Josephine Plaut was born on September 6, 1927, in Detroit, MI to the union of Antoine Prosper Plaut of Issoire, France and Lola Tyson of Bessemer Alabama. She was one of ten children, six brothers and three sisters. Shortly after her birth the family left Detroit, and moved to Woodland Park, MI, where many family members still reside and others maintain their summer residences. She was preceded in death by her parents, Antoine and Lola, five brothers Victor "Eddie", Alexander, Antoine "Billy", James and Franklin; two sisters, Ina and Woodland; two children, Cheryl Kathleen (April 1956) and Edward Milton (May 1956) and one great great grandchild, Tahj Jamile Sharif, Jr.

She attended elementary school in Woodland Park and high school in Walkerville, where she graduated Valedictorian in 1944. As a young girl, Josephine spent her summers swimming and water skiing. After high school she attended Wilberforce College, before moving to Chicago, Ill, in 1946. While in Chicago she and her best friend, Ernestine Bee, worked for an African American publication and a group of attorneys.

Josephine was the mother of six children, Ziyadah (Daria), Cheryl Kathleen, Patricia Anne, Edward Milton, Angela and Althea. She was a beloved mother, gran-gran, sister and aunt.

Jo, as she was sometimes called, moved back to Woodland in 1956 where she lived with her family until her return to Chicago in 1966. She was employed by the USPS as a mail sorter from 1966 to 2009, when she retired after 42 years of service. Josephine was always active in the democratic party - whether in Chicago or Woodland Park. She was particularly fond of the drama in Chicago politics!

She also loved attending symphony concerts and over the years attended hundreds. A favorite performer was the world famous operatic soprano, Leontyne Price, who attended Wilberforce during the same years as Josephine. If Leontyne was performing in Chicago or Grand Rapids, Josephine and her brother Herman, were in attendance. Miss Price extended an open invitation for Josephine and Herman to join her backstage whenever they came to see her perform.

One of her great joys was spending time with her family. She spent some time every year with her family in Grand Rapids and Woodland Park. She enjoyed traveling with her brothers and sister and vacationed in many places, including Florida, California, Missouri, Austrailia, New Zealand, France and several islands, via cruise lines.

Josephine's home was never empty. There was always a daughter, a grandchild or a great-grandchild either living on South Oglesby or visiting! She welcomed us all. Josephine was patient, loving, generous, honest, graceful, fashionable, classic and so much more. That was our Josephine.

There are always stories to tell when you grow up in a small town and Aunt Lorraine tells a story of the schoolteacher in Woodland Park – quitting mid semester and leaving the children and the community, without a replacement. The school board called on Josephine because she had been to college, to come and teach the children for the balance of the semester. Without hesitation, she took up the mantle of school teacher and completed the semester, thinking only of the children in her small hometown. Josephine submitted all required paperwork to the school board and the students passed all their required classes. Problem solved.

Early in life she showed fortitude and grace under tremendous sadness, losing a brother in a house fire, after both were playing in burning leaves; a teen aged brother to a late diagnosed brain tumor and the unbearable loss of two of her children. Josephine's memories will be cherished forever by her four devoted daughters, Ziyadah (Red) Shakir, Patricia Anne (Emmerson) Plaut-Payne, Angela Plaut and Althea Plaut Smith; eight grandchildren, Rashidah Shakir-Blackshere, Wali Shakir, Cheryl Kathleen Plaut, Johnie Andrew Narcise II, Antoinette Griffin-Davis, Raja Mayers, Lai Shaan Plaut-Smith and Kristin Plaut-Smith; Eighteen great grandchildren and six great-great grandchildren; Josephine also leaves two siblings - a loving brother, Herman Tyson of Chicago, Ill, a loving sister, Virginia Proctor of Grand Rapids, MI and her precious sister-in-law, Lottie (Lorraine) Tyson of Woodland Park, MI. Many other nieces, nephews, family members and a host of friends are also left to cherish her memory.

