Beatrice Marie Hunter

Beatrice Marie Hunter, affectionately known as “Bea” or “Ms. Bea”, age 72, of Detroit, Michigan, passed away on February 17, 2024. Born on March 8, 1951, to Albert Ross (“House”) Kelly and Clementine (“Clemen”) Hunter, Bea spent her childhood years in Hayneville, Alabama. She was raised by her paternal grandparents, Ross (“Big Daddy”) and Emily (“Big Mama”) Kelly on their family farm. She graduated from Central High School in 1970. She remained in Alabama until she moved to Cleveland, Ohio in 1982. She moved to Detroit in 1983. Bea was a devoted mother, grandmother, and friend. She raised her son, Shandell, and daughter Nikki, as a single mom. She loved them both dearly, evident in her many sacrifices and unwavering support for them. She was very fond of her five grandchildren, all of whom she loved dearly. She was a loyal, and true friend, especially to her childhood friend Mary Fisher, who she reconnected with after moving to Detroit. She also had a strong and enduring friendship with Gwendolyn “Gwen” Greenlee and Carol McNeal, her close neighbors, whom she has known for 30+ years. Bea’s work was mainly babysitting young children when she first moved to Detroit. For over a decade, she babysat a number of children for various families for sustained periods of time. Prior to her illness, she worked at Value World as a general merchandise clerk for 25+ years. She was a very dedicated and hard worker. At Value World, she made enduring friendships with many of her coworkers. They are the ones that affectionately called her “Ms. Bea”. Bea’s favorite pastimes included watching the soaps (daytime and nighttime), listening to music, mainly R&B, and spending time with family and friends. Her favorite soaps were the Young and the Restless, As the World Turns, Dallas, and Falcon Crest. Her favorite singers were Al Green, Frankie Beverly, Luther Vandross, and Bobby Blue Bland. She loved visiting family in Alabama and Cleveland whenever the opportunity arose. She would often spend Christmas and other holidays with her son, Shandell, and his family, when she didn’t spend them with Nikki and Jayla in Detroit. Perhaps, the most life changing event for Bea was when she decided to come into full communion with Holy Roman Catholic Church. She was received into the Church at the Easter Vigil in 2022 at the National Shrine of the Little Flower in Royal Oak. After her conversion, she developed a strong relationship with the our Blessed Mother, praying the Rosary with family (her son and his family on the phone) and often with Fr. Rocky on Relevant Radio. Her illness prevented her from attending daily mass in person, and as such, she would attend the noon mass on Relevant Radio via her tablet. Bea is survived by her son, Shandell (Barbara) Hunter and daughter, Nikki Hunter; her grandchildren: Jayla Sheard, Matthew Hunter, John Paul Hunter, Simon Peter Hunter, and Thomas Hunter; her siblings: Rex Kelly, Alton “Al” Kelly, Christopher “Chris” Kelly, Brenda Valentine, Vivian Long, and Gregory “Greg” Kelly; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, and dear friends. Her love for her family knew no bounds, and her memory will forever live on in their hearts. She was preceded in death by her parents, grandparents, her sisters Julia Ann and Helen, and two brothers, Charles and Ahart. She loved them all dearly. A visitation for Bea will be held on Wednesday, February 21, from 9:30 a.m. - 10 am. in the St. Therese Chapel at The National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica, 2100 Twelve Mile Rd., Royal Oak, Michigan. The Funeral Mass will follow immediately after at 10 a.m. at the Basilica. Following the service, Bea will be laid to rest at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Southfield, Michigan. In lieu of flowers, the family wishes for donations to be made to Relevant Radio in her memory. The family invites all who knew and loved Bea to share their memories and condolences at www.sullivanfuneraldirectors.com honoring the life of a remarkable woman whose presence enriched the lives of all she encountered.

Beatrice Marie Hunter

March 8, 1951 - February 17, 2024