Lawrence H. Leverett

Lawrence Henry Leverett Sr. was born to the late Grady and Erma Jean Leverett on September 15th, 1943 in Detroit, Michigan. He was the fourth of five children, and was baptized at Berea African Methodist Episcopalian Church.

He grew up in Highland Park, Michigan and as a child played baseball with Willie Horton of the Detroit Tigers.

Larry was educated in the Highland Park school system and after graduating from high school he served as an Army medic during the Vietnam War. While based at Ft. Leslie J. McNair in Washington D.C., he married Martha Christian Cain on December 4, 1964. From this union two children were born.

After his time in the Army he returned to Detroit and worked in IT for several years at Ford Motor Company and later for Chrysler Corporation in Tappan, New York. In 1973 he returned to Detroit again and began his journey in the insurance industry.

He married Olivett Williams on January 20th, 1975 and from that union two children were born.

In 1975 he transferred to Kalamazoo, Michigan and in 1976, graduated from Western Michigan University with a Bachelor of Science in Sociology and Business with the distinction of Summa Cum Laude.

Larry remained in the insurance industry until retiring in 2009 and worked for several companies during his tenure including: Wausau Companies, CG Aetna, CIGNA and Bartech Group. He held several roles at these organizations, starting out as a claims investigator, then later as a trainer, a human resource manager, the first African-American Vice President for workers compensation at CIGNA and finally for the Bartech Group as the Operations Manager for Ford Motor Company’s workers compensation program. Throughout his career he won multiple industry awards for professional excellence. He was also a CIGNA Scholar mentor and served as the Diversity Committee Chair for CIGNA Insurance.

Outside of his professional life, Larry volunteered for CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) as an advocate for children who were victims of abuse and neglect, coached youth softball teams and was a 33rd degree Mason.

Larry was an avid golfer and bowler and enjoyed grilling, going to the movies and socializing with friends and family.

He departed this life on January 30, 2014.

Larry is preceded in death by his mother Erma Jean Anders and his brothers Stanley Anders and Grady Leverett Jr.

He leaves to not mourn, but to celebrate his life and to cherish his memory his wife of 39 years, Olivett Leverett, his father James Anders, five children; Edith Christian Buckely (James), Eric Christopher Leverett (Tracy), Jamal Lawrence Jamison (Monique), Tieast Kristen Leverett and Lawrence Henry Leverett Jr., two brothers, Robert Gordon Leverett (Theresa) and Harold Leroi Leverett (Tessie); eight grandchildren; Donovan, Julian Allen, Julian Christopher, Kennedy, Kaitlin, Tristan, Jaden and William and a much loved and devoted friend, Beatrice Stitt. He is also survived by a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends throughout the country.

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