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Donald Hendrick Wesley
Born: 9/12/1930
Died: 6/19/2021
Age: 90
Community: Grand Blanc, MI
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Donald Hendrick Wesley
September 12, 1930 – June 19, 2021
Donald Hendrick Wesley passed away peacefully at his home in Grand Blanc, MI, surrounded by family, after a long illness with Parkinson’s Disease. Don was born to Helen (Scott) Wesley and Clarence Wesley, in Chicago, IL. After he graduated from Englewood High School in Chicago, IL, his family moved to Lawton, MI. Don received his B.S., with a major in Biology and a minor in Agriculture from Western Michigan University. He earned his M.A. from the School of Education at The University of Michigan-Ann Arbor. He received a Specialist’s Degree in Community School Education from Michigan State University. Don began his educational career in the Flint Community Schools as a 4th grade teacher at Parkland Elementary School and later became Parkland’s Community School Director. He also served as Community School Director at Doyle and Lincoln Elementary Schools. He was Assistant Principal at Pierson Elementary School prior to becoming Principal at Fairview. He was the first principal at the newly formed Emerson Intermediate School when it opened. Don taught 6th grade and was Media Specialist at Carpenter Road Elementary School. He taught social studies at Whitney J. Young Street Academy and the Kennedy Center, both alternative high schools. Before retiring, Don taught social studies at Northwestern High School. Don loved teaching and mentoring young people of color in the Flint community. He was an advocate for students and teachers through his involvement with the United Teachers of Flint – MEA, NEA, AFT, and MFT. He served as Second Vice President for his union. Don served on the Professional Negotiations Board and Professional Negotiations Team during contract negotiations between the UTF and the Flint Board of Education in addition to being Caucus Chairman for the Federation for many years. He also served as UTF Representative to The Greater Flint AFL-CIO Council. Don enjoyed sports including watching high school and playing intramural basketball. He liked attending U-M football and watching other BIG sporting events. Don was best known for his dry sense of humor and he took great pride in the accomplishments of his children, bragging about them often. Don was a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
Don leaves his devoted wife of 26 years, Barbara Gill (Cook) Wesley and children Olivia (Wesley) Harvey, Battle Creek, MI, Donna Wesley, Seattle, WA, Donald H. Wesley II (Jill), Ann Arbor, MI, Clarence Wesley, Washington, D.C. and Dorian Jackson (Flint, MI). He also leaves loving relationships with Lisa (Cook) Brantley, Cynthia Cook, and Alfred Cook Jr., along with their children and grandchildren. Don received great pleasure from his 9 grandchildren, Amirah and Leksandro Jackson, Ashton Harvey, Desmond Harvey (Ceirra), Hannah Harvey, Ariel Harvey, Iman Hearing, Lindsey Nedd, Holland Wesley, and two great grandchildren, Ahmad “AJ” Dewberry and Tatum Harvey. “Donnie” leaves two sisters, Barbara (Wesley) Smith of Totowa, NJ, and Beverly (Wesley) Roy, Chicago, Ill. His daughter Stefanie (Wesley) Hearing (Michael), Ada, MI preceded him in death in 2013 along with his sisters Helen (Wesley) Branch, Wanda C. Wesley and brothers Sterling and Wayne Wesley. The family would like to thank a host of special people who were in Don’s life who called, visited and provided support including his caregivers Sonya Wilbon and Melinda Parker, friends Talib Dawan and Saburah Muhammad-Dawan and the All Americans Home Health & Hospice Care organization.
In lieu of flowers, please make memorial contributions to Carriagetown Ministries in Memory of Donald Wesley Sr. – 605 Garland Street, Flint, Michigan 48503. For additional information call 810-233-8787. |
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| Visitation |
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6/28/2021 |
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| No visitation |
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| Funeral Service |
| No Service |
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