Ms. Clara Reace (May) Jenkins

JENKINS, Ms. Clara Reace (May) - 72 years old passed away peacefully in her sleep, Thursday morning, May 7, 2020 at Medilodge Nursing Center, Grand Blanc, MI. Public viewing Friday, May 22, 2020 2pm-6pm. Private Celebration of Life services will take place, Saturday, May 23, 2020 at 11:00AM at the Chapel of the Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home. Elder Zack Smith, Jr. Eulogist. Clara was a leap year baby, born February 29, 1948 in Brookhaven, Mississippi. She was the daughter of Rev. Harvey and Mother Emogene May. The family later moved to Michigan and she was a life-long member of Deliverance Church of GOD In Christ founded by, the late Dr. Zack and Mother Alverma Smith. “Her Uncle Zack” and “Auntie” Mother Smith. Clara was a graduate of Flint Northwestern High School class of 1966 and attended Flint Junior College and Mott Community College where she excelled in Culinary Arts. For over fifty years, Clara was a professional baker who made the best homemade rolls, master cake decorator, and chef who worked for many years at Marion Hall Nursing Center. She also worked as a gardener, construction laborer, and was a foster mother to many young people. Clara was the former president of the Garfield Bunche Community Service Corporation. She received numerous outstanding achievement awards for her selfless service to our community. Clara was a former aide at the GCCARD Meet Up and Eat Up program at Dewey Park and was very instrumental in training individuals in growing community gardens. Clara passed the torch to current Community leader and activist, Mr. Quincy Murphy. Clara and Quincy were side by side upholding the families of the Garfield, Bunche, and Dewey schools neighborhoods. Thank you Quincy for being there for Clara until the end. We Love You. She housed, clothed, and fed many people down through the years. She was a “Street Mother” (Mini Pearl) to some, Momma Clara to others. She looked out for many sons and daughters that she did not birth naturally, but GOD! Clara would host her annual Christmas in July event with live music, food, and gifts for everyone in attendance. She loved popcorn and watermelon (that’s a family thang), and she would light up a church service singing and playing her tambourine!!! “Reace” rarely missed a family gathering! She LOVED her family!!! Clara had a way with words... she could let you know just how she felt…and how to win many political battles to benefit “Her” community. She was an amazing sister, cousin, and friend who loved the LORD and the Word of GOD, as well as listening to her cousin “Sis” Delores on WFLT1420AM-Flint. She hand wrote a book of her favorite scriptures and shared with her special cousins with whom she treated as her younger sisters. Some of her sayings were: “Throw Up Both Hands and Tell the LORD Thank You”, “Prayer In A Bottle” (Blessed Oil), and the “Blessing Plan”. Clara leaves to cherish, her memories, sisters Mary Nell May, of New Orleans, LA and brother, James May, Sr.(Deb), of Flint, MI and Mary May of Flint, MI;. Special cousin and caregiver, Willie Miller, special friend Quincy Murphy of Flint. Aunt Ora (McCoy) Gutter of Kent, WA, and Uncle Roosevelt (Vern) Smith of Milwaukee, Wisconsin; nephews and nieces James May, Jr., Desmar, Angie May of Arizona; Darlene Burkett, of Flint, Tracy and Min. Kimberly May of California, William (Shalanda) Booker of Georgia, Kevin Hollingsworth of Tennessee, Nichole Cook of Flint and Michael (Melissa) Cook of Clio numerous great nephews, nieces, and friends as well as the entire May, Smith, Cook, Beck, Brown, and Pittman families. God-children, Chantel Torres , Neicy Evans, Yrsulla “Lisa” Johnson, and Danielle Young. Clara was preceded in death by her parents, Rev. Harvey and Emogene May; brothers, Harvey May Jr. and David May; uncle and aunt, Dr. Zack and Mother Alverma Smith.

Ms. Clara Reace (May) Jenkins

February 29, 1948 - May 7, 2020