Janice Marie Ezell

The Lord called one of his beloved children, Janice Marie Ezell on Sunday, January 11, 2015 at her home. Although we were saddened, we had to allow her to accept her calling. During the year of 1937, the world was slowly exiting the great depression. President Roosevelt was serving a third term in office, WWII had begun, and on February 10, 1937 in Kalamazoo, Michigan God blessed George and Charlotte Dunigan Sr. with a precious daughter. During Janice's youth, she accepted Christ at Mt. Zion Baptist Church, in Kalamazoo. She was a life-time resident of Kalamazoo and graduated from Lincoln Jr. High School. Janice was very active and played basketball at the Douglass Community Center and was a well-known track runner. Janice loved sports, and she was also well known for her home runs on the softball field. Janice received many trophies and awards, and she and her team were honored in the Kalamazoo Gazette. In 1955, Janice was joined in marriage to Earl Ezell and to this union God blessed them with twin boys and six other children. She loved her children and her greatest desire was for them to know God. She enjoyed caring for all of her family. She took care of her mother, Charlotte in her home, until God called her home. One of her joys was taking care of her godsons, Jason, Jordon and Termine Coleman. Janice especially enjoyed cooking large family meals. She would feed total strangers, friends and her family who would come from far and near to enjoy her chicken, dressing, homemade cornbread and fried corn. No one could make macaroni and cheese like her! Janice was preceded in death by her paternal and maternal grandparents; her parents, George and Charlotte Dunigan; her late husband Earl Ezell; two sons, Gary Sr. and Warren Sr.; six sisters, Lemonia, Louise, Henrietta, Eileen, Joyce and Irma. She will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved her. She leaves to cherish her memories: three sons, Gregory, Byron and Stanley (Sherry); three daughters, Jacqueline, Jennifer and Janice (James) all of Kalamazoo, Michigan; two sisters, Maudine Coleman and Georgia Julian both of Kalamazoo, MI; one brother, Rev. George Dunigan Jr. (Barbara) of Flint, Michigan; nine grandchildren; twenty-one great grandchildren. Also, cherishing her memories are her niece and private nurse, Tracy Charleston-Blake; her cousin Ann Dunigan (better known as her "Road Buddy"); several special nieces and nephews; sister-in-law, Magnolia Bodley; her childhood friends, Minnie Thrash, Helen Brooks, Norma Jean Anderson and Pauline Gardner; and The Friday Night and Fish Fry Crew. Also, several other relatives and friends.

Janice Marie Ezell

February 10, 1937 - January 11, 2015