Echoes out of the Burton: Autobiographic Essays of Helen H. Gentry

By HELEN H. GENTRY

"This book consists of autobiographic essays of Helen H. Gentry, an African American octogenarian, and the genealogy of the Gentry family. Helen's essays are extracted from a 25 year personal and family collection of documents and photographs housed in the the Burton Historical Collection, Detroit Public Library. The subjects cover: family, social, economic life; political, civil rights, cultural activities; religious participation, continuing education and travel, recreation and skiing engagements."

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Nov 16, 2011
• ISBN: 9781467061780

HELEN H. GENTRY

HELEN H. GENTRY is a retired Detroit Public Schools World History Teacher, living in Detroit, Michigan. Helen's lifetime avocation has been writing unpublished essays, journals, letters, poems and plays. Many are included in her memoirs.

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© 2011 by Helen H. Gentry. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 10/19/2011 (revised/updated 2013)

ISBN: 978-1-4670-6180-3 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4670-6179-7 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4670-6178-0 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2011919152

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

1 In Memoriam — The Life And Times Of Marla Zane Gentry Shivers—Author’s Notes

2 Autobiographic Introduction

3 How Hugh Park Distorted History

4 A Saga City Of Detroit

5 (My Parents) Mom And Duke

6 Mot Her’s Sermon—E.C. Morris Address

7 Growing Up During The 1930’S & Early 1940’S

8 Living Black And Loving It (Part 1)

9 Living Black And Loving It— Black History (Part 2)

10 World War II—Into The 1950S

11 For Better Or Worst— Into America’s Outback

12 Into The Wild Blue Yonder

13 Intelligentsia

14 Satire: Founding Of The Jim Dandy Ski Club Of Detroit, Michigan

15 Skiing: The Delirious Biting Blue (Part 1)

16 Skiing: The Delirious Biting Blue— Part 2

17 Satire: Two Great Automobile Stories

18 America’s Outback Revisited And Beyond

19 Civil Wrongs: In The Crossfire

20 Teaching: Making A Difference?

21 A History Buff—Religious Dedications—Dilemmas

22 Spain: Ski & See

23 A Play—Never Performed A Park—Tarnished Jewel A Mayor—Dethroned A News Media—Never Published

24 In Pro Persona

25 Helen’s

26 China: Land Of The ‘I’ Ching

27 At 80 Plus Years

1

DEDICATION

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—In Memoriam—

THE LIFE AND TIMES OF MARLA ZANE GENTRY SHIVERS

By Helen H. Gentry (Aunt of Marla) Family Historian

"Marla, To someone I known all my life.

Keep that sweet smile and you’ll always be the best for

miles around. When I leave, you are one person

I will never forget," Friends Always, Mildred

(Southeastern High School Year Book, 1963)

"Marla, to a very sweet and wonderful person with

a personality to match. I hope our friendship will

last forever," Best of Luck, Henry

(Southeastern High School Year Book 1964)

"Marla, Well . . . we finally reached the end of 12 long years.

We have been through many things together and I have

enjoyed every single thing that we have done together.

I regret nothing. Marla stay as you are, sweet, pretty, ambitious

and I guarantee you that you will always be on top.

I sincerely hope that our friendship will never decay because

it really means quite a lot to know that I have someone

as dear as you are for a friend.

Marla, I wish you nothing but the best and

may happiness always be yours.

May God Bless You," Love Always, Carl

(Southeastern High School Year Book 1964)

* * *

IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL AUGUST DAY, AUGUST 2, 2005. MY LUNCH WAS TIMED AT 11:00 A.M. I (Helen) immediately headed to a two families flat on Tennessee Avenue, Detroit, Michigan, from the election precinct where I was working as an election inspector. It was a short distance.

Other family members were traveling or had already arrived at the address. Marla, living in the upper flat over her aunt, Lois, by marriage, had not been seen or heard from in at least three days. In addition, it was agreed that by 11:00 a.m. the police should be called to enter her premises. Cousins and aunts were on the front porch or in the house upon my arrival. I entered the lower flat where I found Lois and my sister Dora in the dining room. Their efforts had been futile in soliciting the police in response to entering Marla’s upper flat.

Knowing the imperative of the situation, I leaped into my car and arrived at the Detroit Police Department 5th Precinct. There I informed the Sergeant of the urgency of the family situation.

The immediate situation was of an ongoing family dispute between the occupants of the two families flat: Lois Gentry and Marla Gentry Shivers. A couple of years earlier Lois’ husband (my brother) Bronson had passed leaving his widow in the lower flat. The upper flat had been occupied by Marla for over a decade. Marla’s husband had secured a divorce in 1990.

This home was left, after my father’s (William) death in 1967, to three of his children: Josephine, Bronson and William Junior. In 1974, Josie, signed a quit claim deed turning over her share to Bronson who was living downstairs, and William, who was living in the upper flat. William Jr. passed in 1975.

