Audrey Minor

A fun-loving, and generous woman, Audrey Minor touched the lives of so many around her in such a special way. She had a passion for helping children who cannot speak for themselves, and she was always available with a listening ear and gave the best advice, too. Audrey was blessed with two girls, and as her family grew through the years she was the glue that held them all together. She could make us laugh like no one else could, and her zest for life was contagious to all who were within her reach. Although she traveled the world over, there was nowhere Audrey loved being more than surrounded by her loved ones. Life will never be the same without her here, but the memories she leaves behind will never be forgotten.

The decade of the 1930s brought us some of the darkest days we have ever seen as a nation as the entire decade was cloaked in the hardship of the Great Depression. Things only went from bad to worse when a harsh drought gripped the nation’s heartland for nearly two years during this time, putting added strain on an already crippled agricultural industry. Amidst this difficult time a young couple from Wolf Island, Missouri, was pleased to announce the birth of their healthy baby girl on November 20, 1934. Audrey O. was the oldest of 12 children born to her parents, Jessie and Mary (Williamson) Anderson, and she was raised in Olmsted, Illinois, by her grandmother, Henrietta Williamson, and grandfather, John “PaPa,” while her siblings were raised by their parents. She gave her life to Christ as a young girl and was raised in the Baptist church. As her siblings grew older Audrey took some of them in, instilling within her a nurturing spirit. She graduated from Love Joy High in 1952, and then went on to Southern Illinois University, although she had to leave school before completing her education as she needed to enter the workforce.

Life was forever changed for Audrey when she met a man named William “Bill” Minor who was the superintendent of her building. They were married in 1959, and together they welcomed two daughters into their hearts and home, Debra and Karen. In 1966 their growing family moved to Rockford, Illinois, where she also worked for a bank. In 1968 they moved to Detroit where Audrey began working as a secretary in the minority recruitment department at Wayne State University. Audrey also took classes, earning her Master’s Degree in Social Work. She held down things on the home front with ease and made the best meals for her family. Audrey was an active part of her girls’ lives including her involvement with the Girl Scouts and Brownies. She also exposed them to plenty of culture, taking them to the theatre and frequenting the museums. Although her marriage ended in divorce in 1976, Audrey was forever grateful for the children they shared.

With her formal education behind her, Audrey began working as director of outpatient services at children’s’ center of Wayne County, and as the director of an interim house at a domestic violence shelter, and also in outpatient services at Aurora Hospital. She later worked for JAMP in Southern Illinois, retiring from Southern Illinois Regional Social Services Agency (SIRSS) in Carbondale as its first female African American executive director.

With a heart that beat for children and behavior disorders, Audrey used her expertise in other ways as well. She volunteered for various agencies for many years and held memberships in different social services organizations including the Kalamazoo County Advisory Committee for Abused and Neglected Children. Audrey’s passion was always for helping children who were unable to speak on their own behalf. As someone with a generous spirit she supported three children from World Vision, and she also often watched Rev. Robert Schuller on Sunday mornings.

Throughout her life Audrey was a woman of many interests, many of which were shared with her longtime companion, Donald Abbott. She took the most fabulous vacations including to China, Brazil, Mexico, Hawaii, and Las Vegas twice a year to gamble in addition to taking several cruises. Through her affiliation with the Association of Black Social Workers she traveled to most of the 50 states. Audrey enjoyed gambling, mainly the slots, and she took several bus trips to various casinos, even with her oxygen mask in tow for several years. She enjoyed day trips. She collected T-shirts, which she never wore, and matchbooks from all the places she traveled through the years. At home Audrey loved to read the newspaper and do crossword puzzles, listening to good jazz music, talking on the phone, and enjoying the companionship of her cats.

All who knew Audrey Minor would agree that she certainly was a character. “What’s his claim to fame?” she would ask, and she had the greatest sense of humor to boot. Audrey was the matriarch of her family and described as Facebook for her family before there was such a thing as she was always in the know with what was going on with everyone. She was also a fighter with a graceful courage that carried her through life’s challenges while her zest for life always remained intact. Audrey was outspoken, yet she was also a great listener who gave timeless advice. Life will certainly never be the same without her here, but her legacy will be carried on in the lives of those who follow her.

Audrey O. Minor died on May 3, 2013. Audrey’s family included her daughters: Debra Wesley and Karen Sarkar (Al Mitchell); grandchildren: Shannon (Delbert), Sherron, Allante (Steve), Shardonney (Michael), Alicia, Krishna, Kaushik; 17 great-grandchildren; 11 siblings: Ruby Worlds of Demopolis, AL, Betty (Frank) Roby of East St. Louis, IL, Shirley (Jimmy) McNeil of Detroit, Vivian (David) Haggins of Rockford, IL, Pauline (Albert Jr.) Stokes of Jackson, Detroy Jr. (Debbie) Marshall of Rockford, IL, Evelyn Thomas of Forest, MS, Patricia (David) Hayes of Detroit, Curtis Sr. (Hope) Marshall of Olmsted, IL, Kenneth Marshall of Rockford, IL, and Kaye Marshall of Detroit; and many nieces and nephews and special cousins: Sammy, Dolores and Helen. Preceded in death by her parents Mary Eliza and Jessie Anderson. Learn more about Audrey and share in some food and refreshments with her family and friends on Tuesday from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. at the Life Story Funeral Home, Betzler; 6080 Stadium Dr. 375-2900 where services will be held Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com where you can archive a memory, view photos, or sign her memory book before coming to the funeral home. Memorial donations may be directed to PHA (Pulmonary Hypertension Association), St. Jude’s Children Research Hospital, or Meals on Wheels c/o Senior Services. The family of Audrey Minor would like to thank Dr. Susan Carlson and the staff at Rose Arbor Hospice for their care. Also a heartwarming appreciation for everyone who had sent flowers, cards, thoughts and prayers, food and simply their support and presence during our loss.

When the sun goes below the horizon, the heavens glow for a full hour after its departure. And when a great and good woman sets, the sky of this world is luminous long after she is out of sight. Such a woman cannot die out of this world. When she goes she leaves behind her much of herself.