Louise Haliburton

Louise Haliburton
My Wonderful Blessed Life,

I came into this world on Saturday, February 25, 1933 at Herman Kiefer Hospital born to the parents of the late William (d. 1976) and Thestira Taylor (d. 1997). I was the oldest daughter of five children. My sisters Mildred Pryor, Catherine (Charlie) Taylor, and Margaret Torrence each held a special place in my heart and was everything to me even though sometimes I was a little hard on them. My brothers George (d. 1930) and William Taylor Jr. (Billy, d. 1939) got to heaven before I did. Our family affectionately referred to our home as, “Over to the House”.

Growing up in Black Bottom Detroit on Mullet and Antietam Streets, was some of the best days of my childhood. Although daddy was strict, he made life fun by playing jokes on just about everyone in the family. My grandpa (Fletcie Sr. d. 1965) gave rides in his horse drawn buggy and momma and my granny (Cassie d. 1993) were always in the kitchen cooking up something good. I attended elementary school at Duffield and Miller High was where I completed my 12th grade education.

Granny was a spiritual woman and insisted that we knew God. As a teenager, I was baptized at Zion Hope Baptist church by Reverend Martin on Detroit’s eastside. As an adult, I raised my children at, and was a devoted member of Christian Light Missionary Baptist Church under the direction of the late Reverend Hollis Richardson, serving on the nurses’ guild and usher board. Later in life I joined Wayside Baptist Church in Detroit.

Daddy taught me the value of hard work. I began working early in life at Cunningham’s Drug store in the Book Cadillac Hotel. I worked as a clerk at the Michigan Theater and I worked at Top Hat’s Burgers and cleaned homes in Grosse Pointe. I was a lunch room aide at Chandler Elementary School and retired from Harper Hospital after years as a dietary aide. After retirement, I went back to work at the Detroit Catholic Services facilitating social activities for seniors and physically and mentally challenged adults. I finally retired from work the last week of February, 2020 at the age of 87.

Music and dancing were by far one of my most enjoyable activities throughout my life. I leave a legacy of memories of my insatiable need to dance like no one was watching. When I was not dancing or listening to music, I enjoyed watching old movies, walking, or riding the metro bus. I wrote poetry, and learned to sew and crochet. Some of my most famous sayings were, “I can’t let no grass grow under my feet” and “Don’t nothing get old but clothes.”

I was married to James Moses Haliburton (d. 1993). My children Patricia (Jeanette) Powell (Wesley d. 2001), Ronda J. Thomas (Willie d. 2017), Carolyn (Rudy) Carter (Mark), Angela Bully (Dan d. 2016), and Vincent W. Haliburton(Melanie) all made me extremely proud to be their mother and I will miss them dearly. My grandchildren, Tamika L. Venyah, Eboni M. Kimpson, Alishia M. Thomas, Willie R. Thomas Jr., Mark C. Carter II, Paris S. Carter, Vincent W. Haliburton Jr., Martin K. Carter, Dan Bully II, Julius E. Haliburton, Malcolm J. Carter, Jessikah C. McClinton were always in my thoughts and prayers. Even though I won’t be there to see my greatgrandchildren grow up, I will forever love them; Paul, Anna, John, Stephen, James, Philip, Ronald II, Jailen, and Leah. A host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and other relatives will forever be in my heart. For I am now in my eternal resting place with God.

I built a tiny garden, in a corner of my heart
I kept it just for lovely things, never to depart
There was always music and flowers blossomed fair;
And never was it perfect, until my children entered there.

See you when you get to heaven – Mama