Lois telephoned the surviving sisters in 2005 to let each of us know that with the death of our brother, Bronson, her pension(s) had been reduced as well as her income in general. She informed us that she could no longer carry the burden of paying bills that her deceased husband had paid on the upper flat. That included such items as taxes, water, maintenance, etc. The need for an $8,000.00 repair of the roof was needed. Marla did not feel the necessity, per Lois, although leaks were present.

Lois stated that she had numerous contacts with Marla to increase her share of the aforementioned expenses to no avail. Only small amounts were submitted. That forced her to hire an attorney to mediate lawful actions against Marla. Lois claimed that conferences were held between the parties with a results that if Marla did not pay her share, a notice to evict would be secured by the attorney in October.

Marla contested that her flat was part of her mother’s (Effie, who passed in 1985) estate and denied that she could be evicted. Lois’ daughter, Robbie, was her advisor and mentor, directing her mother’s actions from afar in Nashville, Tennessee, where Robbie had her permanent residence.

THE FAMILY MEMBERS HAD KNOWN FOR A LONG PERIOD that Marla suffered from an emotional condition. This condition developed over a period of time that eventually resulted in Marla becoming a recluse. Marla would religiously report to her job at the Southfield Marriott Hotel, but returning home, would isolate herself. Telephone calls were of no avail; she would not answer her door but provided herself with her necessities. My inquiry was if she were reporting to work which was her outlet to the world of people and communication.

During this period, I would only see Marla at our annual Christmas party, a very few social events, funerals and at least once (or twice) at her home when she did respond and open her door to my visits. I often thought of Marla. After her graduation from high school, I probably provided her first automobile. Hello Marla, I greeted her over my telephone. I am purchasing a new automobile. I plan to trade in Big Blue unless you want it. Marla’s soft voice responded, Yes, I would like the car. In those early years, Marla would smile when encountering me. I still have Big Blue," which she kept for some years.

Marla had a lifetime relationship with her cousin, Robbie, whom she had grown up with in the same house on Tennessee Street. Marla resided in the upper flat with her family and Robbie with her family resided in the lower flat. Besides the good, they shared knowledge of sexual childhood abuse, broken relationships, and other vicissitudes that bonded them together. However, with this ongoing household dispute, this relationship weakened with the initiation of the law action against Marla. There may have been a total break.

In mid July 2005, Marla left her job, rumored to be ill and never returned. She never called in to report. It was at this point before her employer would fire her, two of her fellow employees came to her home. They got no response at her upper flat. Inquiring downstairs, Lois knocked on Marla’s door and eventually Marla responded, but still refused to open the door. Lois called to Marla that her fellow employees from Marriott had come to see her. They at least wanted her to call in to preserve her place of employment at Marriott. No response.

Lois began to monitor the movements of Marla in the upper flat. Lois could hear the running of water or the flushing of the toilet and walking, as these old homes were not built with soundproof materials. Near the end July, Lois noted that she no longer heard movements in the upper flat and became concerned and begin to notify different relatives. She had a key to the upper flat but noted that the door was bolted from the inside. Two days had passed when Lois made a decision that if she did not hear any movement in the upper flat, that at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, August 2nd, she would call the police to enter Marla’s flat.

* * * * * *

THE POLICE SERGEANT FELT THE URGENCY of my (Helen) request and said, Is anyone at the house? Yes, I said, Cousins and aunts are waiting and I am returning now. I will dispatch a car immediately to your address. I thank the Sergeant and immediately returned to the scene. Marla’s cousins: Butch Jr., Sherrlyn, Lynette and her aunts; Eudora, Helen and Lois were anxiously waiting. During this interim, others arrived: another aunt, Josephine Huyghe and Lois’ sister, Margaret Moore and her husband, Lee. The wait was about 10 minutes. I had informed the gathering that I had gone directly to the 5th precinct to secure the police.

A police scout car arrived, and two male officers emerged from the car. The persons present quietly informed the officers of our situation and the need for a lawful entrance into Marla’s premises. Marla’s blue, now dusty car, was still parked in the next door lot, as the police officers examined the interior and exterior. Now convinced, they informed the family that forced entry could be only authorized by a supervisor and they radio their precinct.

A female sergeant arrived on the scene, and the family repeated the same details and a request for force entry into Marla’s flat. We were all standing on the front porch. I stated, if you have any fear for your officers safety I will enter first, but was hushed by family members. The officers perform these duties and know the procedures for their own safety. The sergeant approved for the force break-in.

WHAT IS HER NAME, THE SERGEANT ASKS. MARLA, was numerous replies. The police proceeded upstairs hollering, Marla! Marla! of which there was no response. A rumbling of attempts to force the door were heard, then a Boom! crashing sound of the door being dismantled. There was silence on the front porch as the relatives waited for the return of the officers. It seemed like a long time ensued before the female sergeant descended the stairs and now stood facing Marla’s relatives.

