Pastor Leroy Dorsey

Dorsey, Pastor James Leroy Saginaw, Michigan. Family hour will take place at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, April 11, 2005 at the Wolverine State Baptist Headquarters, 615 S. Jefferson Ave., with the funeral commencing at 11:00 a.m. Rev. Robert Robinson will officiate with interment in Forest Lawn Cemetery. Friends may call at the Greater Freewill Baptist Church, 615 Irving Park Place, on Sunday from 3:00 until 8:00 p.m. "I'm Reminded of a Story" Pastor James Leroy Dorsey Born January 20th, 1934 to Jefferson and Sarah Dorsey in Bourbon, Mississippi, the sixth oldest of 14 children. At age 14, the family moved to Frenchman Bayou, Arkansas where he attended J.M. Speck Public Schools. On August 31st, 1952, he married Ella Mae Brown. Together they shared 53 years and seven children. In April 1966, Pastor Dorsey moved to Saginaw, Michigan seeking better job opportunities. He was hired at Malleable Iron Central Foundry and in August 1966, he brought his family to Saginaw. Pastor Dorsey accepted Jesus as his personal savior and served faithfully as a Deacon at the First Baptist Church in Frenchman Bayou, Arkansas. He accepted the call to ministry in February 1964 at First Baptist and in August 1964, he was called to pastor Star Bethel Baptist Church in Joiner, Arkansas, and in October 1964, he was called to pastor Cyprus Grove Baptist Church in Basset, Arkansas. Worship service was held at Star Bethel on the 1st and 3rd Sunday and Cyprus Grove on the 2nd and 4th Sunday. In April 1966, Pastor Dorsey joined the Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church, where under the leadership of Pastor R. B. Austin, he served faithfully for 10 years. In February 1976, Pastor Dorsey organized the Freewill Missionary Baptist Church where he served as pastor until 2000. He was president of the Local Ministers, organized the City Wide Revival Fellowship, served as 1st Vice Moderator of the Saginaw Valley District while maintaining a full-time job at Central Foundry, retiring after 25 years of service. He was a member of the UAW Local 455 and he attended ABTS in Saginaw and UTS in Flint. He received an honorary Doctorate Degree of Divinity from Urban Theological Seminary in October 1990. Pastor Dorsey loved his family and celebrated his heritage. He often told stories of his childhood experiences with his siblings, Willie Burk*, Ed*(Pearl) Dorsey, Charles* (Mary) Dorsey, Sarah Morris*, George (Bernice) Dorsey, Roosevelt (Bernice) Dorsey, Matron (Katie) Dorsey, Phillip Dorsey*, Robert Dorsey*, Cora (Charles) Blagmon, Roy (Beatrice) Manning, Bernice Manning, and Alma (Clifford) Bonner. The stories were told to his children, Mary Reedy, Lillie Dorsey, Mildred (Kenneth) Bell, James Dorsey, Lorane (Charles) McMillan, Annette Dorsey, Leroy (Sabrina) Dorsey, his 18 grandchildren, his five great-grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. *Deceased