~~Elizabeth (nee: Buck) Freeman, was born on September 1, 1918 in Columbus, Mississippi to Henry Buck and Augusta Gaston-Harrison. Elizabeth is a proud descendant of the following known grandparents that were born into slavery; Mariah Byrd, Sonny and Ida Gaston and Betty and Henry Buck.
At an early age Elizabeth confessed her faith in Christ. She was a member of Canaan Missionary Baptist Church in Columbus, MS. She attended Mitchell Memorial School.
In 1944 she relocated to Racine, Wisconsin, Wisconsin to be with her sister, Mary, her brother in law, Eugene Thornton and their two daughters Katherine and Shirleen. Elizabeth was joined in Holy Matrimony on October 16, 1950 to Arthur Freeman. Together they owned and operated a Barbecue Restaurant. The bonds of matrimony were dissolved on June 8, 1971.
She moved to Los Angeles, California in 1971. Elizabeth worked for Attorney John and Mrs. Penish as a housekeeper and Nanny to their children.
Elizabeth returned to Racine in 1981 and united with St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church, under the leadership of Bishop Lawrence L. Kirby. She served as a member of the choir, Faith Circle and the Pastor’s Helpers. Elizabeth always had a special relationship with children. She enjoyed teaching songs and poems to the children of her sister Mary and the children of her cousins, Ruby Moore, Luberta Barnett and Edna Mae Gay. Elizabeth also shared a special relationship with the Kirby children.
Elizabeth Freeman was called Home to be with her loving Savior, at the beautiful age of Ninety Six, on Saturday, February 21, 2015. She leaves to cherish her precious memories, her loving sister, Mary Thornton; nieces, Katherine Thornton-Wells, Shirleen Williams, Delores Crum and Juanita Crum; special cousins, Sammy and Eddie Moore; nephews, Howard Crum, Larry Crum, Lonnie Buck, Olen Williams, Eddie Wells, Hyme Griffin, Henry James “Gilbert” Griffin, Charles Griffin and Roosevelt Sykes; great and great-great nephews, Brandon Thornton, Montae Hudson, Jarvis McMillen, Antwon Reed, Derick Bostick II, Charles Griffin Jr; great and great-great nieces, Cedra Williams, Dana Griffin, Margaret Bolton, Mattie Claybrook, Tina Grandberry, Amy Hamilton, Kathy Carter, Delitha Bostick, Crystal Green, Robbin Rogers, Lisa Bostick and Nicole Plunket, as well as a host of great-great-great nephews and nieces, other relatives and friends. Elizabeth was preceded in death by her mother, Augusta Williams; father, Henry Buck; brother, Henry Louis Buck Sr; sister, Bessie Crum; brother in law, Eugene Thornton; nephews, Derick Bostick, Henry Buck Jr and Horace and Irving Crum.
Elizabeth’s quiet spirit and beautiful smile will be treasured and dearly missed by all who knew and loved her.
Elizabeth Freeman, age 96, was called home on Saturday, February 21, 2015. A celebration of her life will be held on Thursday, February 26th at St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church, 1123 Center St. Visitation will be from 10:00-11:00am at the church. Interment will take place at West Lawn Memorial Park. Bishop Lawrence L. Kirby will be officiating. Full obituary will appear in Wednesday's newspaper and on the funeral home website after Tuesday.
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