Mother Cozetta Duncan (Lansing)

Mother Cozetta Duncan transitioned to be with her Lord and Savior on Monday, April 7, 2025, at the age of 95. In her final days, she was surrounded at home by her family who shared with her messages of love, appreciation, and reflections of fond memories.

Affectionately known by those who loved her as “Co,” “Cozy,” Mom, Grandma, Granny, Sister, Mama Duncan, and “The Boss,” Cozetta was born on Thursday, August 29, 1929, to Eather and Virgil Mitchell in Curtis, Arkansas. Cozetta was the second born of her ten siblings, and the eldest sister. She attended Curtis Public Schools and graduated from Peake High School. Cozetta accepted Christ at an early age and attended Mt. Friendship Baptist Church in Curtis, Arkansas while growing up.

Cozetta married her husband, Samuel Duncan Sr., on Wednesday, June 23, 1948. In 1951, the couple moved from Curtis, Arkansas to Lansing, Michigan, joining millions of other Black Americans relocating from the South to the Midwest in pursuit of new opportunities as a part of the Great Migration. Upon settling in Lansing, Cozetta and Samuel’s family grew to seven children who they loved fiercely, and whom they instilled in a deep sense of Christian faith, cultural pride, and devotion to one another. For roughly thirty years, Cozetta worked for Michigan Bell, The Kellogg Center, and local families throughout greater Lansing. After leaving those roles, Cozetta dedicated her time to caring for her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and other children from her extended family and community.

Cozetta was passionate about her faith, family, gardening, and whipping up delicious creations in her kitchen. She was a founding member of Tithe Missionary Baptist Church where she coordinated the Second Saturday Store (a community outreach effort offered in collaboration with Christian Services), taught the women’s Sunday School class, contributed to the hospitality committee, and organized the church’s community garden for over twenty years. Throughout her years in Lansing, Cozetta was also actively involved with the Lansing Garden Project, the Lansing Food Bank, and related forms of community engaged work throughout the city.

Cozetta was a tenacious dreamer and doer. In the early 1990s, she worked with her husband Samuel and their children to bring forth their dream of opening their own soul food restaurant, The Rib Crib. Even after the restaurant closed, Cozetta and her family continued to cater local events. Cozetta loved to cook and bake and would also take special orders for her pies, cakes, rolls, and peach cobblers, which were always in popular demand. Cozetta was known for making mouthwatering meals that brought her family together during the holidays and countless other occasions. She was also known for baking cakes for each of her children and grandchildren on their birthdays, Christmas cookies for each household in her family during the holidays, and an assortment of other treats whenever the spirit moved her to bake up something special.

Cozetta created a homeplace wherever she entered; bringing together her loved ones and anyone in need of a site of refuge and ease, allowing them to feel safe and cared for. Throughout her 95 years, she also opened her home to her siblings, nieces, nephews, grandchildren, and even her children’s friends. She taught us how to care for, believe in, and support each other as family and community, and in doing so, how to support each other’s wellness. In turn, she touched countless lives and will be thoroughly missed by many.

Cozetta leaves to cherish her memory her children, Samuel (Dorothy), Dennis (Katherine), Larry (Susan), Paula, and Pamela Duncan of Lansing, Michigan, and Johnny (Kimberly) Duncan of Murfreesboro, Tennessee; 14 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; 5 great-great-grandchildren; sisters, Snowrene Mitchell and Everlene (Kevin) Kenney of Lansing, Michigan, and Sandra Brimm and brother, Virgil “Tweet” Mitchell, Jr., both of Curtis, Arkansas; many nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, church family, and friends.

Cozetta was preceded in death by her husband, Samuel Duncan Sr.; son, Calvin “Boolum” Duncan; parents, Eather and Virgil Mitchell, and siblings, Mildred “Lucy” Holland, Yvonne “Bonnie” Harris, Theoplis “Sonny” Mitchell, Wallace Mitchell, and Wayne “Bebe” Mitchell.

As we celebrate her life, we are reminded that anything Cozetta laid her hands to flourished. She nurtured her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren like she nurtured her garden; cultivating in each of them seeds of love, faith, and compassion. Cozetta lived a full life and even in her passing continues to be deeply loved. She leaves behind a tremendous legacy and all who loved her will continue to keep her memory alive.