Mr. Benjamin Cleveland

CLEVELAND, Mr. Benjamin - Age 73, passed away Sunday, April 16, 2017 at Hurley Medical Center. Family hour 7:30 AM Saturday, April 22, 2017 from the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 906 W. Flint Park Blvd., with funeral service commencing at 8:00 AM Pastor Kenneth L. Stewart officiating. Interment Flint Memorial Park Cemetery, 9506 N. Dort Hwy., Mt. Morris, MI. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the funeral home 7:30 AM Saturday. Mr. Cleveland will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, and may be viewed from 12:00 PM - 8:00 PM Friday, with family present to receive friends from 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM. Mr. Benjamin Franklin Cleveland was born on April 6, 1944 in Decatur, Mississippi, the son of Irene Cleveland and Edgar Bailiff. He was the third of twelve children. He was a graduate of Coahoma College, and also served in the US Army until 1964. He later moved to Flint, MI where he found employment with the General Motors Corporation, and remained a loyal employee until his retirement, after 35 years of service. In 1969, he married the love of his life, Aldena, and from this union two children were born, Alisa and Benjamin. Mr. Cleveland, loved fishing, bowling, gardening, and traveling. His garden was known by all and was often by the community. Benjamin was a gentle, sweet, loving, kind and caring man with a beautiful spirit and sweet soul. Benjamin was loved by everyone who knew him. Mr. Benjamin Franklin Cleveland leaves to cherish his memory: daughter, Alisa (Michael) James; son, Benjamin F. Cleveland; grandchildren, Jhazzlin Cleveland, Kaitlyn Cleveland, Tristen Rodriguez, Kharmarri Key, Justice Cleveland and Emarion Jackson all of Flint; step– grandchild, Abel Christians of Grand Rapids; sisters, Patricia Fairley, Walterene Hall, Linda Smith, Chistine (Lonnie) Hagan, Etoy Newton, Jenny Norman and Elaine Cleveland; brothers, Edgar (Emma) Bailiff, Willie (Mary) Bailiff, Michael Bailiff, Calvin Barnett, A. B. Barnett, Napolean Cleveland and Abraham Cleveland; a host of other relatives and friends, including special friends, Henry (Bea) Traylor, Brett (Latonda) Anderson Revell Suggs, Anthony (Kayla) Naylor, Carlene Turner, Mathew Gambrell, Charlene Exum, Sam Mincy, Doris Coleman, Freddie McAllister, Roosevelt (Ruth) Tardy, Mr. & Mrs. Paige, Sidney (Gloria) Carter and Family, the Cole and the Lewis families. Mr. Cleveland was preceded in death by his wife, Mrs. Aldena Cleveland; mother, Irene Cleveland–Barnett; and father, Edgar Bailiff Sr.

Mr. Benjamin Cleveland

April 6, 1944 - April 16, 2017