- Date Of Birth: May 20, 1915
- Date Of Death: August 11, 2016
- State: Michigan
Bishop Willie A. Winters, Sr., age 101, of Vandalia, Michigan, died peacefully, Thursday morning, August 11, 2016 in the peace and comfort of his family’s presence in the Laurels at Bedford of Battle Creek, Michigan.He was born May 20, 1915 in Earle, Arkansas to Pastor George and Helen (McDaniel) Winters, the second oldest of thirteen children.
He married Selessie Moore August 2, 1997 in Cassopolis, Michigan. She survives. He was preceded in death by his parents; one son, Carl Winters; one granddaughter, Katina Ware-Tate; five sisters, Curley Mae Nance, Alice West, Mary Neylon, Adean Marzzett, and Mae Watson-Potter; five brothers, George Winters, Jr., Connie Winters, Mack Winters, Leroy Winters and Joseph Winters. Bishop Willie Winters was ordained by Bishop G.T. Haywood and baptized in Jesus’ mighty name, confessing the indwelling of the Holy Spirit of God. He worked for over 20 years at Wyman-Gordon Company of Illinois. Bishop Winters only missed one day of work. He was a pastor of the Holy Ghost Church of Jesus Christ of Robbins, Illinois. He was currently a member of The Church Without Walls of Vandalia, Michigan, pastored by Pastor Sam Fowlkes IV.Bishop Winters Sr.’s passions were preaching and fishing. Thirty to fifty times a day he used the phrase, “Thank You, Jesus!” He preaching phrase was “Grip that Solid Rock! That Rock is Jesus!” He loved his community, friends and strangers.Willie will be greatly missed by family and friends.
He leaves to mourn his passing his wife, Selessie (Moore) Winters of Vandalia; his seven children born to his first wife of thirty-two years, Dr. Dolly Winters-Crenshaw, including three daughters, Jettie Desiree Ware of South Bend, Sharon Williams of Valparaiso, caregivers Wilhelmina “Debbie” (Leonard) Brooks of Battle Creek; four sons Willie “Bill” Winters, Jr. of Coldwater, Donnie Winters of Tomah, Wisconsin, Emmanuel Winters of Battle Creek, Michael Winters of Terre Haute, Indiana; thirteen step children, Shirley Davis of Florida, Jossi Flowers of Vandalia, Alberta Moore of Kalamazoo, Arleon Moore of Cassopolis, Lori Williams of Cassopolis, Lovia Moore of Vandalia, Ronnie Moore of Albion, Vern Moore of Cassopolis, Nate Moore of Kalamazoo, Michael Moore of Kalamazoo, Melvin Moore of Cassopolis, Sylvester Moore of Indiana, Cameron Moore of Michigan City; twenty-seven grandchildren, including two special granddaughters, Maria Davis, who cared for him until he departed this life, and Jamie Wilson, whom he walked to the kindergarten bus stop daily and helped raise; twenty eight great grandchildren; seven great great grandchildren; one sister, Minnie McDonald of Chicago; two brothers, the Reverend Ernest Winters of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, Pastor Robert (Alice) Winters of Chicago; and a host of preaching nieces and ministering nephews and a special nephew Johnny West.
