Mrs. Ella Mae Dorsey

Remembering... Proverbs 3:5-6 says “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.” Ella Mae Dorsey lived these words for 82 years, and on Friday September 15, 2017, she trusted in the Lord when He called her home to be with Him. Ella Mae Brown was born August 31, 1935 in Turrell, Arkansas. She was the firstborn of 15 children born to David and Rosie Lee Brown. She matriculated through the Frenchmans Bayou, Arkansas public school system. Ella accepted Christ at a young age in Joiner, Arkansas and she stayed true to her God until she transitioned to her Heavenly home. The scripture declares “Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing and obtaineth favour of the Lord.” When James Leroy Dorsey found Ella Mae Brown, he found his good thing and obtained favour from the Lord. James and Ella married on August 17, 1952 on her parent’s porch in Joiner, Arkansas. To that union were born seven children, known as The Seven Seeds. James Dorsey accepted his call to ministry in February 1964 and began pastoring in August of 1964. It was at this time that Ella too began ministering as a First Lady. James and Ella served together at two different churches simultaneously in Arkansas, Star Bethel in Joiner and Cypress Grove in Bassett. Two years after being called to Pastor in Arkansas, James Dorsey left the south and headed north looking for something better for his family. After being in Michigan four months, James traveled back south to get his family, and in August of 1966 Ella moved to Saginaw, MI along with their seven children, one of whom was 28 days old. James, Ella and their family joined Tabernacle Baptist Church under the leadership of Pastor R. B. Austin, where her husband was an associate minister and she served faithfully singing in the Senior Choir. In February of 1976, James Dorsey organized the Greater Freewill Missionary Baptist Church and Ella was right by his side. She served as President of the Gospel Choir, was on the Mother Board, a faithful servant of the Mission Ministry, Vice-President of Saginaw Valley District Minister Wives & Widows, and a faithful Sunday School and Bible Study attendee. Her church family loved to hear her sing. She ministered through song her whole life, beginning with First Baptist Church in Frenchmans Bayou to Tabernacle Baptist to Greater Freewill Baptist Church. With a husband as a Pastor, she was frequently called to sing at any given time upon her husband’s request. It was songs like “When I Rose This Morning”, “He Touched Me”, “God Will See You Through” and “Oh How I Love Jesus” just to name a few, that elevated worship to another level at Greater Freewill. As First Lady, Ella Dorsey served with grace, class, dignity, poise and integrity until January of 2000 when she became First Lady Emeritus, a position she held until her heavenly transition. Ella was a natural caregiver and loved children, which led to her running her own daycare for several years out of her home. She was loved and adored by both the children and their parents. She was also employed by St. Mary’s Hospital, working in housekeeping. More than any job or position she held, she enjoyed being a Mother, Grandmother and Great-Grandmother most. Her grandchildren describe her as their everything. To them she was a teacher, tutor, personal chef, guidance counselor, doctor, advocate, mental health counselor, crisis interventionalist, advisor, relationship therapist, life coach, mediator, disciplinarian, secret keeper, childcare provider, chauffeur, cheerleader and champion. She was and is the wind beneath her children’s wings. She managed to make every child, grandchild, and great-grandchild feel as if they were the single most important person in the world to her. Ella Mae Dorsey was known by those who loved her most as Honey. Honey is naturally sweet, not artificial, and Ella was definitely sweet naturally. There was nothing fake about her. The benefits of honey go beyond its great taste. The doctor will tell you that honey is good for you. It is a natural home remedy that provides benefits for overall good health. Honey adds to your life, not subtracts. Honey provides strength, energy, it boosts performance, builds the immune system, it is a brain booster and used to treat burns. Ella Mae Dorsey was surely the best remedy and benefit to her family, friends and community. She added to all of our lives and we will forever hold her in our hearts. She was a gem and enriched every life she touched. Ella was preceded in death by her husband of 53 years Dr. James L. Dorsey; parents David and Rosie Lee Brown, siblings David Jr., Robert Lee, James L., and John Earl Brown; granddaughter Tracey Lynette Dorsey; brothers and sisters-in-law Willie Birk, Ezra, Charles, James, Roosevelt, Matron, Phillip, Robert Lee and George Dorsey, Bernice Manning, Sarah Morris, Mildred Dorsey and Cora Blagmon. and sons-in-law, Howard Reedy, Sr. and Kenneth Bell, Sr. Ella leaves to cherish her memory seven children: Mary Reedy, Lillie Dorsey, Mildred Dorsey Bell, Lorane (Charles) McMillan, all of Saginaw, MI, James (Angela) Dorsey of Woodbury, MN, Annette (Victor) McMillan of Grand Rapids, MI, and Leroy Dorsey of Canton, MI; ten siblings Annie Mae Echols, Saginaw, MI, R.B. Brown, Buffalo, New York, Pearlie Mae (J.C.) Nathan, Saginaw, MI, Betty (Enis) Wakefield, Matteson, Illinois, Rubiestein Zuchowski, Lansing, MI, Tommie Lee (Ruby) Brown, Osceola, Arkansas, Linnie (Tommy) Lutton, Kennedale, Texas, Ann Shirley (Lorenzo) Browne, Killeen, Texas, Nathaniel (Verna) Brown, Matteson, Illinois, Regina Brown Lindsay of Saginaw, MI; brother in law Dr. Roy (Beatrice) Manning, and sister in law Bernice Dorsey both of Saginaw, MI, Pearl Dorsey and sister in law Alma (Clifford) Bonner of Chicago, IL; 18 grandchildren Eric, Ericka, Tynsley (Andreas), Monique, Howard, Denita, Michael (Samaria), Stephanie (Robert), Andreus (Kanshelle), Jamie, Sylvester (Pashanta), Andrea, Jerrard, Jessica, Brittany, Kyler, Asia and Jada; 19 great-grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends. Family hour will take place at 10:00 A.M. Friday, September 22, 2017 at Corinthian Baptist Church, 104 South 10th Street, Saginaw, MI with funeral services commencing at 11:00 A.M. Pastor Roy L. Manning will officiate with interment in Forest Lawn Cemetery, 3210 South Washington Avenue, Saginaw, MI. Friends may call at the Evans & Browne's Funeral Home, 441 N. Jefferson Ave., Saginaw, MI 48607 on Thursday from 2:00 until 8:00 p.m. Family will be present from 5-7 p.m. to greet friends.

Mrs. Ella Mae Dorsey

August 31, 1935 - September 15, 2017