Mrs. Henrietta Thomas

Her Journey: Our beloved, Henrietta Thomas-Morton was born June 12, 1944, to the late Henry Grice and Daisy White in Selma, Alabama. She was the only child born from this union with her brother Percy White being the oldest. Henrietta grew up in Selma, Alabama and later moved to Detroit, Michigan at the age of 14 with her mother Daisy White in 1958. Her younger siblings: Lynette Birch, Linda Birch and Walter Birch were later born after the marriage of her mother to the late Rudolph Birch. She was part of a very close knit family. During her early years in Detroit she fell in love with the late Albert Harrell. From this union she enjoyed the birth of her first child Anthony D. White. As a young mother, Henrietta worked as a seamstress at a local garment shop and lived in Detroit with her young son until she was later joined in marriage to the late James Thomas in 1965. From this union two children were born: Antoine T. Thomas and Tina L. Thomas-Castleberry. Henrietta and James remained together until 1969, after which point Henrietta moved to Highland Park and remained there with her three children for the remainder of her life. After going back to school and earning her associated degree in dental technology in 1970, she realized that the more urgent need to support her three children took precedence. During this period she took a job as a transit driver for S.M.A.R.T. (formerly SEMTA) and remained there for 27 years until she officially retired in 2006. Henrietta was later joined in marriage to Mr. Julian Morton, with whom she enjoyed 15 years of marriage and who remained vigilant as her husband and caretaker throughout. Henrietta enjoyed spending her time with family and friends a great deal and especially enjoyed traveling to many places around the world. She also loved music, sewing (as a hobby) and bike riding when she had the time. The four things that made her most happy was dancing to some of her favorite songs, fine dining, gourmet cooking (she was a superb cook) and gardening. She also loved to listen to stories about family and friends, loved to laugh at herself and others when reminiscing and reflecting about old times. Henrietta was known to exhibit a tough exterior at times, but to those who knew her best, knew that this was a facade, because deep down she had a very warm, kind and generous heart. She was well known for helping others in need, but she had a special soft spot for the young people she encountered struggling to make it in life. She was never a collector of a lot of friends, but once you managed to gain her friendship - she made you feel as though you were part of her own special sorority, because you knew you had a friend for life! God saw fit to take his child from this world on August 4, 2013.

Mrs. Henrietta Thomas

June 12, 1944 - August 4, 2013