Eather May Gillespie's Obituary
Eather May Kelley Gillespie, 79, passed away November 15, 2021. Eather was born in Wabbaseka, Arkansas on February 1, 1942, the daughter of Lemon Kelley, Sr. and Mathie Willingham Kelley, and was apart of the Great Black Migration from the South and moved to Jackson, Michigan with her family at the age of three. She received her nickname “Pie” from her father Lemon because she was the only daughter of eight sons, and so she was his “Lemon Pie”.
Eather graduated from Jackson High School in 1962 and received a Secretarial Associate degree from Jackson Community College.
Eather retired from Consumers Energy in 2000. She was an active civil rights advocate and was a member of the Jackson chapters of the NAACP and the A. Phillip Randolph. She proudly marched during the March to Washington in August of 1963 and the Million Women March, in Washington D.C. in 2000.
Eather accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Savior at the age of nine at Second Baptist Church under the late Rev. Amos Polk Williams. She freely operated in her spiritual gifts of Helps, Mercy and Intercession as she gave to her family, various churches, and community events.
Eather was an American Red Cross volunteer in 2005 during the aftermath of the Katrina Hurricane and was stationed in New Orleans. Lovingly called “Aunt Pie” she ENJOYED interacting with people and remembering everyone’s names and stories they shared. She continued to be an active and faithful volunteer throughout the years in various local church food banks, the Allegiance Hospice House and many church functions regardless of denominations. Her gifts of “Helps” gave her the insight to see other people needs and she never hesitated to initiate a resolution with or without their permission. Of, course all assistance came with an ample supple of Pie Kelley’s opinions.
Eather was married to William E. Lee in 1965 and later, Joseph H. Gillespie in 1973. She is survived by her brothers; Jeverson (Wilma) Kelley of Lansing, Sylvester Kelley of Atlanta, Georgia, James (Cynthia) Kelley and Lemon Kelley, Jr. of Jackson, her four children; Desirae (William) Kelley-Strong of Lansing, Oterias Kelley of Houston, Texas, Daucie (Roslyn) Lee of Dallas, Texas, and Jalen Kelley of Jackson, eight grandchildren; Oterias (Karelyn) Kelley II, Sheenita (Koronnis) Davis, Bianca Kelley, Bijan Kelley, Rahila Kato, Jamilla Kato, Daucie Lee, Jr., Dajuan Lee, and twelve great grandchildren, along with many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Eather was preceded in death by her parents; Lemon and Mathie Kelley, brothers; Leroy, Cleothes, M.W. and Joe Kelley, her late husbands; William E. Lee and Joseph H. Gillespie, and son-in-law; Jonathan Kato.
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