service commencing immediately at 2 p.m. Pastor Freelon Threlkeld officiating. Interment Gracelawn Community Cemetery, G-5710 N. Saginaw St. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the funeral home 1:30 p.m. Thursday. Mrs. Van Buren will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, and may be viewed from 12Noon-8 p.m. Wednesday. She was born April 22, 1932 in England, Arkansas to Johnnie Dedrick Sr. and Sophronia Alexander-Dedrick. Travlee attended Gartrell High School in Arkansas and later received her high school diploma from Flint Central High School after moving to Flint, Michigan. Travlee married Andrew Ollings September 22, 1950, and to this union was born her only daughter Muriel Ester Ollings-Conner. Mrs. Van Burn later met and married O.D. Van Buren in 1968. Travlee belonged to the Flint Chapter of the Eastern Stars and she retired from General Motors in 1997 after 28 years of service. After her retirement, she devoted the rest of her life to being a loyal member of Faith Baptist Temple, where Freelon Threlkeld is the Pastor, and a loving mother, sister, aunt, grandmother and great grandmother. Mrs. Van Buren leaves to cherish her memory: loving friend (father to her daughter) Andrew Ollings of Flint, Michigan, one daughter Muriel Ester Ollings-Conner (Henry Conner) of Flint, Michigan, one sister Johnnie Q. Dedrick-Parks of England, Arkansas, one brother Larance Dedrick (Bobbie Dedrick) of Flint, Michigan, one aunt Pearl Hudson of England, Arkansas, six granddaughters: Angie Pegues Clarke, Johnneice Ollings-Betts (Dywaine Betts), Verniece Ollings, all of Flint, Michigan, Phyllis Pegues-Jones (James Jones) of Oxford, Mississippi, Dana Clay of Cordova, Tennessee and Gerlean Smith-Leverette of Flint, Michigan, 14 great grandchildren, 7 great- great grandchildren, 2 special nieces Victoria Woodard of England, Arkansas and DeLois Jackson-Davis of Flint, Michigan, four step-daughters Mary Van Buren, Marie Van Buren-Langston, Carol Van Buren and Zelma Van Buren-Wallace, two step-sons Willie Van Buren and Burel (Ollie)Van Buren, sixteen step-grandchildren, one daughter-in-law Roberta Van Buren, two special friends O’Neil and Annie Edwards and a host of nieces, nephews and other friends. She was preceded in death by her parents Johnnie and Sophronia Dedrick, her first born child Bobby Dedrick , one sister Ollie Jean Dedrick-Woodard (Abraham Woodard) all of England, Arkansas, and one brother Johnnie Dedrick Jr. (Alberta Dedrick) of Flint, Michigan, three step sons Ernest Van Buren, Larry Van Buren and O.D. Van Buren Jr. all of Flint, Michigan. To those of us who knew Travlee, we will miss her quick wit, her unique brand of charisma and her genuine transparency for life. The family would like to express special thanks to the pastors and church families at: Greater Ephesians COGIC, Faith Baptist Temple and El Bethel Baptist, Dr. Kevin Calloway and his staff, Dr. Akl Ahmed and his staff, the Hurley Medical Center, with special thanks to the nursing staff on the fourth and seventh floors, Dr. Sayed and his staff and Heartland Hospice Care. We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their concern and their kind expressions during this time of bereavement. May God richly bless you all.

Travlee Van Buren

April 22, 1932 - March 23, 2011