She is up there, she said in a stoic and non-emotional face. She is deceased. Gasps and groans were heard. Lois’ eyes seemed to have stretched twice their size as she fell backward into a porch chair in a state of disbelief. She was immediately consoled and Aunt Dora also caught the drama of remorse and was seated. We had outside hope that Marla had deserted the premises and had traveled elsewhere, but that was not to be.

Can we go up, said cousin Sherrlyn to the sergeant. I am a nurse. The sergeant mumbled her approval as cousin Lynette said I am a nurse too, as Marla’s Aunt Josie folded in behind them. They ascended the stairs to the upper flat. Aunt Dora started up the stairs as cousin, Dexter, son of Lois, arrived on the scene. I (Helen) ask of all parties not to tell me the condition or anything about Marla in death, as I only wanted to remember her in life as a living person.

But during their one and only stay, as Marla remains still laid on the floor, Sherrlyn and Lynette hid numerous medicines bottles that still or had contained pain killers and let the bottles that were for high blood and associated with the heart to remain in their nearby areas The medical emergency crew arrived to remove Marla’s remains. Josie said something to the effect, Isn’t this a coroner case? From which the medical crew gave her the telephone number of the Wayne County Coroner. As Josie picked up the phone to call, she was intercepted by her daughters. They stated as such a coroner’s report may cause the voiding of any insurance payment. Josie discontinued her efforts to involve the Wayne County Coroner.

It was settled upon by the family that Marla’s death would be due to a heart problem, since she was on high blood medication. This was the information that was telephoned to the Wayne County Coroner, death by cardiovascular disease due to high blood pressure. Marla’s remains were released to the family who contacted the Swanson Funeral Home on East Grand Boulevard, Detroit, to pick up her remains for cremation, as agreed by the family.

I noted the hour as near noon and headed back to 3-23 voting precinct located in Remus Robinson School on Lenox. I had not been on duty but an hour or two before an old friend of Marla’s family, the Cooper family, across from me called me to her desk. Helen, do you know that Marla is dead? I was amazed how quickly news can travel. How did you know? I asked surprised. Well, people across the street at the Fredgill house saw the police outside, also Shirley, next door was on the scene and the news spread quickly in all directions. Yes, I said. I just left an hour or two ago. A heart condition, I said, and left and returned to my duties. I had encountered Shirley as I left the scene when she asked, is everything alright? I answered, no, everything is not alright, and just left . . . .

MARLA ZANE GENTRY WAS BORN ON AUGUST 19, 1946,

IN DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

I (Helen) had graduated from Detroit’s Southeastern High School two months earlier in June 1946, and was living with my parents on Tennessee Avenue. My brother, William Jr., was living in the upstairs flat with his wife, Effie. They had one son, William Joseph, two years prior to Marla’s birth. Marla must have been an original name. I do not recall any other earlier kin having that first name in either family. I was working at J.L. Hudson Department Store as an elevator operator in August of 1946, a job that I did not keep but for two months. They wanted straighten hair upon reporting to work. My hair was kink often since I was playing tennis in my off time.

I was personally into my own life as a new graduate. Working, attending night school and enjoying social and recreational activities as a young person. Therefore, the intimate details of Marla’s early life are not in my preview. Both of her parents worked. They had met as postal employees. Post office work did not suit William Jr. as it did his father, William Sr. who career expanded from 1924 until he retired in 1960. He later contracted Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and passed in 1967.

The upper flat on Tennessee Avenue would be Marla’s home from her infancy, childhood, teenage and early adulthood. I left my welfare job and joined the United States Air Force in 1949 when Marla was three years of age. During this period, William Sr., his wife, Eudora and daughter, Eudora vacated the lower flat and moved a short distant away to their new home on Kitchener Avenue. Bronson, the youngest son, and his wife, Lois, became residents of the lower flat. Bronson and Lois were prior renters in his sister, Josephine and her husband, Calvin, home on Concord Street. Their relationships were strained, to say the least.

Bronson would sire four living children: Bronson Jr., Robbie, Dexter and Gary. Both brothers would remain in these premises until their death. William passed in 1975 and Bronson passed in 2003.

MARLA WAS AN ATTRACTIVE YOUNG LADY WITH A QUIET PERSONALITY, and had no problems in gaining the attention of male admirers from high school days and later years. The intimacy of these male relationships, I have no knowledge. I would hear the names of male friends, but what transpired in these relationships, I have no knowledge.

Leaving the military service, I was in an out of my parent’s home. I spent from 1952 through 1955 at universities, studying the social sciences. (i.e. University of California, Ohio State University and Michigan State University).

While home on vacation from the university, (This could even been at a later period), I was seated in the front room of my parent’s home. William Jr. and my mother were in the kitchen talking just loud enough that I cold discern their conversation was about Marla. Both were sharing an understanding of terms that I was familiar with from my university studies. But the conclusion I came to as I listen was that Marla would be unable to bear children. But only time could attest to this conclusion. Marla never bore living children to the author’s knowledge.

