Mrs. Marie Elizabeth Arnold

Her Journey: Marie Elizabeth Arnold was born on November 17, 1926, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama to Reverend Jordan and Mamie Brown. She was the fifth of seven children born to this union. She accepted Christ as her personal Savior at the young age of seven and was baptized by her father who was pastor of Mount Olive Primitive Baptist Church in Detroit, Michigan. Reverend Brown or "Judge" as he was so affectionately called, moved his family from Alabama to Michigan in 1928 to seek employment and was hired by Chevrolet from which he later retired. Marie was very active in the church. She sang with her brother Hubard and sisters Alice and Dorothy in a choral group called the Fantastic Four. Her siblings Andrew, Dorothy, George and Hubard all preceded her in death. Marie attended Sampson Elementary and Eastern High School graduating with a 3.8 GPA. She then took some college courses in psychology maintaining a 4.0 GPA. Marie was also quite the athlete participating in tennis and baseball which she loved. She was also a pretty great dancer. In fact, she was Orlando's ("Lannie's") first instructor. Marie was an avid gardener; she and her wonderful neighbor Renee would spend many hours working in the yard. Her flowers had to be perfect. In 1946, while working at Jones Brothers Restaurant, she met the love of her life, George J. Arnold, who always called her "his angel." They were married the following year in April 1947. To this union two sons were born, Orlando George and Roderick William. Marie was a dedicated wife and mother who decided to forgo her college ambitions to take care of her family. When her children were of age, she worked as an assistant manager in the women's department at Arlan's Department Store. She worked for many years as a cashier for Hudson's as well. Mr. Charles Smith always hired Marie during the Christmas season at the U.S. Post Office. For 30 years, she worked for the Election Commission in Detroit and eventually became a supervisor. She was a long standing member of Word of Faith International Christian Center joining the congregation in 1986 under the leadership of Bishop Keith A. Butler. For the last six months, Marie resided at Heartland Health Care Center in Allen Park, Michigan, as she was rehabilitating from a recent illness. On Tuesday, October 14 at 6:20 a.m., the good Lord called her home to glory.

Mrs. Marie Elizabeth Arnold

November 17, 1926 - October 14, 2014