Willie Ben Hairston

Aug. 5, 1938 - April 20, 2001

Willie Ben Hairston, 62, of Saginaw, Mich., formerly of South Bend, Ind., passed away after a lengthy illness on Friday morning, April 20, in home. He was born in Crawford, Miss., on Aug. 5, 1938. to Mary Green and Jubel Hairston.

Coming to South Bend in 1950, Mr. Hairston attended Washington High School where he graduated in 1956. After serving four years in the U.S. Air Force, he was discharged with honors. When discharged, he moved to Michigan where he remained.

In 1991 he married Aretha McNair. He accepted Christ in his life at a early age and was baptized at New Salem Baptist Church in South Bend. He recommitted his life to God in January 2001, when he became a member of True Vine Missionary Baptist Church in Saginaw.

He leaves to cherish his memories a wife, Aretha; his mother, Mary Green of Columbus, Miss.; his father, Jubel Hairston of South Bend; maternal grandmother, Queen James of St. Louis, Mo.; five daughters, Ranita Anderson, Terry (Andre) Baldwin of South Bend, Andrea Allen of Elkhart, Ind., Vanessa (Edward) Russell of St. Louis, Mo., and Shalon Moore; one stepdaughter, Rosa McNair of Saginaw; two sons, Berry Hairston of Dowagiac, Mich., and Marcus Taylor of Virginia Beach, Va. He is also survived by 12 sisters, Lenora Newhouse of South Bend, Patricia (Leon) Pager of Cass, Mich., Joan Davis, Denise Sammuels, Kaye (Dwayne) Burnett of Indianapolis, Ind., Christine (Ollace) Beckum of U City, Mo., Margaret Allen, Linda (Gary) Lawhorn, Brenda Green, Evelyn (Allen) Floyd and Carolyn Sherrod, all of Columbus, Miss. and Shirley (Richie) Brooks of St. Louis; seven brothers, Earl Hairston, Denardo (Kim) Hairston, Dale (Mary) Minor of South Bend, Jubel (Brenda) Hairston Jr. of Gary, Ind., Billy (Clara) Green, Bobby Green and Ivory (Annie) Green, all of 1 Columbus; one goddaughter, Karia M. Evans of Saginaw; 10 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren; and by a host of nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and other relatives and friends.

Mr. Hairston had a special mother, Mrs. Elizabeth Hairston, and three sisters, Barbra Jean Hairston, Georgia Ferguson and Earnestine Sparks, who preceded him in death.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday in True Vine Missionary Baptist Church, 2930 James Street, Saginaw, MI 48601. Arrangements entrusted to Brown's Mortuary, 441 North Jefferson Avenue, Saginaw, MI 48607.

Article from 25 Apr 2001 The South Bend Tribune (South Bend, IN)

Source: Newspapers.com

07/20/2026 EJS