Juanita Murkey

On December 17, 2010 at 7:00 p.m., God called home one of his precious angels. Juanita “Lessie” Murkey was born on January 15, 1943 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to James Murkey (father) and Juanita McFadden Murkey Ransom (mother). Juanita was known to her close friends and associates as either “Lessie or “Murk”. Juanita was baptized at an early age under the leadership of Rev. W. E. Ellis of Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church, Benton Harbor, Mich. She later rededicated her life to Christ under the leadership of the Rev. George Gilchrist, Jr. at First Missionary Baptist Church, Troy.

Juanita was preceded in death by her parents James Murkey and Juanita McFadden Murkey Ransom, Ivery Ransom (step-father), Stanley Murkey (brother), Lemar Robinson (brother-in-law), and LaKendrick Jajuan Brown (grandson).

Juanita attended the Benton Harbor, Mich., area schools and retired from Whirlpool Corporation in the early 80s. She was known for playing spades, bowling, and softball in “her” day. Juanita’s pastime favorite’s were entertaining and cooking for her family and friends. She spent the majority of her life in Benton Harbor and had just recently moved to Troy to be closer to her daughter and grandchildren. She is survived by a loving daughter Julita (Ira) Brown of Troy; two grandchildren, Tulita M. Murkey and Gary K. (Angie) Turner of Troy; and one handsome great-grandson, Noah K. Turner of Williamsburg, Virginia; four sisters, Anna Mae (Lemar-deceased) Robinson of Benton Harbor; Eleanor Murkey, Audrey Ransom, Thelma Ransom, and Willa Joan Murkey (sister-in-law) of Waukegan, Ill.; three brothers, Leonard (Jeannie) Murkey of Banning, Calif., Charles (Sarah) Murkey of Rockville, Md.; and Clifford (Joann) Murkey of Chicago; a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins ; close friends include, Robert Williams, Verlm Gavin, Annie Farmer, Alice Baker, Shirley Pollard, Susan Veil, and Carlotta Johnson.

Services were at 2 p.m. Tuesday at First Missionary Baptist Church with the Rev. George F. Gilchrist Jr. officiating. Arrangements were under the direction of Grubbs Funeral Home in Troy.