Mrs. Willie Mae Petty

In Loving Memory Of Willie Mae Petty: Willie Mae Cheeves was born January 6, 1942 in Detroit, Michigan. She was the third of four daughters born to the union of Willie Cheeves and Georgia Edna Archie Cheeves. Mae, as she was affectionately called, attended the Detroit Public Schools and graduated from Southeastern High School. After high school, she attended Highland Park Community College. In 1965 she was briefly joined in holy matrimony to Johnny Petty but it was not everlasting. Mae started her walk with Christ at Oak Grove AME Church. She continued her walk with Christ at Apostolic Way Church of God under the leadership of the late Bishop Eugene Tompkins. In May 1992 she was baptized in the name of Jesus and received the gift of the Holy Spirit. Sis. Petty, as she was known throughout the church, was actively involved in many ministries and daily operations of the church she loved. Sis. Petty served as Sunday School Secretary and she especially loved working Vacation Bible School with all the youth. She was on the Executive Board and served as Chairperson of the Finance Committee where she worked very closely with both the late Bishop Eugene Tompkins and Bishop Evinstone Simmons concerning the church finances. Sis. Petty was also a member of The Planning Board and The Sisterhood. Whether it was overseeing renovations projects, the church garage sale or giving out food baskets, Sis. Petty emerged herself wholeheartedly into any project she was a part of until her health started to fail. Mae was employed by Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) of Michigan where she was instrumental in developing an Employee Handbook. She quickly moved up the ranks to supervisor and in 1991 was authorized to act as a goodwill ambassador to help resolve claimant problems. Mae when on to work as a Crossover Analyst for the Federal Medicare Division of BCBS and frequently traveled between their offices in Michigan and Illinois. She retired from BCBS in 1999. Mae also worked for many years as a tax preparer at Stricklen's Tax Service and was very passionate and knowledgeable about her job. Mae enjoyed bowling, reading, working puzzles of all kinds, cooking new and unusual dishes and her dogs—Geronimo, Roscoe and Sable. She was an avid sports enthusiast and was especially fond of basketball and football.

Mrs. Willie Mae Petty

January 6, 1942 - January 12, 2016