Reather Pierrie

Mother Reather M. Collier Pierrie was born September 6, 1928 in Alexandria, Louisiana to Reverend Anthony and Rosa Lee Humphrey. She moved into her new mansion on Thursday, December 19, 2019 at the blessed age of 91 years.

Mother Pierrie grew up in Alexandria, Louisiana and gave her life to Christ at an early age. She married Jessie Collier Sr. and seven children were born to this blessed union. The family later moved to Saginaw, Michigan, where Reather put her passion for cooking to good use. She worked as a cook for Saginaw County Hospital, St. Mary’s Hospital and General Motors Corporation, from where she retired.

After retiring, she started her own business called Reather’s Catering, where she cooked everything under the sun from cakes, pies and casseroles to her famous cornbread dressing. Mrs. Pierrie set up and ran the Wolverine State Baptist Headquarters kitchen. She was a member of Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church for more than thirty years and was overseer of the kitchen.

Mother Pierrie later joined Zion Missionary Baptist Church after her marriage to Deacon Willie Pierrie. She became head of the kitchen, cooking for weddings, funerals, banquets and more. Reather was a Deaconess, Sunday School teacher, member of the Missionary Society, Senior Usher Board, Church Women United and a delegate for the National Baptist Convention. Outside of cooking, she loved traveling and shopping. She was well known for her hats and being stylish. Many women have done well, but our beloved mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend, Reather M. Collier Pierrie has excelled them all.

Mother Pierrie was preceded in death by two spouses, Jessie Collier Sr. and Deacon Willie Pierrie; daughters, Eugenia Coulburne, Mary McClure, Nancy Carter; grandson, Cornel McBride Jr.; parents, Reverend Anthony and Rosa L. Humphrey; sisters, Verda M. Lewis, Sallie Woods; brothers, Anthony, Ernest, Willis, Robert Lee, John Charles Humphrey; nephew, Ernest Lewis; sons-in-law, George Fuller and Alvin Chaffer.

Mother Pierrie is survived by daughters, Rosie L. Collier Chaffer, Flint, Michigan, Doris A. Collier Fuller, Saginaw, Michigan; sons, Jessie Collier, Jr., Saginaw, Michigan, Walter Sr. (Edna) Collier, Mansfield, Texas; fourteen grandchildren, Jessie Collier, Jr., Delmaria Johnson, Marcella Collier, Tiffany (Brian) McClain, Alvin Chaffer, Michea Biggins, Useff (Jilette) Perkins, Joseph Johnson, Donte McClure, Tomika (Sterling) Brooks, Tosha, Walter Jr., Monica and Rashonda Collier; twenty-five great grand-children; seventeen great-great-grandchildren; sister, LaMuriel Lewis, Flint, Michigan; brother, James Humphrey, Alexandria, Louisiana; sisters-in-law, Tina and Lula Humphrey, Saginaw, Michigan, Evelyn and Ola Humphrey, Alexandria, Louisiana; two very special friends for over 60 years, Ms.Gladys Humes and Ms. Addie Griffin; many nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.

The family would like to express a special thanks to Health Source of Saginaw, Nurse Supervisor at Great Lakes Tonya Williams, Lena Hubbert RN, social worker Larry Cohen, Veronica Grice RN, all the CNAs and staff of The Great Lakes Unit Heartland Health Care Center (Briarwood) of Flint, Michigan, Ivan E. Phillips and the Staff of Paradise Funeral Chapel.