Mr. Charles Howard Dysart Jr.

Charles Howard Dysart, Jr. passed from death to life on Tuesday, December 27, 2016, surrounded by his family, at Sparrow Hospital, Lansing, Michigan. Charles was born on December 18, 1936 in Shelbyville, Tennessee to the late Charles Howard Dysart, Sr. and Sarah Smith-Dysart. Charles was born into a segregated South, and his father died during Charles’ early childhood. With his father gone, Charles sacrificed often for the sake of his mother and two older sisters. He would forego clothes, shoes, and other necessities to help his family make ends meet. As a child, Charles attended the local African Methodist Episcopal Church. Charles graduated from Bedford County Training High School, the all-black, K-12 school in Shelbyville, Tennessee. He was a star athlete there, particularly in football, but was unable to parlay this talent into a college career due to his family’s meager means. But Charles remained throughout his life a persistent worker. Charles worked for a period at the local airfield, where he was able to tag along on brief flights with pilots. During this time, he met the love of his life, Martha E. Cleveland, and they were married on October 21, 1957. Early on both Charles and Martha worked at the Tyson Foods processing plant in Shelbyville, but their desire for better opportunities led them to relocate to Albion, Michigan, making them participants in what is today known as The Great Migration of black workers from the United States’ agricultural South to its industrialized North. Upon moving to Albion, Charles, Martha, and their four young children stayed briefly with his sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Joann and Lloyd Mitchell, who had already made Albion home. Charles found employment at the Albion Malleable Iron Company, and Martha in the food service department at Albion College and local retail stores. In 1968, Charles began work at General Motors' Fisher Body plant, just outside of Kalamazoo, Michigan, in Comstock Township. In 1976, he moved his family westward from Albion to Kalamazoo to be closer to work. While at General Motors, he completed classes and training for a skilled trade which enabled him to receive his Journeyman Card as a Pipefitter, and Martha was hired at the Upjohn Company. He worked for 30 years and retired in 1998, after which he and Martha traveled frequently; he worked on his golf game; and they enjoyed the fellowship of family and friends. Charles and Martha celebrated 50 years of marriage on October 21, 2007. While at General Motors on a lunch break in 1972 he was led to Christ by friend Doris Chatman and since that time has served the Lord. After joining Grace Temple Church of God in Christ, Charles remained a strong supporter of the ministry. He and his sons volunteered in the construction of the church’s new sanctuary, and he and his grandsons volunteered in landscaping projects at the church. He served on the church’s executive committee under the late Supt. Robert L. Brown, Sr. and current Pastor Stephen C. Williams. He was a man of few words, but many good works. He was never one to complain, even while going through various health challenges, but was always observant and possessing a sense of humor. He was a devoted husband, great father, and beloved grandfather. He wanted his children and grandchildren to grow into productive, kind, and responsible adults. He treasured spending time with his family, traveling, gardening (esp. tomatoes), watching sports, dressing nicely, maintaining his lawn, servicing his vehicles, and retreating to the golf course. He was an avid and talented golfer whose friends and competitors affectionately referred to him as “The Bear.” In fact, Charles hit a hole-in-one on the 5th hole at Red Arrow Golf Course in Kalamazoo, MI while golfing with his grandsons on July 12, 1998. Charles was fond of telling family and friends to “hang tough” when ending a phone call or departing a location. His life is a testament to hanging tough for God, family, and friends. His memory will forever be cherished by his wife of 59 years, Martha, and his legacy will continue through his daughters, Alfredia (Ernest) Dysart-Drake, Albion, MI; Princilla Roxanne Dysart, Lansing, MI; sons, Derrick D. Dysart Sr., Lake Orion, MI; Randall (Candice) Dysart, Powder Springs, GA; grandsons, Garrett Brown, Albion, MI; Gavin Brown, Albion, MI; Derrick D. Dysart, Jr., Lake Orion, MI; and numerous nieces, nephews, in-laws and special friends. Charles was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Sarah; sisters Josephine Dysart and Dorothy Dysart; and daughter-in-law, Robin Dysart.

Mr. Charles Howard Dysart Jr.

December 18, 1936 - December 27, 2016