Mother Velma Lee Tolbert

TOLBERT, Mother Velma Lee - Age 90, passed away Thursday, May 24, 2018 at Maplewood Manor. Family hour 10:30 AM Friday, June 1, 2018 at New Jerusalem Full Gospel Baptist Church, 1035 E. Carpenter Rd., with funeral service commencing at 11:00 AM Pastor Patrick Sanders Sr. officiating. Interment Gracelawn Community Cemetery, 5710 N. Saginaw St. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the church 10:30 AM Friday. Mother Tolbert will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 906 W. Flint Park Blvd., and may be viewed from 12:00 PM - 8:00 PM Thursday with the family present from 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM to receive friends. Mother Velma Lee (Brown) Tolbert was born March 23, 1928 in Clarksdale, Mississippi, the last child and only daughter born to Willie and Eveline Brown. She accepted Christ at a young age at Rose Bank Church in Mississippi. Velma attended Holmes County Public Schools where she was a Champion Runner. Her specialty was the 100 Yard Dash. Velma did not pursue her running dream, she choose to wed Walter Tolbert and to this union, her oldest daughter, Minnie was born. Two years later her second daughter, Jessie was born. After the death of her husband she wanted a better life for her daughters; she moved to Chicago, IL. In Chicago she worked various jobs but her all time favorite was Curtiss Candy Company. In 1968, her brothers, James and Johnnie convinced her to move to Flint, Michigan to be with family. She joined New Jerusalem Full Gospel Baptist Church under the leadership of Bishop Odis A. Floyd. Velma attended church every Sunday until her health started to decline. She served on the Nurses Guild until she was assigned to the Mother’s Board. Over the years Velma worked various jobs and retired from Chateau Gardens Senior Homes as a Cook in the late 80’s. She loved to cook her specialty which was Lemon Meringue Pie. Her favorite pastime was fishing, your could find her on the fishing bank every Saturday. When she was not fishing she was watching wrestling, baseball, basketball, football and golf; if it rolled she was watching it. Mother Velma Lee Tolbert leaves to cherish her memory: 2 daughters, Minnie Tolbert of Flint and Jessie Wade of Mt. Morris, MI; 3 granddaughters, Denise Earnest of Johnson City, TN, Shirie Wade of Mt. Morris, MI and Cabrina Clarke; 5 grandsons, Eugene Brown, both of Flint, Darnell Wade of Mt. Morris, MI, Anthony Byrd of Lansing, MI, Reginald Clarke of Holly, MI and Marquese Tolbert of Flint; 22 great-grandchildren; 15 great-great-grandchildren with 2 on the way; a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Mother Tolbert was preceded in death by her husband, Walter Tolbert; parents, Willie and Eveline Brown; 3 brothers, Jessie Lee, James and Johnnie Brown; 2 sisters-in-law, Velma and Maree. The family would like to express special thanks to Pastor and First Lady Sanders and the entire New Jerusalem Full Gospel Baptist Church family, Deacon Hines and Jackie Hill, Maplewood Manor, Stephanie Brooks and Donnell Hodges.

Mother Velma Lee Tolbert

March 23, 1928 - May 24, 2018