Ms. Celia Mae Bert

Celia Mae Bert was born on May 5, 1934, in what was known as the Bert Settlement, a large tract of land in the Pea Ridge communty of Brewton, Alabama, acquired by her great-grandfather. She was the elder of two children born to Casey Bert and his first wife, Marie Bailey. She began her education at the one-room Oak Grove Elementary School. Her parents divorced when she was seven, and for a time she and her brother, Casey Jr, lived with their father and his second wife in Pensacola, Florida, and went to a Catholic school there. After reuniting with her mother in Brewton, she resumed attending Oak Grove Elementary. She subsequently graduated from Boykin High School in 1953. As a single mother, Celia worked domestic and crop harvesting jobs to support her four children: Tiajauna, Debra, Gayford, and Curtis. In 1965, she relocated to Detroit, Michigan, where her father been living since the late forties. She did some nursing before landing a job at Palace Quality Cleaners. It was also in Detroit that she gave birth to her fifth and youngest child, Derric. Early on Celia confessed Christ, and was baptized at St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church in the Pea Ridge community. But not long after arrving in Detroit, Celia joined Greater Mt Zion Missionary Baptist Church, under the leadership of founding pastor, Rev. T.C. Spann. She possessed a stirring soprano voice, which she contributed to Greater Mt Zion well-renowned Senior Choir. Extreme shyness prevented her from ever having a solo turn in church, but she was not the least bit bashful about singing around the house. She remained at Greater Mt. Zion through the tenures of Rev. Spann’s successors, Rev J..J. Johnson, and current Pastor R. Anthony Hill, serving faithfully for more than fifty years until illness forced her to retreat to the care and comfort of family and home. Celia received a cerfiticate in laboratoty technology from Parker Institute but actually ended up finding employment as a nurse’s aide at Henry Ford Hospital. She continued her education in nursing, first earning an Associate’s Degree in 1980 from Wayne Community College, then taking additonal courses at Wayne State University. For nineteen years, Celia worked at The Arnold Home as a Certified Nursing Assistant. She also moonlighted as a private duty nurse to several elderly patients who grew to love her dearly. In 1996 a breast cancer diagnosis forced her into early retirement. She won that battle, though, becoming a 28-year survivor in the process. Celia didn’t take well to retirement, however. After a few years she became a volunteer with the Foster Grandparents Program of Catholic Social Services, serving with enthusiasm and distinction (she won several awards) well into her eighties. This second retirement allowed Celia time to devote to her favorite pursuits. Family was one. She regularly traveled berween Alabama and Texas, attending graduations and other rites of passage of her grandchildren. And when they began to have children of their own, she became a cherished and beloved great-grandmother. Another passion was baking. Celia delighted in fulfilling requests by family and friends for the cakes that had become required fare at birthdays, picnics, funeral repasts and other gatherings. She kept in touch with friends and relatives through hours-long phone calls and cared not one whit about the astronomical long-distance bills she woud run up. And she loved her fashion. With her collection of hats, shoes and purses, she could have opened her own shop. Celia Mae Bert was called to eternity in the early morning of August 16, 2025, having spent the previous day surrounded by a slew of her loved ones. Her daughter Debra Marie Bert, died in 2021. She leaves behind to carry on her legacy, her daughter, Tiajuana Jackson, of Brewton, Alabama; three sons, Gayford A. Bert, of Houston; Curtis Bert and Derric Bert, both of Detroit; seven grandchildren, Miykele, Symone (Courtney), Quanera, Nykeya, Johnny, Kasei and Korderro; twenty-two great-grandchildren; rwo great-great grandchildren; one brother, Casey Bert Jr, of Detroit; two nieces, Sophia (Shawn) Braswell and Sheila Peck, both of Detroit. Her closer-than-close daughter-in-law, Angela Goss Bert, of Houston; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Ms. Celia Mae Bert

May 5, 1934 - August 16, 2025