With a pleasant personality, Marla, was able to secure employment for which she sought. I remembered she was employed at: Allstate Insurance, AAA, as a travel agent and later at Marriott Southfield Hotel. Others I am unaware of.

Marla became engaged and married Tony Shiver, February 16, 1974 in her family’s upper flat home on Tennessee Avenue. The wedding was with family and close friends. Vows were exchanged in the standard rituals. Tony was slightly shorter than Marla and wore a tall Afro hair style, popular at the time. Congratulating him on the event, Tony freely gave what future plans he envisioned. As a small businessman, owner of a tire business, Tony saw his future earnings as secure. His ability to secure capital in pursuit of lucrative business opportunities gave him the security to marry. He said he hoped to start a family in the near future. Tony was a person one would appreciate joining their family.

It was a surprise to the family when we were informed that Marla and Tony were separating. They always seem like an ideal couple. But no one knows what goes on behind closed doors. The date on the filing for a divorce showed an exact day, December 15, 1979 as their date of separation. It was Tony who filed for and received a divorce in 1990.

. . . WHILE IN THE UPSTAIRS PREMISES ON TENNESSEE AVENUE, COUSIN, SHERRLYN, HAD secured various small items for security purposes as: Marla’s wallet and other items. Aunt Josie had retrieved Marla work record. When the news of Marla’s death had been conveyed to the family, my thoughts immediately focused on her burial. Some thirty years prior I had secured a burial plot next to her mother, Effie. Effie was living at the time but Effie wanted to secure a plot next to her husband, William Jr. Since our parents were also buried in the area we decided to have a family area. Eudora also purchased a burial plot giving the family six burial sites which allowed for a standing memorial marker if desired in Elmwood Cemetery.

I immediately informed the relatives, I would take care of the burial, I have a grave plot next to her mother. I did not want anyone to plan otherwise. I insisted that this is the responsibility I would take. This would also include the memorial marker. Thus it was erroneously thought that I had assumed the total responsibility of Marla’s internment. In May 2005, I had already ordered my own memorial marker that the memorial company had given me numerous excuses on the delay.

Lois, naturally, contacted her daughter, Robbie, (her mentor), and advised Robbie, who resides in Nashville, Tennessee, of Marla’s death. Later, Lois informed the family that Robbie was looking for a letter that Marla sent her at an earlier period requesting that Robbie handle her burial and affairs. It was already verified that Marla’s insurance policy from Marriott Hotel had listed Robbie as the beneficiary.

Over the years Marla and Robbie had keep in close contact. When Robbie and Lois approved of securing an attorney for initiating court action against Marla in their continuous on going dispute over the payment of household expenses, a good relationship can not endure under these circumstances.

Marla’s emotional state could not bear such pressure. This is the home where she was raised, married and withdrew into isolation. These were the people she trusted most, who were now willing to evict her, if possible, due to their financial disputes. Especially Robbie, whom she had confided her most intimate thoughts over her life time. Marla must have felt betrayed.

A telephone call to Sherrlyn, by Lois, requested Sherrlyn to immediately return all items to her, per the request of her daughter, Robbie, as the person in charge of her deceased cousin’s affairs. Sherrlyn and her husband Jim complied. From that point onward Marla’s upper flat on Tennessee Street was sealed from the Gentry family. Dora was the only Gentry allowed to enter Marla’s premises thereafter. Lois, tentatively picked, August 5, 2005 as the date for the family to meet and make all final arrangements for Marla’s funeral and outstanding affairs.

In the meantime, all things were placed on hold for Robbie’s arrival from Nashville, Tennessee, on Thursday, August 4, 2005. Robbie’s arrival resulted in no family convocation or communication. Robbie had contacted the Marriott Hotel and the Swanson Funeral Home to arrange for the cremation agreed upon by the family and payment by the insurance policy.

Josie contacted Robbie concerning Marla’s memorial service for which Robbie had no plans. Robbie said Marla wanted no minister, religious service, etc., which was ignored by the Gentry family. Josie insisted that a memorial service be held. Robbie acquiesced naming the next day, Friday, August 5, 2005 @ 6:00 p.m. for the memorial service. With one day notice, Josephine and the Gentry Family quickly prepared for the memorial service.

AS MANY PEOPLE AND FAMILIES KNOWN TO MARLA, and her deceased parents, Effie and William Jr., were contacted as well as Marriott Hotel employees. Josie called family female members and informed them to wear white. She would purchase artificial red flowers for the females to wear. Using her computer scanner, Josie blew up three pictures for display. One of the pictures showed Marla as a baby with Santa Claus. The second picture displayed Marla with her mother, Effie and the third picture was a portrait of Marla taken at her high school graduation. The three were bond together for an easel stand display.

