Melvin "Gigie" Barkley

Funeral service will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday May 6, 2009 at Zion Missionary Baptist Church, 721 Johnson St. Pastor Rodrick A. Smith will officiate with interment in Forest Lawn Cemetery. Friends may call at the Browne's Mortuary, 441 N. Jefferson Ave. on Tuesday from 2:00 until 8:00 p.m. where the family hour will begin at 6:00 p.m. Melvin A. Barkley was born August 20, 1951 in Saginaw, MI the son of Lucille (McCloud) Surles and Melvin Barkley. He was a member of Zion Missionary Baptist Church, a graduate of Saginaw High School, of Delta College and attended the University of Michigan. He was the first black journeyman painter of General Motors Powertrain Plant, a member of UAW Local #455, a Connecting Link, a member and supporter of the African American Cultural Festival Committee, and also our own Mr. Arts-Beats and Eats. He leaves to cherish many memories, his wife, Michele Barkley, Saginaw, MI; six children, Tonya (Rickey) Sapp, Chicago, IL, Latricia Terrell and Torianna Barkley both of Saginaw, MI, Melvin P. (Juanae') Barkley, Union, N J, Sharee Banks, Little Rock, AR and Bryan (Yolanda) Blackmon, Louisiana; six grandchildren, Antorria Strother, Saginaw, MI, Loreal Macon, Tyron and George Bailey, all of Chicago, IL and Janae and Michelle Blackmon, both of Louisiana; one great-grandchild, Amiya Aguire, Louisiana; his parents, Lucille (Uleslie) Surles, Saginaw, MI; two sisters, Vickie (Jim) Stewart, Saginaw, MI and Marcia (Ben) Williams, Clarkston, MI; two brothers, James Hadden and Donovan Barkley; five nieces, Unique Williams, Karamia Barkley, Latonya Daily, Jasmine Barkley, China Daily; six nephews, Derick, Adrian, Leslie and Donovan Barkley, Unceld Daily, Bennie Williams, all of Saginaw, MI; two aunts, Barbara McCloud, Saginaw, MI and Doris McCloud, Detroit, MI; one uncle, Leonard Palmer, Saginaw, MI; mother-in-law, Ursula Edwards; father-in-law, Jessie Daily; two sisters-in-law, Georgia Barkley and Kimberly Barkley both of Saginaw, MI; one brother-in-law, Maurice Daily, Saginaw, MI; one god-son, Jeremy Prince; many other relatives and friends including special friends, Edgar Bradley, Gwen Henry, Lovell Johnson, Ennix Wright, Billy King, Bill Badger, Jack Young, and Steve Barker. The Food Basket Family, especially Bolwinder Singh and a very special friend, Jessie Daily. Mr. Barkley was preceded in death by his father, Melvin Barkley; brother, Freddie Barkley; father-in-law, Fred Edwards; grandparents, Cleveland and Lola McCloud and his grandfather, Kermin Barkley. The family would like to express special thanks to the Tri-City Links, Visiting Nurses, the nurses at Covenant Medical Center Cooper and Harrison Campuses. A special thank you to Dr. Rachel Williams and her staff.