Lonnie Belle Brown-Frazier

Mrs. Lonnie Belle Brown-Frazier, known to family and friends as “Belle” passed away on Saturday, June 10, 2023, at Covenant HealthCare Cooper, in Saginaw, Michigan, at 76 years of age.

Born on June 28, 1946, in West Monroe, Louisiana, to Ester Belle Carter, Lonnie came to Saginaw, Michigan at an early age with her grandfather, Lonnie Carter. Her mother and sisters followed years later. Lonnie was a proud Knight and graduate of Buena Vista High School; she continued her education at Delta College where she received an Associate’s Degree in Business Administration. She was later employed as a seamstress at Goodwill Cleaners and Speedy Sew Sewing Center where she completed alterations until her illness in 1998.

Lonnie Belle was blessed by dual churches. She attended Resurrection Life Ministries Church under the leadership of Pastor Carolyn L. Wilkins where she was crowned the “Mother of the Church.” She united with Mt. Olive Institutional Missionary Baptist Church, under the leadership of Reverend Dr. Marvin T. Smith. At The Olive, she was loved unconditionally by all who knew her. She was especially known for her infectious laugh. When Sis. Alga Jones or 1st Lady Omie Anderson Smith (“Lady O”) would say something funny to her, you could hear her laugh beyond the walls in the sanctuary. She loved her church family and will be greatly missed.

Lonnie loved life. She loved dinners and barbecues with her family and listening to the Blues on Saturday. Sis. Tracy Orr is a witness. She had dance moves for everything and all styles of music. She enjoyed watching Family Feud with Steve Harvey every day at 4:00 p.m. But, her greatest joy was spending time with her great-grandchildren, Ma’Kaiya and Mila: singing, painting her nails, and styling her hair–even though she would take their hairstyles down shortly after.

Lonnie Belle met her husband, Walter Brown, Jr. and from their union, three children were born: two daughters, Artisher Carter (Dallas, Texas), and Annetta Brown, Saginaw, Michigan, one son, Tyrone (Stephanie) Brown, Houston, Texas; she was blessed with three bonus children, Shannon Swift, Mahogany Jakes, and Brandon Galvin, all of Saginaw, Michigan; twenty-four grandchildren, and a special grandson, Michael Brown, who assisted in her care; special niece and nephew: Stephanie Carter and MyKing Smith; twelve great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; one sister, Willie Evelyn Carter and one godsister, Virginia Robinson, both of Saginaw, Michigan; special brother, Charles Newton; sisters-in-law, Emma Hawkins, and Janie (Gregory) DeMyers; brother-in-law, Isaiah Smith; special goddaughters and godsons, Tracey (Ardie) Orr, Cynthia (Charles) Hamilton, and Alga Jones; the one who stole her heart in a short time, Mr. Randy Harris; a very special friend who kept her lifted in prayer, Pastor Willie R. Hill Jr., many other relatives and friends.

Lonnie was preceded in death by her husband and father of her children, Walter Brown, Jr.; husband, Roger Frazier; mother, Ester Carter; grandparents, Lonnie (Bertha)Carter, sister, Betty Brown; niece, Vickie Bell; nephew, Darryl Bond; grandson, Jeremiah Brown; great-granddaughter, Kiara Carter; aunt, Othella Newton; special cousins, Clarence (Weater) Newton, David Newton, and Irene Snowden; father and mother-in-law, Red (Artisher) Smith; brother-in-law, Andy Tod Smith; sisters-in-law, Artisher Smith, Margaret Blake, and Mildred Smith; many other relatives and friends.

The family would like to express special thanks to Covenant ER Staff, Covenant Cooper 3 East, VNA-Hospice, Resurrection Life Ministries Church and Pastor Carolyn L. Wilkins, Pastor Marvin T. and First Lady Omie Smith and the Mt. Olive Institutional Missionary Baptist Church Family, Heavenly Hands, Ivan E. Phillips and the Staff at Paradise Funeral Chapel Staff.