In the meantime, I received a telephone call from Robbie confirming that I would accept the responsibility of Marla’s burial and she would handle all other affairs. Robbie had not volunteer to show anyone in the extended family the document letter signed by Marla that she personally requested Robbie to handle her affairs at death. No one pressed the issue with the agreement in the Gentry family that no dispute was necessary.

Robbie stated that the insurance was held up and that I may have to secure a loan to pay for the cremation. With some thought I said, the family helped Marcus, (I gave $500.00 to assist on Robbie’s son, Marcus, bond), they (family) may help Marla. I continued, I will be paying $600.00 for her burial. The conversation ended on this note, but immediately after hanging up the telephone rung again.

This time it was Lois who spoke through uncontrolled emotion. I thought the money that you gave Marcus was in love. I will return the money to you. It was in love, I responded. What Robbie had heard, she immediately translated and misread my desire for her to get the family together in unity in the burial of Marla in lieu of her one woman show. Lois stated that Robbie was upset at our telephone call. I responded with the reason previously stated and added you are too sensitive, you are too sensitive. It appeared that Lois had her telephone room audio on so all in the room would hear my response of which I was glad . . . .

(Marcus letter to Aunt Helen)

Aunt Helen

"I just wanted to take the time out to sincerely thank you for the

support you have showed me in my time of need. Your cards,

prayers, and yes money was really appreciated during my time

of trouble. You really helped me to push forward through all the

hard times. Now I only have about 25 days left and you certainly

help me get to this point. Thank God I have family like yourself

because a lot of people don’t have that. I really look forward to

seeing you later on in the year. I have missed you all. I love you."

. . . William Marcus . . .

. . . Date: Friday, August 5, 2005

SCENE: SWANSON FUNERAL HOME

East Grand Boulevard, Detroit, Michigan

Time: 5:00 p.m. Daylight Saving Time

Marla’s aunts: Josie and Helen arrived at the funeral home. Tony (Josie’s husband) unpacked her automobile and was carrying supplies to the room set aside for the memorial. Three floral/plant displays had arrived. One floral wreath from her fellow workers at Marriott Hotel, Southfield, Michigan, and another from a friend in Florida. We set up Marla’s photographs on easels, arranged the flowers and then turned on a compact disk of religious music. The funeral director asked for Robbie, the person shown as responsible. She was not there. By 5:30 p.m. a half a dozen workers from Marla’s employment had arrived.

Josie and Helen became the greeters as people slowly drifted in. We encouraged attendees to sign the registration book so we could acknowledge their presence in responding on such short notice. Other members of the Gentry and Smith families had arrived. We checked and verified that the funeral home minister and songstress were on call since the one day notice prohibited us from securing our personal pastors. They were available. The funeral director periodically checked with us to see if Robbie had arrived. Neither she nor any members of her mother’s family were present.

It was exactly 6:00 p.m. when Robbie arrived leading her mother, Lois, and other extended members of her mother’s family, all coming in as a group. We greeted them cordially at the door. As they entered, they stood a while in the front and seem surprised at the activity that was being engaged in by those present. The room was well lighted, soft music, fraternal gatherings, and others gathered around the display of Marla’s photographs reminiscing of past relationships.

Grinning and smirking with no deference for the occasion, Robbie and her mother’s family, the Lamarrs, left the front of the funeral parlor and proceeded to the rear to be seated. None of the women wore the requested white outfits as Josie requested. Thomas (Robbie’s husband) was the only one that signed the registration book. Robbie had run off a one page flyer announcing Marla’s death with a bare minimum program. There were so few copies that very few attendees received one.

For a one day notification, the funeral parlor was 2/3 filled as the memorial service commenced. The minister initiated the memorial with the required religious invocations as prayer, introduction of deceased and family, etc. The songstress gave her presentation then the minister returned to the pulpit and requested family and friends to give their thoughts or condolences.

THE GENTRY FAMILY HAD TAKEN THE FRONT SEATS. I (Helen) proceeded to the pulpit. After greeting attendees, I read a dedication poem to Marla by Langston Hughes, The Negro Speaks of Rivers . . . .

"I’ve known rivers.

I’ve known rivers ancient as the world and older than the flow of human blood in human blood in human veins.

My soul has grown deep like the rivers.

I bathed in the Euphrates when dawn were young.

I built my hut near the Congo and it lulled me to sleep.

I looked upon the Nile and raised the pyramids above it.

I heard the singing of the Mississippi when Abe Lincoln went down to New Orleans, and I’ve seen its muddy bosom turn all golden in the sunset.

I’ve known rivers:

ancient, dusky rivers.

My soul has grown deep like the rivers."

Helen continues:

Marla’s mortal remains will be buried next to her mother, Effie, in Detroit’s Elmwood Cemetery in a future private service. In the urn of Marla’s cremated remains will be the history of all that went before and will ever be as heard in Langston Hughes poem, the Negro Speaks of Rivers."

