Felix Perry

PERRY - Felix Perry was born on February 6, 1932 in West Point, Mississippi to John M. and Elizabeth Perry. He spent his final resting days surrounded by his family before his journey home. Felix joined New Hope Missionary Baptist Church more than 50 years ago, under the pastoral leadership of Reverend J.V. Williams. He married Juanita Stegall and they were blessed with three children, Sylvia, Rodney and Felix. Felix attended Ministerial Institute and College in Mississippi and then worked as a skilled tradesman for General Motors for 49 years, retiring only to help care for his wife during her illness. Felix loved to spend time fishing, golfing and doing work on his farm. However, he will most be remembered for being a father not only to his own children, but also for being a father figure to his co-workers, the young adults he worked with as an advisor to the NAACP Youth Council, and the seven nieces and nephews who resided with Felix and Juanita for extended periods of time during their childhoods. Felix was preceded in death by his wife, Juanita, his parents, two sisters, Callie Huddleston and Viola Turner, and one brother, Cleotis Perry, and a special friend, Harvey Knox. Felix leaves to cherish his memory one daughter, Sylvia (Preston) Hopson, of Grand Rapids; two sons, Rodney (Georgina) Perry Sr., of Grand Rapids and Felix Parker, of Chicago, Illinois; grandchildren, Naché, Preston III, Melissa, Cherinita, Brandon, Hanna, Stacey, Rodney Jr., Michael, Dominique, Bianca, Amair, Tierra, Jaylon and James; great-grandchildren, Alana, Adonnis, Braelyn, Lovell Jr., Braylana and Ayden; sisters, Mae Rose Holliday, of West Point, Mississippi and Bernice Taylor, of Detroit; brother, Hicken (Ruby) Perry, of Detroit; sisters-in-law, Ann Knighton and Annie (Allen) Love, all of Grand Rapids; nieces, Lois (James) Daniels, Dorothy (Adrian) Cannon, Shirley Frank, Fate Turner, Cathleen Turner, Valerie (Spence) Harris, LaVail Turner, Deborah Perry, Sheryl Perry, Lynette (Michael) Booker, ReNita Perry, Donna (Bill) Joseph, Geneva (Louis) Montgomery and Artimisisia (Joe) Banks; nephews, Joe Huddleston, Bernard (Carolyn) Huddleston, Climmie (Mary) Huddleston, Cleotis Barnes, Terry Perry, Lorenzo Taylor, Travis (Cheryl) Turner, Terrance (Melanie) Turner, Timothy Turner, Earl Perry, Frederick Perry, Avery Perry, Wayne (Lisa) Perry, Ike (Kim) Perry, Vincent Perry, Carmichael Gildon and Emerson Johnson; and a host of cousins and other family and friends, including special friends, Barroneece Prince and Leroy Conner. Services will be held Saturday, July 2, 2011, 11 a.m. at New Hope Baptist Church, 130 Delaware SW, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49507, Reverend Dallas Lenear, Executive Pastor, Officiating. Family hour will be one hour prior to service. Interment at Kent Memorial Garden, 7101 Clyde Park SW, Grand Rapids, MI 49509. Arrangements entrusted to Ivy K. Gillespie-Moody Memorial Chapel