Thomas Porter

PORTER, Mr. Thomas - Age 109, passed away, April 11, 2009 at his residence. Family hour 11AM Saturday, April 18, 2009 at Vernon Chapel AME Church, 5802 Dupont St., with funeral service commencing at 12Noon, Pastor Ernest J. Garrison, Sr., officiating. Interment River Rest Cemetery, G-4413 Flushing Rd. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the church 11AM Saturday. Mr. Porter will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 906 W. Flint Park Blvd., and may be viewed from 12Noon -8PM Friday. Mr. Thomas Porter was born January 25, 1900 in Blanks, Louisiana, the son of Lonnie Hampton and Rebecca Porter. Mr. Porter was raised by his maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Porter after his mother’s death. He was baptized at the early age of nine years old at Camphor Memorial Methodist Church. Mr. Porter attended Blanks, Louisiana Public Schools, where he received an 8th grade education. He worked on his grandfather’s farm, until he went to work for the Missouri Pacific Railroad as a Breakman. Mr. Porter later moved to Pine Bluff, Arkansas, where he met the love of his life, Albirta Bates. They were united in marriage and to this union 13 children were born. Mr. Porter worked as a Lumber Stacker until he retired in 1978 in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. He relocated to Flint, Michigan in October of 2006 from Toledo, Ohio, after his health started to fail. Mr. Porter remained here, until God called him home. He became a member of Vernon Chapel AME Church two years ago, where he remained a member until his death under the leadership of Pastor Ernest J. Garrison, Sr. Mr. Thomas Porter leaves to cherish his memory: 8 children, Freddie Nelson, Loretta (Harold) Thomas, Vanessa (Willie) Moran, Tommy (Carolyn) Porter, all of Toledo, OH, Beverly Porter of Indianapolis, IN, Glorian (Millard) Clark of Memphis, TN, Alvin (Brenda) Porter, Rose (James) Green, all of Flint; 24 grandchildren; 47 great-grandchildren; 28 great-great-grandchildren; daughter-in-law, Betty Porter of South Bend, IN. Mr. Porter was preceded in death by his wife, Albirta Bates-Porter; 3 daughters, Wilma Cooper, Ardella and Rebecca Porter; 2 sons, Robert and Roosevelt Porter; parents; grandparents; 4 grandchildren, James Brown, Ronald Brown, Allen Rayfus and Napoleon Bell, Jr.; great-granddaughter, Andrea Brown; great-great-grandson, Cynia Jaden Alexander; sister, Anna Jane Luke; and a host of sisters and brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews and friends.

Thomas Porter

January 25, 1900 - April 11, 2009