Gonzelle Bussey-Norfleet

BUSSEY-NORFLEET, Mrs. Gonzelle - Age 79, passed away Tuesday October 13, 2007 at Harper Hospital in Detroit, Michigan. Family hour 10AM Thursday 18, 2007 at New Calvary Baptist Church, 3975 Concord, Detroit, Michigan, with funeral service commencing at 11AM. Pastor Michael Nabors, officiating. Interment Gethsemane Cemetery,10755 Gratiot Ave. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the church 10AM Thursday. Mrs. Bussey-Norfleet will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 268 N. Perry St., and may be viewed from 3-8PM Wednesday. Affectionately known as "Granny Goo" to some and just "Goo" to others was the first of seven children born to Robert Milton James and Alyce W. James, October 23rd 1927 in Bessemer, Alabama. She graduated from Muscoda High School in 1944. From 1945-1947 she attended Alabama State College and Spellman College. After marrying Nathan Bussey, Jr. in 1947 she migrated to Detroit, Michigan in 1951 with two small children Jonathan, 2 years old and Debra, 6 weeks old; additionally Teresa, Nathan III, Corliss, Teresa Eileen, Nathan III, Corlis Yvonne and David Carlton. In 1952 Gonzelle joined the fellowship of New Calvary Baptist Church under the late Joseph T. Thomas. She began her employment career in 1957 with the Federal Government doing temporary assignments at the IRS, US Army Tank Automotive, FHA and Veterans Administration covering a ten year period. She accepted a position at Michigan Bell Telephone Company in 1967 and remained there until her retirement December, 1988. Although she retired from a 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. career, she continued to serve the village with special emphasis on senior citizens. Gonzelle's vehicles for service span the categories of Religious, Civic and Social including Member of the Board of Directors for Friendship House, Hamtramack, MI. President, One More Effort Social Club, Christian Woman Circle, Member of Progressive Baptist Convention and other auxiliaries in New Calvary Church. Gonzelle loved competitive sports, board games, assorted card games, solving puzzles, reading and singing. She excelled in games; she played softball, bowled and played basketball. In spite of her many health challenges of late she managed to keep in contact with friends and family on a regular basis. Gonzelle Bussey Norfleet was admitted to Harper Hospital on October 12, 2007 where she made her transition October 13, 2007. Her memory will be shared by: 3 daughters, Debra Joyce (Vincent) Porties of Bridgeport, CT, Teresa Eileen Bussey- Jackson, of Lansing, MI and Corliss Y. Bussey of Detroit, MI, and one son, Jonathan Garwin Bussey, 16 grandchildren, Tenica, Ronald, DeAnjelo, Demesha, Vatima, Brittney, Whilney, Jonathan, Joya, Cicely, Nadalyn, Tedra, Tracey, Candice, Kyara and Jamal, 11 great grandchildren, 1 sister, Roberta Hall of El Paso, Texas, 3 brothers, Wilbar(Flora) James, of Bessemer, AL, Erskine(Eunice) James of Dale City, VA, and Alvin (Barbara) James of Raleigh Durham, NC, 10 neices, 4 nephews a host of cousins other relatives and friends including special friend Lois Tilley. Mrs. Gonzelle A. Bussey was preceded in death by 2 husbands, Nathan Bussey, Jr. and George Norfleet: 4 sons, Kenneth, Robert, Nathan III and David Bussey; mother, Alyce W. James; father, Robert Milton James; sister, Altress James and brother Robert C. James. The family would like to express special thanks to the entire New Calvary Church Family and Pastor Michael C. R. Nabors and Lois Tilley.

Gonzelle Bussey-Norfleet

October 23, 1927 - October 13, 2007