Zelma Acreman Dean, beloved mom, age 80, passed away on Saturday, March 15, 2014 at Symphony of Mesa Nursing Facility in Mesa, Arizona. The family will receive friends on Sunday, March 23, 2014 from 1:15-2:00 p.m. at Antioch East Baptist Church. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. with Rev. Ronnie Boulware officiating and Dunklin and Daniels Funeral Home directing. Burial will follow at the church cemetery.

Our mom was born to Clarence and Mary Acreman in Georgiana, Alabama. She was preceded in death by her husband and our dad, Ivan J. Dean, her parents and her siblings; Ellen Daughtery, Mary Jo Duncan, Elsie Mulero, and C.J. Acreman. She is survived by four daughters: Debra (Aden) Porter of Blissfield, MI, Brenda (Lawrence) Brown of Mesa, Arizona, Sandra (Gerald) Ludwig of Suwanee, GA, and Barbra (Timothy) Hornsby of Woodstock, GA; grandchildren: Keri Lynn and Jeremy Brown of Mesa, Arizona, Vanessa (Alex) Barrus of Milan, MI, Brianna Porter of Blissfield, MI, Micaela Ludwig of Suwanee, GA, and Madison Hornsby of Woodstock, GA; great-grandchild: Piper Barrus of Milan, MI.

Mom worked for many years as a secretary for a variety of companies, including Ford Motor Co. of Detroit, MI and Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama. She was a member of the "Sweet Adelines" while she lived in Michigan and enjoyed singing and yodeling in area jam sessions in Mesa, Arizona in later years. She was a songwriter and loved writing poetry. She expressed herself through her art in portraits and landscapes. She loved Jesus and family. She expressed her love for us by spending hours making crocheted clothing, blankets, afghans, and rugs.

Our sister, Barbra, expresses our feelings in a poem she wrote early Sunday morning.

My Sweet Mama
I awakened in the morning
It wasn't even dawn
It was hard for me to grasp
My sweet mama was really gone.
I started thinking back
On all the times we shared
It helped to ease the pain
To know how much you cared!
I remember when I was little
You tucked me into bed
With chocolate milk, a song,
And caressing my small head.
In the winter I remember
The freshly fallen snow
You'd send us out for "snow cream"
And we happily did go!
You dressed all four girls alike
And sent us out on stage
Being the youngest - I ran off
But you never showed any rage.

You were quite the talented artist
To each art show I tagged along,
I tried to paint just like you
While singing a happy song!
You never met a stranger
You'd share about Jesus' life,
And tell them to believe in
Him He'd take away their strife!
You loved all of the instruments
And you'd teach yourself how to play
Your music was amazing
And it's passed on to my Madison Shea!
When she called us in to listen
To a song she could play by ear,
It reminded me so much of you
And my eyes swelled up with tears!
I imagine you in heaven
Joining in the angels' song
And teaching them how to yodel
Your voice is new and strong!
No more frail body in heaven
Dancing eyes and a smiling face,
You'll be missed by those you left behind
But you're in a much better place!

I love you, Mama! Tell Jesus and Daddy , "Hi" for me!

by Barbra Hornsby