(a) The soils and sands of Kenya, Africa, scooped up by family members on visits, will be poured into the burial urn. For it was in the Riff Valley of Kenya, Africa where mankind rose from their primitive being, culturalized themselves and populated the world.

(b) And also the sands of Egypt will be poured into the burial urn as Langston Hughes wrote the pyramids along the Nile River witnessed mankind’s 1st great civilization.

(c) Added to the burial urn is a lock of Marla’s hair. For everything viewed in the body resides in just a strand of your hair. And a strand of a woman’s hair leads back to the first mother, Eve, in Africa, through a special DNA gene passed from mother to daughter forever.

Marla today is with the ages—all that has been and all that will ever be." I ended with an invitation to Marla’s memorial burial which would be announced later, to be held at Detroit’s Elmwood Cemetery beside her mother, Effie, gravesite.

Jim, Sherrlyn’s husband was seated in the rear. He later told me at a Mexican dinner after the services, that the Lamarrs had engaged in laughter, talking, disinterest, etc during my presentation. It was all a joke to them.

JOSIE FOLLOWED AND CONCENTRATED ON MARLA’S exceptional work record, which she had secured during her visit to Marla’s flat prior to being barred by Robbie. Marla’s relationship with her fellow employees and their concern for her when she did not report to work was elicited. This was important since Robbie had begun to initiate a blame game, outside of herself and her mother, Lois, as responsible for Marla’s death. Robbie spread that something happened at her place of employment that caused Marla to become depressed that led to Marla’s death. Josie was able to shoot this lie down. Josie had the employees from Marriott to stand to acknowledge their arrival in such a short period of time to the memorial. This ended the saga of the employment blame.

Josie was then followed by Eudora, Calvin Jr. (Randy) then Lynette. Two of the Marriott employees also gave presentations. None of the Lamarr family (i.e. Lois, Robbie, Nicole, et al), who remained in the rear, gave expressions of condolences on Marla’s passing. It was noticed. With a dismissal prayer, Marla’s memorial ended. THE GENTRY FAMILY REMAINED TAKING group photographs acknowledging this sad occasion. It was later learned that it was Robbie who went into the hall at the memorial service and confronted a male admirer of Marla, (i.e. Guy), accusing him of causing Marla’s condition that led to her death. Robbie’s blame game continued . . . .

From Guy

"Notes from the heart regarding MARLA ZANE SHIVERS

I first met Marla in 1987 when she was employed with a travel agency. I worked as travel coordinator with the City of Detroit and all of my Department’s travel arrangements had to be made through Marla’s company. I recall the first time that I made an official call to her agency. She answered the phone with that refined voice of hers, which made me, set up even straighter. While doing business with her for the next several months, it would take me to really be on my P’s & Q’s when speaking with her. She really knew her business and would speak as though she had a lifetime of experience doing what she did. When I finally had the occasion to meet her in person, I walked into her office looking for an older person, but there set Mar, as I called her, who chuckled at me as I stumbled across the threshold of her office door. Marla and I became very good friends and we laughed for a long time about that stumble as well as me thinking that because of her voice and she having such an in depth knowledge of her job that she was a lady of many years past.

Marla and I shared many good times together. We laughed and cried together too. Like an angel, I’ve never heard a sound from her louder than her speaking voice. But oh, can Mar laugh. She loved to laugh. We had fun laughing. And we would laugh about the silliest things and circumstances. I loved her for being that way. But Mar would never want to hurt anyone. She made it her purpose to find out what made people happy and strived to do or be just that. She will always hold a special place in my heart."

MEMORY OF MARLA MAR

(January 25, 2006)

. . . THE GENTRY FAMILY WAS BARRED FROM ENTERING Marla’s premises. Eudora was allowed to enter only when she was accompanied by Lois or her family. Being anointed by others as the family historian, I requested to be able to secure documents from Marla’s premises that reflected Marla’s persona for the Burton Collection family manuscripts. That Lois would consummate my request was never realized. I surmised Lois had contacted her mentor, Robbie, in Nashville, who gave her disapproval of having Helen entering Marla’s premises prior to her review of Marla’s portfolios.

In the meantime, Eudora picked up Marla’s ashes from the funeral home. I initiated a dated convenient to all for a memorial burial at Elmwood Cemetery, which was Sunday, August 28, 2005. I purchased a beautiful Chinese vase the type that Marla would have purchased for her home. This vase became the repository of Marla’s last earthly remains.

I placed an article in the Detroit News and Detroit Free Press of Marla Gentry Shivers passing. My telephone number was given for those who desire the date of the burial memorial services which would be held in Elmwood Cemetery. The Gentry sisters united financially to provide for Marla’s memorial marker. Eudora labored to make the family’s graves presentable with renewed flowers and scrubbing the grave markers. Josie contacted her friend, Raheem, to perform the libation ceremony. Helen prepared the graveside ceremony program.

