Lizzie Mae Gupton was born on December 17, 1928, in Widener, Arkansas to the union of her parents Magnolia Johnson and Fred Owens, who preceded her in death. Lizzie was named after her great grandmother Elizabeth, who was a full-blooded American Indian. She had one brother, James McDonald, who also preceded her in death. Her maternal grandparents were Leona Johnson and Ed Jolley of Kinton, Arkansas who, like many African American families of the south, were sharecroppers in the cotton fields during the start of and well into the 20th century.

Raised a God-fearing Baptist, she later found true love when she met her late husband, Sylvester Gupton, Sr. The Gupton’s like many southern families, had migrated north from Arkansas during the mid-50’s during what historians consider the “second Great Migration.” From Sylvester’s and Lizzie’s union came seven children: a set of twins (miscarried), two sons, and three daughters. They also raised or supported Lizzie’s other four children since family was everything to them both. After a brief time in Chicago, they would eventually settle on the southwest side of Detroit, Michigan where they would raise their family right next door to Sylvester’s brother, Charles Gupton, Sr. (deceased) and Evangelist Katie Gupton (deceased). The Gupton brothers were notably entrepreneurial and started an auto mechanics “side hustle” in addition to holding down full-time jobs.

Lizzie and her family attended services at the Beacon Light Missionary Baptist Church, pastored by the late James W. Abbott and first lady Essie. Full of love, compassion, a zest for life, and altogether God-fearing, Lizzie was fiercely protective of her children and known to sacrifice her own comfort for their wellbeing. She, along with her husband, were quintessential gardeners and she was a culinary queen of the highest order. She mastered the art and science of home management by providing both the nurturing and God-fearing atmosphere with the day-to-day organization necessary to keep a space safe and clean. Like her mother and grandmothers before her, she took on the added responsibility of keeping the family together right up to the end. For decades, Lizzie remained a huge sports fan and a superfan of the L.A. Lakers, Dallas Cowboys, and closer to home, the Detroit Lions, and Detroit Pistons.

Education was extremely important to Lizzie. Having only attended elementary school through the sixth grade, she preached the value of obtaining a good education so her children would go far beyond what she had managed. She attended every elementary, junior high, high school, college, and graduate school graduation ceremony for every one of her children. Service to the country was also important to her. Though concerned, she supported the enlistment of three of her sons into the armed forces. One in the army, one in the air force, and one in the marines.

Ms. Lizzie Mae Gupton departed this life on Wednesday, June 24, 2026. She leaves to cherish her memories and continue a legacy of love and sacrifice her daughters Daisy Hill (Donald Hill, deceased), Louise Bennett, Lizzie Patterson (Thomas Patterson, deceased), Martha Gupton (deceased), and Angela Gupton along with four sons, Karya “Fred” Hunt, William Lesure (deceased), Sylvester Gupton, Jr. (deceased), and Dr. Melvin Gupton. Three other generations stand as a testament of endurance and reverence for God, including 13 grandchildren: Anthony Hill (deceased), Patricia Hill, Kathy Hill, Derek Hill, and Cassandra Marshal (Rashad), Urayna Nance, Samuel Lesure, Sr., Rebecca Lesure, Damon Gupton, Joshua Gupton, Charles Christenson, Charkia Christensen, and Donal Gupton. Eighteen great-grandchildren and 20 great-great grandchildren, along with a host of other relatives and friends.