Funeral services will be held at 2 PM, on Thursday, March 2, 2017, at the Crandell Funeral Home in White Cloud. There will be family visitation starting at noon and public visitation starting at 1 PM prior to the service. Interment will be in White Cloud Cemetery with a repass at the Merrill Township Hall on 11 Mile Road following the graveside. Family and friends may share condolences online for Josephine at www.crandellfh.com.

She attended elementary school in Woodland Park and high school in Walkerville, where she graduated Valedictorian in 1944. As a young girl, Josephine spent her summers swimming and water skiing. After high school she attended Wilberforce College, before moving to Chicago, Ill, in 1946. While in Chicago she and her best friend, Ernestine Bee, worked for an African American publication and a group of attorneys.

Josephine was the mother of six children, Ziyadah (Daria), Cheryl Kathleen, Patricia Anne, Edward Milton, Angela and Althea. She was a beloved mother, gran-gran, sister and aunt.

Jo, as she was sometimes called, moved back to Woodland in 1956 where she lived with her family until her return to Chicago in 1966. She was employed by the USPS as a mail sorter from 1966 to 2009, when she retired after 42 years of service. Josephine was always active in the democratic party - whether in Chicago or Woodland Park. She was particularly fond of the drama in Chicago politics!

She also loved attending symphony concerts and over the years attended hundreds. A favorite performer was the world famous operatic soprano, Leontyne Price, who attended Wilberforce during the same years as Josephine. If Leontyne was performing in Chicago or Grand Rapids, Josephine and her brother Herman, were in attendance. Miss Price extended an open invitation for Josephine and Herman to join her backstage whenever they came to see her perform.

One of her great joys was spending time with her family. She spent some time every year with her family in Grand Rapids and Woodland Park. She enjoyed traveling with her brothers and sister and vacationed in many places, including Florida, California, Missouri, Austrailia, New Zealand, France and several islands, via cruise lines.

Josephine's home was never empty. There was always a daughter, a grandchild or a great-grandchild either living on South Oglesby or visiting! She welcomed us all. Josephine was patient, loving, generous, honest, graceful, fashionable, classic and so much more. That was our Josephine.

There are always stories to tell when you grow up in a small town and Aunt Lorraine tells a story of the schoolteacher in Woodland Park – quitting mid semester and leaving the children and the community, without a replacement. The school board called on Josephine because she had been to college, to come and teach the children for the balance of the semester. Without hesitation, she took up the mantle of school teacher and completed the semester, thinking only of the children in her small hometown. Josephine submitted all required paperwork to the school board and the students passed all their required classes. Problem solved.

Early in life she showed fortitude and grace under tremendous sadness, losing a brother in a house fire, after both were playing in burning leaves; a teen aged brother to a late diagnosed brain tumor and the unbearable loss of two of her children. Josephine's memories will be cherished forever by her four devoted daughters, Ziyadah (Red) Shakir, Patricia Anne (Emmerson) Plaut-Payne, Angela Plaut and Althea Plaut Smith; eight grandchildren, Rashidah Shakir-Blackshere, Wali Shakir, Cheryl Kathleen Plaut, Johnie Andrew Narcise II, Antoinette Griffin-Davis, Raja Mayers, Lai Shaan Plaut-Smith and Kristin Plaut-Smith; Eighteen great grandchildren and six great-great grandchildren; Josephine also leaves two siblings - a loving brother, Herman Tyson of Chicago, Ill, a loving sister, Virginia Proctor of Grand Rapids, MI and her precious sister-in-law, Lottie (Lorraine) Tyson of Woodland Park, MI. Many other nieces, nephews, family members and a host of friends are also left to cherish her memory.

Private family time

Public visitation

SERVICES

Visitation

Thursday, March 2, 2017 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM

White Cloud Chapel 1109 E Court Street White Cloud, Michigan 49349

Private family time

Visitation

Thursday, March 2, 2017 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

White Cloud Chapel 1109 E Court Street White Cloud, Michigan 49349

Public

Visitation

Funeral Service

Thursday, March 2, 2017 2:00 PM

White Cloud Chapel 1109 E Court Street White Cloud, Michigan 49349