Mother Lettie "Granny" Kyles

KYLES, Mother Lettie "Granny" - Age 87, passed away Tuesday, August 30, 2016 at her residence. Family hour 10:30AM Saturday, September 10, 2016 at Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church, 512 Pearsall Avenue, with funeral service commencing immediately at 11:00AM. Pastor Terrance J. Gowdy, Officiating. Interment Perry Mount Park Cemetery, 878 N. Perry St. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the church 10:30 AM Saturday. Mother Kyles will lie in state in at Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church, 512 Pearsall Ave., and may be viewed from Noon - 8:00PM Friday. Mother Lettie Kyles was born on August 24, 1929 in Pontiac, Michigan to the union of Charles and Ammie Dinkins. “Granny” as she was affectionately called attended Pontiac Public Schools. At an early age she gave her life to Christ and was a member of the New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church where she served faithfully on the Usher Board, the Kitchen Ministry and in the Food Pantry. On September of 1945, she married the love of her life Mr. Samuel Kyles, and to this union was born Joan Delores “Pumpkin”, Helen Marie “Tudy”, twins, Samuel Jr. “Bubbie” and Sandra Louise “Nana”, James Bernard “Jimmy” and Stacy. Granny was a homemaker, raising not only her own children but her grandchildren and great grandchildren as well. The house on the hill (called Bunker Hill by the family) known to many in the City of Pontiac was a place of love, warmth and discipline. For a period of time Lettie worked in the domestic field, where she had no problem letting her employers know, “She did not do windows.” Yes if you are wondering she created the “Help,” you know which role she held. Although Lettie was small in stature, she didn’t have to speak a word, If you heard three snaps of the fingers and saw her point you better get it together. An advocate for her family you could often find her at the school for a misbehaving child or grandchild (a sight not welcomed by the guilty) as they knew once they got to the house on the hill what to expect. Granny was the glue that held the family together the caregiver for all family members. Lettie served faithfully at New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church for many years but felt the commission from the Lord to join her grandson, Pastor Terrance J. Gowdy at the Second Baptist Church in Romeo, Michigan where she served faithfully on the Mother’s Board and the Kitchen Ministry from 1993 to 2004. Continuing to follow the commission for the Lord she joined Pastor Gowdy in 2006 at the Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church where she continued with the Kitchen Ministry and serving on the Mother’s Board well into her eighties. A loyal and faithful member one could always find Mother Kyles in attendance supporting church activities until her health did not allow her to actively participate. On August 24, 2016 Granny celebrated her eighty-seventh birthday with family and friends. Although Granny was not feeling up to par she really enjoyed having the family there in her honor. On August 30, 2016, Granny made her transition from labor to reward. Mother Kyles leaves to cherish her memory: daughters, Sandra Peoples and Stacy Kyles both of Pontiac, MI; grandchildren, Andre Kyles, Jack Ridgeway III, Angela Ridgeway, Keith Foster, Everette Foster, Helen Foster, Willa Foster, Shanetia (Marcus) Houston, LaPorcha Foster Anthony Kyles, Sr., Alicia Kyles, Audra (Kevin) Gross, Ebony Price, Adrian (Brandi) Kyles, Alfreda Simmons, Pastor Terrance J. Gowdy, LaRhonda (Amos) Brown, DeTonya (Lorinzo) Smith, Carl (Kelly) Kyles Sr., Rochelle Kyles, LaKeisha (Marvin) Taylor, Aaron (Shameka) Davenport, LaShonta Kyles, Leea D. (Lawrence T.) Moon, Bre'Ana Kyles, Shateka Kyles, Jahzanique McDonald, Shantanique McDonald, Azaria McDonald, Mary Richardson; a host of great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren; brother, Robert (Allie) Dinkins; son-in-law, Willie Foster; daughter-in-law, Carol A. Kyles; and a host of other numerous relatives and friends. Mother Kyles was preceded in death by her husband, Samuel Kyles, Sr; children, Joan Ridgeway, Helen Foster, Samuel, Kyles Jr. and James Kyles; grandson, Harvey Kyles; parents, Ammie and Charles Dinkins Sr.; siblings, Charles Dinkins Jr., Lloyd Dinkins, Rose Gilyard, Jessie Seay, Val Kersey, Dora Lee Shields, Irene Dinkins, Gussie Walters; daughter-in-law, Patricia Kyles; sons-in-law, Jack A. Ridgeway Jr. and Alfred Peoples.

Mother Lettie "Granny" Kyles

August 24, 1929 - August 30, 2016