Willie Earl Reeves, Sr.

Mr. Willie Earl Reeves, Sr. passed away on Friday, December 23, 2016 at Healthsource Saginaw. Age 68 years. He was born on March 26, 1948 in Headland, Alabama to Otis and Margie Reeves.
Mr. Reeves, a former sharecropper, relocated from Alabama to Saginaw, Michigan in 1966. He united with the Spiritual Israel Church that same year. Mr. Reeves served as a Deacon at Spiritual Israel over many years until his health failed. Willie Earl was employed by General Motors (Saginaw Malleable Iron Foundry) and was a member of UAW Local 455. He retired after 35 years of dedicated service. Willie Earl met and married the late Estella Mae Lewis, and to that union, three children were born. He enjoyed spending time with his family, traveling to every family reunion, playing Spades and listening to music, especially the Blues. In his younger years, Willie Earl enjoyed playing sports but in his older years, he enjoyed watching his grandchildren play sports. His nieces and nephews were very special to him, and he loved each of them in his own way. Mr. Reeves was a father figure to many of the neighborhood children who lovingly called him Pops. Willie Earl will be missed by family and friends.
He leaves to cherish loving memories and continue his legacy two daughters, Vanessa (Earnest) Norwood and Gertrude-Odessa Reeves; one son, Willie Earl Reeves, Jr., all of Saginaw, Michigan; two God-given sons, Timothy (Cookie) Lewis of Flint, Michigan, and Cecil Presley of Saginaw, Michigan; seven grand-children, Tamiecia Reeves, Jerome Earl Reeves , Willie Earl Reeves, III, Jerimiah Lee Reeves, Jaina Presley and Jilyla Presley all of Saginaw, Michigan, and Asheana Williams of Flint, Michigan; two great-grand-children, Gabriel Reeves and Gabrielle Reeves, Saginaw, Michigan; three sisters, Gloria Jones, Mary Sutton and Eyvonne Matthews, all of Saginaw, Michigan; four brothers, Curtis (Joyce) Reeves, Isaac (Rosemary) Reeves, Connie (Marilyn) Reeves, all of Saginaw, Michigan, and Mark (Rebecca) Williams of Atlanta, Georgia; many nieces and nephews; two aunts, Christine Slayton and Cerester James of Florida; six uncles, Samuel Vickers, Saginaw, Michigan; Jerome Vickers, Lamar (Minnie) Vickers of Alabama, Harvey Reeves of Alabama, Wayne Vickers, and Willie Reeves of Florida; many cousins; four sisters-in-law, Sylvia (Pastor Johnie Frank) Edwards, Otelia (James) Jones, Betty Lewis and Jonita Byrd-Reeves; three brothers-in-law, Pastor Luciouse (Kayron) Lewis, Edwin (Pastor Leslie) Lewis all of Saginaw, Michigan, and Joseph Ingram, Dothan, Alabama; many other relatives and friends including special friends, Gregory Wicker, Rachel McIntosh and many, many friends who worked at the Saginaw Malleable Iron Foundry.
Willie Earl was preceded in death by his wife, Estella Reeves; parents, Otis and Margie Reeves; brother, Willie Otis Reeves; sisters, Olivia Gandy and Odesta Ingram; sister-in-law, Gertrude Lewis; brother-in-law, Dorsey Lewis; many aunts and uncles; two nieces and two nephews.
The family would like to express special thanks to the staff at Healthsource (Wheels Wing); DaVita Dialysis (Towne Center); Spiritual Israel Church and the Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church family.