Ertie Preston

Funeral service will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 25, 2007 at Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church, 810 Cathay Street. Pastor T. J. London will officiate with entombment in Oakwood Mausoleum. Friends may call at the Browne's Mortuary, 441 N. Jefferson Avenue on Friday from 2:00 until 8:00 p.m. The family will be present from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. "The Lord is my shepherd....yeah though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death; I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me." (Psalms 23) Wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, friend, educator, entrepreneur; Ertie Washington entered into eternal rest, Saturday, August 18, 2007. She was born May 1, 1942 in Magnolia, AR to the union of the late Obie Washington and Gertis (Holmes) Washington. She was baptized at an early age at Ninth Street Mennonite Church and later became a member of Tabernacle Baptist Church. Ertie was currently attending Christ Deliverance Center. She attended Carrollton Elementary School, Saginaw Public Schools and graduated from Saginaw High in 1960. After graduation she moved to Newark, NJ where she met the "Love of her Life," Mr. Gilbert Preston, Sr. They were married on March 30, 1962. Ertie attended Lyons Medical School and received a degree in nursing, specializing in geriatrics and also attended Scott's Beauty School where she became a licensed beautician. She later attended Newark State (Kean) University and received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education. In 1981, Ertie earned a Masters Degree in Education Administration K-12 from Saginaw Valley State University graduating Magna Cum Laude, all within a one-year period. That same year, she participated in other extended studies at Central Michigan University. Mrs. Preston was a retiree of the Saginaw School System with more than 34 years of service, and six years with Newark Public Schools. Ertie was affiliated with numerous cultural, civic and social organizations. She received the "Dr. Marie Wright Tolliver Woman of the Year Award" in 2000. She was a member of the Saginaw Education Association, the Michigan Education Association, the National Education Association, the Dr. Marie Wright Tolliver Cultural and Civic Club of the National Association of Colored Women's Clubs, Inc.,Saginaw, Michigan. She was very gifted in arts and music; doing portraits on canvas in pencil, in K, charcoal and oils. Ertie also produced a slide production entitled "The Autobiography of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr." Circa 1981 for her students. She formed many children singing groups, the first being the "Sunbeam Choir". Ertie also managed and occasionally sang with her sisters, the legendary "Pearls of Blackness." For a number of years Ertie played baseball along with her sisters and was coached by the late Al Robertson on teams which included, Philmore East, Chets Bar, Golden Slipper, Shelby Insurance, Pitt's Banditos, and Vargas Bakery. While searching her family's genealogy, Ertie discovered that her great-grandfather, Eli Holmes (1840-1948),who was born a slave, spoke with them and stated that he ad "high expectations for them" and she never forgot it! He accumulated over 200 acres of land in Magnolia, AR which was inherited by his children. Ertie was the oldest living great-grandchild of her father's roots, thru his mother, Eva Sykes-Hayes which goes back to the Hebrew family in Israel. Since Ertie's transition, her brother Obie is now the oldest living great-grandchild of Eli Holmes. Mrs. Ertie Preston leaves to cherish her memory, her loving husband of 45 years, Gilbert John Preston, Sr.; two daughters, Tracy (Carl) Horton of Leesburg, VA and Chrystol (Love) Derrick Bandy of Leesburg, VA; seven grandchildren, Cortney Horton of Leesburg, VA, Brandy Bandy of Mt. Pleasant, MI, James Bandy, Jr. of Leesburg, VA, Nicole Horton of Tallahassee, FL, Obie Bandy of Saginaw, MI, Carl Horton, Jr. of Leesburg, VA, Gilbert Bandy II of Saginaw, MI; beloved granddog, Leo Horton; her first great-grandchild, Talik Wilkerson(to be adopted). Also surviving her are five sisters, three brothers, Obie Washington, Jr., Gloria Wilson, Mary (Randy) Thomas, Atlanta, GA, Priscilla (Percy) Curry, Eugene Washington, Jerry Washington, Lois Washington, Debra (Charles) McKenzie all of Saginaw, MI; an aunt, Zoredie Hicks of Saginaw, MI ; father-in-law, Gilbert Preston, Sr. of Olive Branch, MS; sisters-in-law, Mary Washington, Judy Preston and Sarah Way both of Newark, NJ and Kathleen (Dr. Arthur)Tyehimba of Olive Branch, MS; brother-in-law, Lacy(Zelda) Preston of New Jersey City, NJ; aunts-in-law, Jean Preston, Sue Preston and Evelyn Preston and uncle-in-law, Frank Preston, all of New Jersey; special god-daughters, Terri (Curry) Baskfield, La'Nae McKnight and Jackie (Tammie) Thomas; special niece and nephew, Brian Curry and Toni Curry Carroll; many other relatives and friends including many special friends, Patricia Whitson, Dorris Jones, Loddree McMurren, Connie Middlebrook, Laura Laury, Tony Guest, Emma Atwater, Dr. Marie W. Tolliver, Rachel Times, Mattie Calhoun and Wlimer Jones Ham-McZee. Mrs. Preston was preceded in death by her parents, Obie and Gertis Washington; sisters, Gertie (Fletcher) Diggs, and Gloria George; three nephews, Steven Times, Shawn Washington and Obie Timothy-Timothy Wilson. Special thanks is extended to Heartland Home Care Nursing Staff, Yellow Cab Services, St. Mary's of Michigan 3rd, 5th and 6th Floor Nursing Staff, Dr. Cherukuri and many relatives and friends.

Ertie Preston

May 1, 1942 - August 18, 2007