Mrs. Gerthine Shumpert

SHUMPERT, Mrs. Gerthine - Age 82, passed away Thursday, September 3, 2015 at Hurley Medical Center. Family hour 10:00 a.m. Friday, September 11, 2015 at Vernon Chapel AME Church 5802 Dupont St. with funeral service commencing at 11:00 a.m. Pastor Byron Moore, officiating. Interment Sunset Hills Association, G-4413 Flushing Rd. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the church 10:00 a.m. Friday. Mrs. Shumpert will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 906 W. Flint Park Blvd., and may be viewed from 1:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Thursday, with the family present from 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Honoring the life and legacy of a beautiful and divine spirit, Mrs. Gerthine Margarie Shumpert best known as “Gert” or “Big Granny”. Gerthine was born on May 8, 1933 to the late Lula B. Fair and Lodie Fair Sr. in Little Rock, Arkansas. She was raised amongst her seven loving siblings and attended Barnes School in Pine Bluff. Gerthine confessed a hope in Christ at an early age at Mt. Olive Baptist Church in Whitehall, AR. Upon leaving Arkansas, Gerthine moved to Milwaukee with her first husband and first-born daughter Debra for a brief period of time before settling in Flint, MI. Soon after, their second daughter Lerwonia was born. In 1959, Gerthine was united in Holy Matrimony to the love of her life Elijah Shumpert. From this soulful union came her three youngest daughters Sayvil, Saberial, and Elitha. Gerthine worked for the Beecher School District in the Food Service Department and moved on to work in the Dietary Department at Hurley Medical Center where she retired. Her faith in God carried her throughout her entire life as a member of Vernon Chapel A.M.E Church. Gerthine was a sharp dresser, even in her younger days, always keeping up with the latest styles and fashions. She loved reading, word puzzles, shopping, and gardening in her yard. She also loved fishing, traveling, family outings, and was always spirited for an occasional trip to the casino. Her true passion and specialty was cooking soul food, gourmet meals, and baking delicious desserts. Mrs. Shumpert will most greatly be remembered as a devoted mother, a loving grandmother, an adoring “Big Granny” and lovable great-great granny. She has always been the rock for her family and the undeniable force bringing all of her family to unity for any occasion. Her legacy as a strong, hardworking yet humorous soul will live on in the hearts of her loved ones forever. Gerthine leaves to cherish her priceless memories: her five daughters, Debra Watkins, Lerwonia Summers, Sayvil (Christopher) Crain, Saberial Towns, and Elitha Shumpert, all of Flint, MI; brothers, Lodie (Gloria) Fair Jr. of Milwaukee, WI, Juliet (Charstell) Fair of Richmond, CA; sister, Gladys Fair of Cathedral City, CA; grand children, Yugondra Hudson of Denver, CO, Yuneera Hudson of Atlanta, GA, Yumeika (Sam) Clayton of Flint, MI, Torace (Melanie) Summers of Orlando, FL, Tanisha Summers of Flint, MI, Jameika Crain of Indianapolis, IN, Derrick Terrell Towns, Tierre Towns, E’lon Shumpert and Adrian Hunter, all of Flint, MI, Alicia Hunter of Oklahoma City, OK, and Erica Hunter of Jacksonville, FL; twenty six great-grandchildren; and four great-great grandchildren; she also leaves in love a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends including special friends, Bernice Bell, Geneva Shine, and Andrew Carter. Gerthine was preceded in death by her husband of seventeen years, Elijah “Son” Shumpert; grandson, Calvin Leeper; her parents, Lodie and Lula B. Fair; sisters, Elmyra Harris and Zenobia “Zip” Fair; brothers, Jeff Fair and Clifton Fair.

Mrs. Gerthine Shumpert

May 8, 1933 - September 3, 2015