Catherine Bolton

Service Details

Funeral: Friday, January 5, 2018  11:00am

Visitation: Friday, January 5, 2017  10:00 – 11:00am

Location: New Omega Baptist Church, 5731 Northwestern Ave, Racine, WI

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Celebrating the life of Catherine Bolton

On Christmas day 2017, our beloved mother, grandmother, great-grand, great-great grand, aunt, cousin and friend, Catherine Williams Bolton crossed over and entered the Promised Land to be with our heavenly Father.

She was a lifelong homemaker, born in Minter, Alabama on August 22, 1927 – a Monday – to Ellen and Will Bolton. She was one of nine siblings and outlived them all.

She lived in Minter most of her life, raising her family of 11 children in the small, rural community “up the railroad tracks,” where everyone shared and looked out for each other. There were times when it was country living at its best, but it was not always easy. When it came to her family, she could, literally, make something out of nothing – be it a meal, a beautiful quilt out of pieces of clothing, whatever.

Segregation was the law in those early days, especially for blacks living in the  south. However, there was no time for pity or weeping or wringing of hands. It was time for hard work, strong backs and powerful faith. And that’s how she raised her children.

Like everyone in the community, her family lived off the land, which offered up wild game, domestic animals, fruit orchards, pecan trees, melon patches, crops of peas, corn, squash, collards, sweet potatoes stored in outdoor “banks” to keep during the winter months.

There was school, then church. Always church at Mount Nebo Baptist, where she raised up her growing family. Play came last.

She made sure all of her children were fed and clothed and loved. And, they had to know right from wrong – else there would be serious consequences!

Later in life, she left Minter, eventually setting up residence in Racine, Wisconsin, where the majority of her children had settled. Here, she attended Mt. Eagle Baptist Church, where she sang in the choir, then later, New Omega, under the leadership of Rev. Fred L. Richmond.

In recent years, her health began to fail, but she kept her spirits up. Despite the fact that she was wheelchair bound and a dialysis patient, her children got together in 2016, leased a handicapped van, hired an attendant and brought her from Racine to Detroit to our family reunion that comes around every two years. She was the life of the party and her extended family showered her with affection.

For many years now, her children had gotten together every August 22 to host a birthday barbecue at one or the other’s home to let her know just how much she was loved.  This year was no different.

She is survived by daughters Fannie Brandenburg (Danny) Trotman of Rosedale, New York and Lellia James Blair of McKinney, Texas; sons Arthur (Margaret), Bossie (Angelee), John Earl (Dorothy) and Willie Jr., (Roberta), all of Racine;

Clarence and James of Sacramento, California and Earnest Lee (Georgia) of Toledo, Ohio.

She also is survived by nieces Dolores Jones of Fort Lauderdale, Florida and Lucille (Frank) Rowser of Detroit, many loving grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends too numerous to count.

She was preceded in death by three sons – Johnny Will in 1998, Willie Edward in 2012 and Edward in 2016, and son-in-law Raymond Blair, of Racine, and daughter-in-law Sandy Bolton of New York. Also, grandson Nathan DeGroot and great granddaughter Antonette Thompson.

She also was preceded in death by her eight siblings: Willie, Malachi, Reuben, Ethel Mae, Robert, J.D., Gertrude and, lastly, Rosetta, who died in January, 2017.

Rest well, our dear loved one. You deserve it.

The Celebration of her life will be held on Friday, January 5, 2018, 11:00am at New Omega Baptist Church, 5731 Northwestern Ave, Racine, WI.  Visitation will be in the church from 10:00am until the time of service.  Interment will take place at Graceland Cemetery.