Earlene Perry

THE LEGACY

Mother Earlene Elise Perry was born on February 8, 1933, in Memphis Tennessee to the union of Catherine and Earl Williams. She moved to Michigan City with her family when she was 8 years old on December 7,1941, the day that Pearl Harbor was attacked.

In her early years, Earlene worked in Long Beach, cleaning, and babysitting. She loved to go skating and to the movies. Earlene liked to play cards with her family and friends even though she never really learned how. She skated with Gisele as much as she could when she wasn’t working.

Earlene attended Isacc C. Elston High School where she graduated. She then decided to move to New Jersey where she worked for General Electric. She then moved back to Michigan City where she started working for Old World Bakery. It was during this time that she met and married Roderick Whitlow. During this union she was blessed with four sons, Roderick Reynolds, Larry Anthony, Keith Andrew and William Earl Whitlow. Earlene also worked for Keebler Bakery and then Beatty Memorial Hospital, now Westville Correctional Facility, where she was a nursing supervisor. She retired from Westville after 35 years. She made so many wonderful friends during this time. In 1967 Earlene married the love of her life Robert Perry. Through this union, they were blessed with a baby girl, Gisele Perry.

Earlene found Christ at an early age, but later in life found her forever church home at New Hope Missionary Baptist Church where she served in The Mission Ministry, the adult choir, Red Circle and was dedicated to teaching Sunday School and teaching others how to teach Sunday School. She has touched so many lives in her lifetime. She would always give the best advice and help people plan out their lives. Always there to lend a helping hand. If you needed a place to stay, she and dad had a bed. She was a life coach, an encourager, a mother, a second mother, a grandmother, and an auntie whether you were blood or not.

Earlene was promoted to glory on October 2, 2022. She was Preceded in death by her husband: Robert Perry, her parents, her sister: Nancy Teague, brother: Clarence Kemp Jr. son: Roderick Rick Whitlow, grandsons: Michael Perry, and John Foster, and granddaughter: Chandra Harris.

She leaves to cherish her loving and fun memories, her sons: Larry Whitlow, and Keith Whitlow both of Michigan City, IN; William Whitlow of Riverview, FL; her daughter: Gisele Perry of Michigan City, IN; One surviving sister, Juanita Kemp of Elkhart, IN; A special loving step-daughter: Sheila Foster. A host of nieces, nephews, and bonus daughters and sons, 23 grand-children: Cynthia Grant, Gerral Smith, Ayrika Whitlow, Renee’ Irby, William Whitlow Jr., Dejaree’ Smith, Teriona Smith, Eric Whitlow, Pamela Perry, Nirel Whitlow, Julius  Mounts Jr., Cornell Irby, Candace Whitlow, Darius Smith, Camico Smith, Taylor  Whitlow, Omari Whitlow, Reginald Foster, Brady Foster, Tameka Harris, Mia Bailey, Eddie Foster, and so many very special friends and Church family that will miss her dearly.

A Celebration of Life will be Saturday, October 15, 2022 at 12noon at New Hope Baptist Church 730 W. 6th St. Michigan City, Indiana 46360 with Pastor Jacarra M. Williams  to do Eulogy. Viewing will be 11am until time of service. Burial will be Monday, October 17, 2022 at 11am at Greenwood Cemetery.

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