Lizzie M. Brumfield

Liz Brumfield, number seven in a line-up of eleven other brothers and sisters, was born May 17, 1944, in Clarksdale, Mississippi to Leonard Montgomery and Lucille Young-Montgomery. Liz was reared under strong Christian values. She attended St. James Temple C.O.G.I.C in Clarksdale, Mississippi for several years where she accepted Christ and began to develop her faith in God at a very early age.

She completed her educational requirements at Higgins High School in Clarksdale, Mississippi. Liz migrated Northward to Illinois and then eventually moved to Michigan in the early 1970s. Liz retired from General Motors after twenty-five-plus years of service as a cashier. She enjoyed singing, directing choirs, and working with young people. She led the Sunshine Band and YPWW, Young People Willing Workers, at New Fellowship Church of God in Christ, Saginaw, MI. She held an official position in the Church of God in Christ as District Secretary, under Bishop H.J. Williams in Saginaw, MI. She loved to officiate and publicly read the scriptures. She had a natural gift of enunciating words and inflecting on those needed emphases.

She eventually followed her daughters to Grand Rapids, Michigan and joined New Faith Temple Church of God in Christ where she was affectionately known as Mother Brumfield. She loved to worship and praise God and give a testimony about the goodness of God. Liz was very giving and always concerned about whether someone had enough food or if they were warm enough. She had a wit and a great sense of humor. Everyone always said she missed her calling as a comedian. How she knew the latest slang we still don’t know!  She met no strangers and did not mind asking her “new friend” to do something for her.

Liz leaves to celebrate her legacy, daughters: Kiemetha Hines-Moore of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Yolanda Hines-Ash (Dennis) of Granger, Indiana, Robbie Person (Peter) of Newport News, Virginia, and Angela Hines-Thomas (Michael) of Grand Rapids, Michigan; Stepson, Ricky Garza of Grand Rapids, Michigan; and goddaughter, Monique “Ebony” Taylor of Atlanta, Georgia; Grandchildren, Michael Essex of Los Angeles, California, K’Courtney Burley (OC) of Fort Wayne, Indiana,  Brandon Hines of Tampa, Florida, Myron Essex (Whitney) of Kentwood, Michigan, Danyelle Calhoun (Robert Sr.) of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Kiara Noble (Chris) Kentwood, Michigan, Sha’Kayla Thomas of Kentwood, Michigan, Desirea Moore of Saginaw, Michigan, and Aniya Thomas of Kentwood, Michigan. Twenty-Three Great Grandchildren; Siblings, Pearlie B. Johnson, Ernestine Martin, Leonard Montgomery (Mildred), and Clarence Montgomery all of Saginaw, MI; a host of nieces and nephews that were very near and dear to her heart; close friends, Laura Johnson-Adams, Dora Adams, a friend, and cousin, Mother Mary Miles-Richmond, Mike and May Conkright, Mother Irene Green, Lucille Chambers, and a special caretaker, Jauan Fudge and many more dear friends.  Liz was predeceased by her husband, Troy Brumfield; parents, Leonard and Lucille YoungMontgomery; two great-grandchildren, Kennedy Grace Essex, Braylon Calhoun and siblings, James Young, Robert Young, David Young, Lucille Young-Smith, Rosie Young-Price, Addie Lee Young-Gooden, and Thelma Montgomery-Adams. 

A Celebration of Life was held in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

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