Sunday, August 28, 2005, Detroit Elmwood

Cemetery Memorial Services

I (HELEN) WAS THE FIRST TO ARRIVE AT THE CEMETERY AT ABOUT 1:30 P.M. I had expected Eudora’s arrival but she did not arrived until later. My preparations were slowed as I spotted a vagrant wandering on the premises. I locked myself in my automobile until I felt safe after his departure. Since the cemetery charged a fee for all burials, Sunday was an appropriate day as no cemetery staff was on duty. I dug a hole for the burial of the vase of ashes. Elmwood officials at my request divided my gravesite in half. The upper half was assigned to Marla and the lower half assigned to Helen. I waited for assistance in the completion of the digging due my weaken shoulder.

Josie had waited at the cemetery gate to lead the vehicles to the gravesite. It was about 2:15 p.m. when she and Tony drove to the site and dropped off Raheem and returned to the cemetery entrance. Raheem finished digging the required hole for the burial urn. It was then that five cars drove to the site depositing their occupants. As requested, summer chairs were brought for sitting comfort. I had purchased a carton of cold spring drinking water for the attendees. Cousin, Dexter Gentry, rode to the site on his bicycle. None of the other Lamarr family attended although informed of the burial. Dexter stated, I am not apart of the decisions that are being made. I am my own man. I loved my cousin, Marla and love you.

Jennertine, Marla’s aunt by marriage to her uncle, Leonard, attended with her brother. Leonard passed late in 2004. Helen had met Jennertine the prior day at a church gathering. She was surprised to hear of Marla’s death and said she would attend the burial memorial.

HELEN GAVE THE WELCOME AS ALL ATTENDEES WERE SEATED. Randy gave a prayer, which was followed by Raheem explaining the libation ceremony that he was conducting. Eudora and Carol, who had come from Youngstown, Ohio for the burial, both read scriptures. Josie gave remarks. The burial commenced. Randy and Dexter carried the burial urn and placed into the burial site. All stood as the urn was covered. Flowers were placed below the marker. Helen called for the dedication of the marker in which a hands holding love circle was formed. Helen read the 23rd Psalms, which was repeated by participants. The final Amen ended the burial memorial.

Helen called attention to the attachment to the memorial program. A copy of the Gentry Family Papers stored in the Burton Historical Collection, Main Branch, Detroit Public Library was annotated to include a future manuscript folder for Marla. Participants were encouraged to submit documents and photos of the life and times of Marla Gentry Shivers to Helen for Marla’s folder. Throw away and forget Marla, for some unknown reason, motivated Robbie. To remember and cherish her memory commanded the Gentry Clan.

CONTINUING TO SETTLE THE INSURANCE CLAIM, Robbie returned to Detroit late in September 2005. The Marriott insurance was still held up due to the lack of a coroner’s report, to the best of our knowledge. This was the occasion when Robbie entered Marla’s premises to review any and all documents left by the deceased. What Robbie discovered was awesome. It can be only visualized. Marla was a prolific writer and reader. Unknowingly to all, Marla had kept diaries and journals on a daily basis of the happenings in her life for a long period of time. Robbie became the sole person to gain entry into Marla’s psyche and her inner most thoughts as she read and studied all of Marla’s writings.

Yes, Robbie is one of the main characters within Marla’s writings, as they communicated and shared their experiences for a lifetime. Marla would have recorded their household disputes, diminishing relationship, the legal actions being initiated against her by Robbie and Lois. Marla’s writings would have been documented by legal papers and letters received during this ongoing dispute. I learned of Marla’s writings from my niece, Sherrlyn, on a visit to her home while Robbie was still present in Detroit. In casual conversation Sherrlyn mentioned that Robbie had telephoned her and informed her of the diaries and journals left by Marla. Robbie’s telephone conversation to Sherrlyn lasted some three hours (i.e. 9:00 a.m. until close to noon).

The bases of Robbie’s conversation were denigration of Marla’s character and demeaning Marla as a person. Robbie challenged Sherrlyn to come over to read selected items in Marla’s diaries. Such as, when children, Marla and friends made Sherrlyn cry at a birthday party. Robbie claimed Marla’s writing stated she hoped she had not offended her cousin, Sherrlyn, for her actions. Sherrlyn refused and did not accept Robbie’s invitation to share Marla’s diaries with her. Never did Robbie mention to Sherrlyn that Aunt Helen was the subject of Marla’s writings in any way. Nor did Robbie, while still in Detroit, contact Helen to review adverse diary entries about her recorded in any of Marla’s papers. Why? Because none existed.

I THEN MADE A PERSONAL TELEPHONE CALL TO ROBBIE who was staying in residence with her mother, Lois. Lois answered the telephone and said Robbie was in the bathroom. To some extent I felt Robbie did not want to talk with me. Lois said they would be back at about 11:00 a.m. I asked about documents for Marla’s family folder. Lois said, Dora picked up some materials. I said, Okay, I will check with Dora.

