Virginia “Mickie” Louise Freelen || Obituary

Virginia “Mickie” Louise Freelen, 93, of the East Post Oak community passed away Friday, October 25, surrounded by her loving family at Stillhouse Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center after suffering an unrecoverable stroke just a week prior.

Funeral services are scheduled for 2 p.m. Wednesday, October 30 at East Post Oak Missionary Baptist Church with the Reverend Henry Blackmon officiating. Burial at East Post Oak Cemetery immediately following.

The family is to receive friends from 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, October 29 at Fry & Gibbs Funeral Home.

She was born on August 17, 1931, in the Hoovertown community, Lamar County, Texas, a daughter of Timothy Wayne and Eula Songer Thomas. She was married to the love of her life Frankie James Freelen on February 1, 1947, and celebrated 64 years together. He preceded her in death on January 1, 2011. 

She was known by many names, Mother Bear, Mother, Mom, Momma, Mimi, Aunt Mickie, Sister Mickie but was a precious soul that answered to all at any hour as a source of comfort or need a friend or family member might have. She loved her family, friends and church community unconditionally and she loved the Lord and serving him most of all. She was a longtime member of the East Post Oak Missionary Baptist Church.

She was a seamstress by trade and worked for 30 years at Vassarette of Paris, she was also a caregiver for Jordan Home Health and completed her employment career at Detroit School District (cafeteria) before retiring. Her hobbies included playing dominoes, crocheting, raising chickens, watching game shows and hosting close and extended groups for family and holiday gatherings.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Frankie James Freelen; brother, Songer Alvin Thomas; sisters, Inez Luttrell, Estelle Thomas, Martha Briscoe and Katherine Patterson.

She is survived by her children, Linda Mitchell, James A. Freelen and wife, Patricia, Joyce Shelton and husband Kenneth, Tammy Freelen and husband Charles Goldsmith; grandchildren, Roger Mitchell, James Mitchell, James E. Freelen, Jason Freelen, Brittany Henry, Dylan Henry, LeAnn Decker, Jesse Shelton, Anita Henry, Kenneth Shelton Jr.; numerous great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; sister’s in-law, Frances Thomas and Sharon Freelen; special niece and best friend Margaret Whitley; numerous nieces and nephews; and a host of friends.