Mrs. Arlene Delores Washington Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

****NOTE: SEE CORRECTED FUNERAL SERVICE TIMES BELOW**** ****IN LIEU OF FLOWERS: IN REMEMBRENCE OF ARLENE WASHINGTON'S LIFE, the family asks that in lieu of flowers a charitable donation be made to SLDRead.org. **GALILEE BAPTIST CHURCH IS HOSTING SERVICES IN LOVING MEMORY FOR THE FAMILY OF MRS. ARLENE D. WASHINGTON ON TUESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2022. ****NOTE: PLEASE SEE VISITATION & FUNERAL SERVICE TIMES & LOCATION BELOW ***MASKS & SOCIAL DISTANCING WILL STILL BE REQUIRED WHEN ENTERING THE CHURCH AND WE ASK FOR MASKS TO REMAIN ON WHILE ATTENDING SERVICES**** ____________________________ ****ATTENTION TO THOSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO VIEW SERVICES ONLINE YOU HAVE (3) OPTIONS TO CHOOSE FROM: 1. Go to Galilee Baptist Church's website at: gbckazoo.org -Or 2. Go to YouTube and type in The Galilee Baptist Church Livestream -Or 3. Go to Facebook, if you have a facebook account. after logging in, type in Galilee Baptist Church -Or- 4. Use the GBC App, Instagram or Twitter If you have any questions please contact us at: (269) 342-1000 __________________________________________ THE OBITUARY Mrs. Arlene (Elliott) Washington passed away quietly on Monday, January 10, 2022. Arlene was born on October 26, 1941, to the late James and Susie Elliott in Waldo, Arkansas. Arlene was the youngest of two children. Arlene moved to Kalamazoo, MI with her family in 1944 from Waldo, Arkansas. Arlene attended Kalamazoo Public schools and graduated from Kalamazoo Central High School in 1958. Arlene attended Western Michigan University, where she met the love of her life, James Edward Washington Sr. They were united in marriage on August 20th, 1960. Arlene accepted Christ as a teenager as her personal Savior at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Kalamazoo, MI. and was amongst a group of teens that joined Galilee Missionary Baptist Church, under the leadership of Rev. Mabry Gardner. Arlene was a faithful member who served in many capacities which included playing the piano for the Gospel Choir, a member of the Woman’s Ministry, worked along with her church family building and being a part of the Dorothy Hobbs Food Pantry and teaching Sunday school alongside her husband. Arlene also designed and wrote the Galilee newsletter, “The Galilean”. Arlene worked for several different law offices as an Administrative Assistant. Arlene tried her hand with real estate along with husband James at Pierson Realtors and she also worked for Upjohn Company for over 25 years, where she retired to take care of her parents. Arlene and James opened up the famous “What Not Box” on Douglas Avenue. After selling the ‘What Not Box”, James and Arlene decided that Kalamazoo needed a way to get information out to the community, so they started a newspaper called Community Voices. Arlene worked hard at making sure that the information that she shared would make the black community of Kalamazoo and surrounding communities proud. Arlene was preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, James Edward Washington Sr, and her parents, James and Susie Elliott. Arlene leaves to cherish her memories, two daughters, April (Vance) Goodwin and Suzen Washington; one son, James (Amy) Washington Jr. all of Kalamazoo; one brother Charles (Judy) Elliott of Kalamazoo; three sisters-in-laws, Clarissa Hale, Diane Hammuck and Oshia Washington all of Springfield, Ill; one brother-in-law, Michael Washington of Houston, TX. Seven grandchildren, Me’Shale (Bryan) Hinton of Suffolk, VA, Ra’Shel (James) Abbott, Ryan (Elizabeth) Washington, Vance Goodwin II of Kalamazoo, MI, Dawnielle Goodwin of Norfolk VA, Brooklyn Washington of Alanta GA and Taylor Washington of Chicago, IL; 8 great-grandchildren, several godchildren, a special cousin Erma (Sally) Prude, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. There are three special nurses by the name of Dotty Rice, Terri O’linn and Diane Boylan from Plainwell Pines Nursing Home, that took excellent care of Arlene while she was a resident from 2016 to 2022! The entire staff at Plainwell Nursing Home, we thank you and appreciate you for your patience and willingness to help take care of our loved one! We will never forget you!

Mrs. Arlene Delores Washington

October 26, 1941 - January 10, 2022