Mr. WIlliam G. Washington Sr.

WASHINGTON, Mr. William G. Sr. - Age 94, passed away June 14, 2025, at his residence. Family hour 12:00 PM Tuesday, June 24, 2025, at Fairhaven Seventh-day Adventist Church, 1379 Louis Ave, Flint, MI 48505 with funeral service commencing at 1:00 PM Chaplain Seth Brownwell, officiating. Interment Cherry Valley Township Cemetery, 3712 Knight Street, Idlewild, MI. Mr. Washington will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home and may be viewed Monday, June 23, 2025, from 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM, with family present from 3:00 PM-6:00 PM to receive friends. William Gilbert Washington Sr. was born March 20, 1931 in Idlewild, Michigan to Alexander and Artelia Washington. William grew up in Idlewild, also known as the Black Eden, where prominent members of the Black community began vacationing. Idlewild was a thriving beach town amidst the forest of Northern Michigan that offered a safe haven during the Jim Crow era that denied Blacks rights and equality. During those years William developed a strong work ethic from his father and the foundation of his spirituality from his mother. A female Holy Nazarene Pastor from Chicago began having house meetings for the year-round residents which Mother Washington and her children would attend. These meetings were held on the Saturday Sabbath and led to William’s subsequent baptism into the Seventh-day Adventist church and his love for Sabbath rest. William attended elementary school in Reed City, Michigan and high school at Adelphian Academy in Holly, Michigan. His high school studies were completed however when on active duty in the U.S. Marine Corp. After his discharge from active duty in the Marines he attended automotive classes at General Motors Technical Institute. But definitely held on to the identity of “Once a Marine always a Marine.” His work experience includes roofing and construction, snowplowing, railroad, Boeing airplane mechanic, surveying, photographer for Flint Observer and 30+ years with General Motors. He is best known throughout Michigan and Northern Ohio for his hobbies of roller skating, photography and riding a motorcycle (not a rice burner but a Harley). He had several alias titles: Wild Bill, The Picture Man but most knew him as just Mr. Bill. That is of course unless you grew up with him in Idlewild where he was called by his middle name Gilbert. William loved his family and had good strong values which he taught to his children. His deeply held religious beliefs lead him to spend hours in his prayer room interceding for not only his bloodline but also for his church family. What shaped those prayers was his daily checking in with the family and his attendance at the weekly church prayer meeting. Something he called “Checking Traps.” When asked on occasion what was his secret to long life he would reply Ph.D. And to the confused looks he would add “Pray Hard Daily.” William Gilbert Washington Sr. leaves to cherish his memory: wife of 42 years Phyllis Whitley-Washington Mt. Morris, Michigan; children, Susan (Morris) Woods, Sylvia Anderson, both of Oceanside, California, Duane (Twilla) Washington, Chester Washington, Darlene (Algin) Bonner, Sonya Washington, all of Flint, Michigan, Alphonso (Amee) Washington of Everett, Washington; Timothy (Princess) Washington of Burton, Michigan, Ivan Collins of Gypsom, Colorado, Derhun (Verona) Sanders of Dumfries, Virginia and Marcus (Shakira) Leonard of Glencoe, Alabama; step-son, Tyrone (Monica) Hicks of Ann Arbor, Michigan; 40 grandchildren; 47 great-grandchildren; 8 great-great-grandchildren; brother, Nathaniel Washington Sr. (Catherine) of Mt. Morris, Michigan; a multitude of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends including special Friends, Diane Rankins of Flint, Michigan, Mable D. Jenkins of Montrose, Michigan and Shirley Woods of Glencoe, Alabama. William was preceded in death by his first wife, Margaret Taylor; sons, William G Washington Jr. and Troy Hicks; grandsons, LaRouse Robinson, Desmond Ireland and Anthony Washington; parents, Alexander Washington and Artelia Washington; sisters, Irene Gayle, Pricilla Washington-Davis, Beverly Harper and Phyllis Washington; brothers, Arthur, Daniel, Jerry, Joseph and Cornelius Washington; daughter-in-law, Barbara Washington; son-in-law, Charles Anderson; granddaughter-in-law, Simone Knapp.

Mr. WIlliam G. Washington Sr.

March 20, 1931 - June 14, 2025