Ms. Twyla C. Winfrey

WINFREY, Ms. Twyla C. - Age 39, passed away Thursday, December 5, 2013 at Hurley Medical Center. Family hour 11a.m. Tuesday, December 10, 2013 at Foss Avenue Baptist Church, 1159 E. Foss Ave., with funeral service at 12p.m. Pastor Reginald G. Flynn, officiating. Interment Sunset Hills Cemetery, G-4413 Flushing Rd. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the church 11a.m. Tuesday. Ms. Winfrey will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 906 W. Flint Park Blvd., and may be viewed from 2p.m.-8p.m. Monday, with the family present from 4p.m.-8p.m. Ms. Twyla Cheri Winfrey was born February 7, 1974 in Flint, Michigan to Charles and Shirley (Burton) Winfrey. At the young age of 10 months Twyla suffered a respiratory arrest that left her severely mentally impaired. While her disability may have hindered her physically, it did not hinder her ability to perform the only job she was assigned—to give love. Twyla radiated love wherever she went, and it was very hard for anyone to resist the warmth and affection that exuded from the depths of her heart. Despite her disability, Twyla loved life and lived to love and be loved. Nor did her disability diminish her self-esteem, which was reinforced by being told how beautiful and smart she was ten times a day by her parents and sisters. She couldn’t speak, so she mastered the art of non-verbal communication. When she pointed her head towards a window, you knew it was time to take her on her favorite past-time, a long car ride with her parents. Twyla graduated from the Marion Crouse program in 2001. She recently attended Cornerstone Westwood Heights. She became a member of Foss Avenue Baptist Church by a vote of the congregation in 1983. Ms. Winfrey leaves to cherish in her memory: loving mother, Shirley Winfrey; father, Charles Winfrey; grandmother, Lizzie Winfrey; 2 sisters, Jerri Winfrey-Carter of Flint and Tracy (Richard)Edwards of Silver Spring, MD; 3 nieces, Jamilah Carter of Flint, Morganne and Jordann Edwards of Silver Spring, MD; 2 nephews, Rondell Carter, Jr. of Flint, and Aaron Edwards of Silver Spring, MD; 8 aunts, Exie Alexander, Mary Burton, Sherry Allen, Sheila Williams, Vickie George, Onita Turner, Sarah Winfrey, and Bonnie Cole, all of Flint; 5 uncles, Carl (Sandra) Winfrey, Alby (Barbara) Winfrey, David (Patricia) Burton and Grady Burton, all of Flint and Frank Winfrey of Toledo, OH; 2 great aunts, Minnie Grady of Indianapolis, IN and Cleo Burton of Flint; 4 great uncles, Curtis (Elizabeth) Grady, Hugh Grady, and Frank Randall all of Indianapolis, IN, Alvin Grady of Detroit, MI; Godmother, Betty Chapman of Flint; a host of other relatives and special cousin, Yvette Hill-Bennett of Phoenix, AZ, friends including caregivers, Diane Williams, Lula Williams, Jolonna Freeman, and Vonka Gordon, and many, many friends. Ms. Winfrey was preceded in death by: grandparents, David and Leora Burton and John Winfrey; 2 aunts and 2 uncles. The family would like to express special thanks to: special friends, Shirley Henderson, Fannie Norris, Mary Coleman, Gerri Wilburn, Woodrow and Reta Stanley, Home Care Nurse Debbie Slater, Dr. Paul and Teresa Musson, Dr. Geeta Rode, Hurley Medical Center CCU intensive care nurses, Pastor and Sis. Reginald G. Flynn and the Foss Avenue Baptist Church Family, and the “New” McCree Theatre Family.

Ms. Twyla C. Winfrey

February 7, 1974 - December 5, 2013