April 2, 1917 — March 20, 2015

Lesester Danzy “Aunt Sis” Mitchem, 97, of Cassopolis, died peacefully Friday, March 20, 2015, just two weeks shy of her 98th birthday.

She was born April 2, 1917 in Thomasville, Alabama to Henry and Julia (Williams) Danzy. Her parents preceded her in death. She was also preceded by her two husbands, Jake Smith and Fred Mitchem; one son, James Marion Smith; one step daughter, Lovella Ussery; one son in law, Henry Turner; one sister, Bonnie McIntosh, three brothers, Ebenezer Danzy, Howard Danzy and LeRoy Danzy; six brothers in law, L.C. Pruitt, Nathaniel Bell, Joe Hardy, John McIntosh, Curtis Bell, Earl Sorsby; and four sisters in law, Phyllis Danzy, Pauline Danzy, Vera Danzy, and Ora Lee Danzy.

When Lesester was four years old, her family moved to Redland, Oklahoma, and later to Wayside Kansas. The family attended the Mount Mauria Baptist Church, four miles from their home. Later the family attended New Hope Baptist Church in Havana, Kansas. New Hope was the church where Lesester accepted Christ into her life and it was the church where Lesester and her first husband Jake Sherman Smith married Sept. 27, 1936. On Dec. 25, 1939, Lesester and Jake Sherman, and their two sons, moved to Calvin Center, one month after her parents moved to Calvin Center.

Aunt Sis, as Lesester was known by her family, attended Wayside school in Kansas through the 11th grade. Years later she earned her high school diploma from Cassopolis High School, and later became a realtor.

Aunt Sis will be greatly missed by family and friends. Among the family she leaves to cherish fond and precious memories are her four daughters, Ora Lee (The Reverend LaFate, Sr.) Owens of Elkhart, Carolyn Mae Turner of South Bend, Julia Marie (The Reverend Joe) Gause of Elyria, Ohio, Gloria (Thomas, Sr.) Brown of Granger, Indiana; four sons, Jake (Veola) Smith of Elkhart, Donald (Hersheline) Smith of Detroit, Lennel Smith of Cassopolis, Wendell (Lori) Mitchem of Canton, Michigan; numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great great grandchildren; three sisters, Jessie Bell of Detroit, Colyne Sorsby of Cassopolis, Julia Bell of Cassopolis; two brothers, Bretho Danzy of Cassopolis, Alvernon Danzy of Cassopolis; two sisters in law, Frances Danzy of Detroit and Velma Danzy of Cassopolis; and a host of nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.

Family and friends will gather from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, March 26, in Connelly Chapel Wagner Family Funerals, 202 North Broadway Street, Cassopolis. Funeral services will be held Friday, March 27, 2015 at 2 p.m. in Chain Lake Missionary Baptist Church, 16853 Chain Lake Street, Cassopolis, with calling one hour prior. Mrs. Mitchem will be laid to rest in Chain Lake Cemetery.

The family prefers memorial contributions in Lesester’s name to Chain Lake Missionary Baptist Church, 16853 Chain Lake Street, Cassopolis, Michigan 49031, or, Cass County Council on Aging, Post Office Box 5, Cassopolis, Michigan 49031.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Connelly Chapel Wagner Family Funerals, Cassopolis. Please share a memory or a message online: wagnercares.com.