James Fritz

James Brady Fritz was a caring and kind individual who was devoted to his family and friends; he was always ready to help and serve his family and community. “Jimmy” was known for his gregarious personality and welcoming and caring demeanor. He was always greeting someone with his trademark chuckle and Cheshire smile. Whether it was pulling his car over to talk to someone, waving to someone out of the car window, engaging people in conversation on the street, elevator, in the store, etc. to introduce himself, ask them about their day or boast about his family, he brought a bit of sunshine to all he encountered.

James Brady was born on May 22, 1927 in Washington, Pennsylvania to Moses Kelly Fritz and Dorothy Christina Brady Fritz, and the family moved to Detroit when Jimmy was six months old. James Brady spent his early years in Westside Detroit where he attended Columbian Elementary School– his favorite area of study was spelling and he was a spelling bee champion. He also attended McMichael Intermediate and graduated from Northwestern High school. After spending a year at the Detroit Institute of Technology, he attended Wayne State University and then Worsham College of Mortuary Science in the Chicago area where he graduated with a degree in Mortuary Science.

James Brady served his country in the Armed Forces of the United States as a Sergeant in the Army 272nd Field Artillery Battalion from October 16, 1950 until September 9, 1952 when he was honorably discharged from active duty. He returned to Detroit and work at Fritz Funeral Home (founded by his father Moses K. Fritz in 1937), and in October of 1954, Jimmy became a licensed funeral director on staff.

James was joined in holy matrimony to Mary Gaston Lilly on August 13, 1966, and enjoyed 45 happy and exciting years of marriage. At that time he had a daughter Kelly, from a prior marriage to Maurita Morning, now Chisholm, and welcomed Pamela Lilly (Mary’s daughter) as his own. Jimmy and Mary’s union produced Christina, who worked side-by-side with James and Moses K. as a funeral director at Fritz Funeral Home until its closure on June 15, 2006.

James Fritz was a man of faith and provided many years of service to People’s Community Church. He also provided an abundance of service to the community, was a prominent community leader and for years was popular on the Detroit social scene.

In his youth he was a member of the Ro-Ka Wi Club, a youth dramatic group, and he was voted “Dream Man” by a local chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. He was considered one of the best dressed dashing young men in his young adult years. During his life memberships included: The Moors Club of Detroit, Charter Member, Epsilon Nu Delta Mortuary fraternity, Sphinx Club (pledges to the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity), Booker T. Washington Business Association, First Nighters (group that promoted theatre arts), and life member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. In fact Jimmy was responsible for helping to make making the early NAACP annual Fight for Freedom Dinner successful.
Jimmy served the community in many ways including the Family Service of Detroit and Wayne County, Board Member 1974-1983; Kirwood Mental Health Center 1997-1981 in the capacities of Board Chair, Secretary and Treasurer and; Draft Board member, Local Board No. 98 Michigan, Military Selective Service.

Some of Jimmy’s honors were the Brotherhood of People’s Community Church Meritorious Membership Award, the Highland Park and Fischer YMCA Achievement Award and the Distinguished Service Award presented by the City of Detroit City Council.

During his years at Fritz Funeral Home as the “friendly undertaker,” Jimmy was a hard and reliable worker, and dedicated son to Moses K. Those that worked with him recall him hunting and pecking with speed on a manual typewriter and acting as the diplomatic face of the funeral home as he provided comfort and dignified and respectful service to families in mourning, surrounded by staff that was more like family - Emmett Matthews, Andrew Fritz, Loretta Cleveland, Ross Corio and Charles Crooms, to name just a few.

James’ special interests included photography and photo journaling, traveling, reading, music and spending time with his family. Jimmy was a fixture at the special events for his family, and he was known for giving nicknames to the loved ones in his life – “Little Punkin” and “Punkin“ for Mary, "Precious Baby" for Kelly, “Precious Baby” and “Sweet Baby” for Christina, “Big Mama“ for his mother-in-law Minnie Stanley, “Boo” or “Boo Boo” and “Sweet Baby” for Pamela, “Little Sweetheart” for Whitney and “Little Man” for Eleby IV.

Jimmy is remembered for his casual but confident slew-footed stride, his neat and stylish attire, his ease in social settings and his ability to make everyone (regardless of race, creed, gender or social standing) feel comfortable in his presence. He also had tremendous artistic drawing and coloring abilities and the gift of warm communication.

James Brady Fritz began his journey home on the morning of January 3, 2012. He is survived by his loving wife, Mary G. Fritz; daughters Christina Joanne Fritz-Jones, Kelly Fritz Brooks and Pamela Lilly Washington; sons-in-law Bill Jones, Geoffrey Brooks and Eleby R. Washington III; mother-in-law Minnie Stanley; grandchildren Giovonni James Brooks, Eleby Washington IV and Whitney E. Washington; cousin D. Joanne Jackson, cousin Toni Levy Keen and husband Robert (“Bob”) Keen, and a host of other relatives and friends.

James Brady Fritz will be sorely missed by his family and friends. He was one-of-a kind, a class act (self proclaimed and by others), who exemplified leadership, unselfish love and service to others.