Mr. William Lee "Bill Lee" Durrett

DURRETT, Mr. William Lee "Bill Lee" - age 89, passed away Saturday, September 13, 2014 at his residence. Family hour 10 a.m. Saturday, September 20, 2014 at St. John Vianney Catholic Church, 2415 Bagley St. with funeral service commencing at 11 a.m. Father Tom Firestone officiating. Interment Lovedale Memorial Cemetery, 5175 E. Bristol Rd., Burton, MI. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the church 10 a.m. Saturday. Mr. Durrett will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 906 W. Flint Park Blvd. and may be viewed from 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday. Mr. William Durrett was Honorably Discharged from the U.S. Air Force. Mr. William “Bill” Lee Durrett, 89 years old, affectionatly known as "Bill Lee" departed this life on September 13, 2014 in Flint, Michigan. He was the son of Lou Eva Durrett (Parrott) and Mack Durrett. William was the eldest sibling of his family. He attended Rosenwald High School in Lebanon, Kentucky and also served in the U. S. Air Force. He was preceded in death by his wife Anna E. (Sickles) Durrett in which they were married for 60 years. They were the proud parents of seven children, three girls and four boys. William worked on the farm in Kentucky in his younger years, raising tobacco, and worked for General Electric in Louisville, KY prior to moving to Flint Michigan in 1953. Upon arriving in Michigan, he was employed by General Motors for 33.5 years, and he loved his position as a Crane Operator which he held for many years. He worked in plant 8 "down in the hole" and was honored with a Certificate of Perfect Attendance. He also held concurrently two other jobs for many years, at Central Wholesale, and jointly with his cousin, having a dump truck service to provide for his family. He joined Christ the King Catholic Church under the late Father Norman Dukette which was the first predominately Black Catholic Church in Flint. Later he transferred his memberships to Sacred Heart Catholic Church where he also served as an usher until it's closing. Currently his membership is at St. John Vianney Catholic Church. William’s greatest love was keeping his lawn manicured in which he received a Neighborhood Pride Certificate Award from the City of Flint. His other pastime was watching wresting which was the highlight of his life. He also enjoyed listening to the Blues on 98.9 FM and gospel music on Sundays. He had superb work ethics, and when there was no more work to be done, he would find work to fix almost anything. He was very frugal making sure to use all resources. Any leftover food was feed to his pet squirrel and the birds. He loved his children and grandchildren, nicknaming many of them. He so loved his yearly visit of attending his family reunion "The Porters Picnic", spending time with his brother, sisters and family. He was one that never complained, and his motto was: "Keep A Living You'll Learn" and "Work it off." Mr. William “Bill” Lee Durrett leaves to cherish his memory three daughters, Eva White of Flushing, MI, Monica Byrd and Florence (Gary) Nichols, all of Houston, TX, 5 sons, Dennis (Gwendolyn Jean) Durrett, Lawrence (Janet) Durrett, Robert Durrett and Donald (Shirley) Durrett all of Flint and eldest son, Thomas Edelen (Linda) resides in Lebanon, KY; grandchildren, Necol (Derrice) Alexander, Kiva (Terry) McCrady, Katrina (Jimmy) Campbell, Keisha (Chris) Gates, Lawrence Durrett Jr., Audrica (Micheal) Beene, Eugene (Terrilisa) McBride, Janetta and Laquetta Durrett, Lai Langston, Tamera Horton, Willie Taharqa (Litiesha) Blue, Diarra (Jessica) Blue, Nawara Blue, Alisha Durrett, Onja (Adrian) Brunswick, Gary Nichols II and Santina Edelen; a host of great-grandchildren; 3 sisters, Emma Edelen, Jean Grady and Justine (Barry) Allen; a host nephews and nieces, the Porter and Clements families, relatives and friends including a special friends, Ms. Hattie Hunter and Leon Miller; special cousin Joseph Porter. Mr. Durrett was preceded in death by his wife, Anna Elizabeth (Sickles) Durrett; sisters, Annabelle Johnson, Katherine White, and Rita Brown; brother, James Edward Parrott (Mary Jean); daughter- in-law, Jana Durrett; son-in-law, Minister Stephen Byrd. The family of the late William Lee Durrett wishes to acknowledge with deep appreciation, the many comforting messages, floral tributes, prayers and many other expressions of kindness and concern evidenced at this time in thought and deed. Also, a special thank you to Heartland Hospice, Nurse Sherry Thompson, granddaughter, Keisha Gates, Rufus and Francis Duncan, Bishop Urundi Knox and the Ebenezer Church family, Deacon Anthony Verdun and Father Firestone from St. John Vianney Church. A more personal acknowledgement will be made at a later date. Thank You .... The Family of William L. Durrett

Mr. William Lee "Bill Lee" Durrett

May 13, 1925 - September 13, 2014