Picking up the materials Eudora had secured from Marla’s premises, I noted that there were no official documents, correspondence or writings. When asked, Eudora said the legal documents pertaining to the disputed division of payments on the up keep of the premises were torn up by Robbie and no death certificate was issued to her. Dora stated that Robbie handed her all the materials that she had in her possession. She was not given privy to see or to select any of Marla’s writings, documents or photographs.

I took an inventory of the materials received: Two year books from Marla’s graduation, a folder of news articles on book reviews, a bag filled with photographs, certificates of appreciation from Marriott Hotel and later the registration book taken at the funeral home memorial. I immediately noted that all the photographs consisted of Marla with the Gentry family. Robbie had excluded all photos of her father’s (Bronson) side of the family. Eudora said Robbie had packed up all the other materials (i.e. diaries, journals, business papers, etc) and took them with her to Nashville, Tennessee.

Upon Robbie’s departure, I was finally allowed to enter my niece, Marla’s premises. Marla’s home had been stripped of all documentary evidence of her and her parent’s existence. The Christmas family recitation book Marla and her family recited from was gone. No one would have ever known who had been the occupants of this upper flat home. I recalled the happy times I had with my eldest brother, William and his family, over scores of years in these living quarters. William was mother’s first child and her most loved child; mom called him big boy even into manhood. William rarely gave his parents behavior problems as his younger brother, Bronson, constantly did. William would contact me often just to see if all was going well with his baby sister.

I REMEMBERED WILLIAM’S LOVE OF POETRY—a legacy that still lingers. I guess because I was the only sibling that would listen, William would read his favorite Persian Poet four line poems to me:

Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam

(Edward Fitzgerald Translation)

Ah, fill the cup, what fools it to repeat

How time is slipping underneath our feet:

Unborn TO-MORROW, and dead YESTERDAY,

Why fret about them, if TO-DAY be sweet!

* * *

The moving finger writes, and, having writ,

Moves on: Nor all thy piety nor wit

Shall lure it back to cancel half a line.

Nor all thy tears wash out a word of it.

* * *

"Drink! for you know not whence you came

Nor why!

Drink! for you know not why you go,

Nor where."

* * *

Ah, make the most of what we yet may spend,

Before we too into dust descend:

Dust into Dust and under Dust, to lie

Sans wine, sans song, sans singer and—-

Sans End!

Sadly, they were all gone. I stood in the midst that once was their home, now desolate and disarray. Picked over debris is scattered all around me. Is this what it all comes down too? I descended the stairs from their upper flat, looked back once more, drove away, and disappeared from sight.

Luckily, over the years, Marla had sent me cards, letters and photographs that I will share with you later. The registration book I received reminded me that no acknowledgements had been sent to any participants in Marla’s memorials. Having limited materials for Marla’s manuscript folder, I decided to acknowledge expressions of kindness and solicit any materials or photographs:

Thank you for your Expressions of Kindness

"The Gentry Family maintains its Family History within the Burton Historical Collection, Detroit Public Library—Main branch.

A manuscript folder has been established for Marla Zane Gentry Shivers

within the family collection.

We are soliciting from you any correspondence, documents,

writing, photographs, poems, etc. that you shared with

Marla that will document Marla’s life and time.

Nothing is too trivial . . .

Marla was a prolific writing, but her voluminous

manuscripts have been removed from her loving family.

So you are important in recreating Marla’s life and times . . .

Marla was blessed to have friends like you and a family that loved her.

God Bless and keep you and thanking you in advance."

Helen H. Gentry—Gentry Family Historian

. . . I MAILED OUT 60 LETTERS, DATED OCTOBER 5, 2005 to those who mailed cards, telephoned, attended Marla’s memorials and all family members on all sides of her family, including her brother, Bill, in California. Through past experience, I expected to receive no more than six items as a response (i.e. ten percent). Sam, a friend, said he had a picture of Marla and Tony Shivers when they had a marriage reception for them. Jennertine said she had some materials. But the most immediate response came via E-mail from Robbie, dated October 8, 2005.

Robbie’s vindictive e-mail was filled with her personal venom and hatred toward the Gentry family, (see Addendum) which she conveniently attributes to her deceased cousin, Marla, whom she knew could not respond. Continuing her blame game, she now accuses Helen of knowing of Marla’s desire to end her life and failed to respond. Robbie continues with a plethora of lies, claiming this is what Marla said or wrote. To forestall a challenge, Robbie states I do not have to prove to you or submit to you proof of what she left me. Luckily, Marla’s true feelings were left in her writings and correspondence to me over the decades as shown in the annotated addendum.

As a former social worker, studying Robbie’s message, I came to the conclusion that Robbie was a mentally deranged woman. Was she purging herself of her iniquities in the death of Marla which caused such an emotional flare up?" Any response to her had to be carefully worded not to exacerbate her condition. Dated October 10, 2005, I responded to her terse e-mail in a quiet manner as possible. Factually stating why