“Boy Blue” realized that he had to choose a final resting place for his soul, and we thank God that he chose to make heaven his home. The Lord prepared a place, made the way straight and called “Boy Blue” home on December 28th, 2016. He became meek and lowly but always clothed in his right mind, leaning on the everlasting arm of the Lord. The things he used to say he didn’t say anymore, the places he used to go he didn’t go anymore, the way he used to act he didn’t act any more, the words he used to use he didn’t use anymore. In the end his strength began to whither, and his words became few. He spent his last days with his companion LeTicia Powell, receiving visitation from family and friends in his own home. In 2012 he rededicated his heart and soul to Jesus and made Christ Lord of his life. He was the head never the tail, the lender never the barrower, the first never the last, but most important he was a child of The Almighty God. He touched the lives of many people and always gave 200% to any cause that he would agree to champion. He will always have a place in all of our hearts we wish that he never had to go. His nieces and nephews looked up to him for strength and guidance, and how they loved him so. “Boy Blue” was the boss, and everyone knew it. Michael and his sister Regina were so close, somebody said, they should have been twins. He had the utmost respect for his oldest sister Dorothy (The Matriarch of the family) and voice of reason, compassion, and his center of gravity she always kept him straight. He had a special place in his heart for his Godmother Miss Rosa. He loved all of his brothers and sisters wholeheartedly, and unconditionally. He loved and was loved by every one of his sisters and brothers, all of his children, his entire family, and numerous others. After, 39 years of dedicated hard work Blue retired from the Longshoreman Corner in 2009 and spent most of his days at the “hall” laughing and joking with many of his old friends. Early in his life his hair was cascaded in long flowing curls, he later pulled his hair back in a ponytail or tucked it under a stocking cap and a nice hat, towards the end he wore it cut down short. He sported tailor made custom suits, with everything matching from head to toe, sometimes his cars even matched the clothes he wore. If he had something to say he would tell you to your face and then reply “Now run and tell that, you tell everything else.” “Boy Blue” was always dressed to impress at family events, important functions, as well as those events that were held at Local 1248. He was a man of many words, very outspoken, he never bit his tongue. He loved his job, and he loved “the corner”, it was his home away from home. He later gave up the auto mechanic hobby altogether, and put all of his strength and effort into becoming the best longshoreman that he could be. He got so good that he would often have two or three cars disassembled at the same time. In his spare time he would moonlight as an auto mechanic, he taught himself how to fix cars by totally disassembling and reassembling each part one-by- one. He would work days, nights weekends and pick up multiple shifts on the “longshoreman corner”. Blue began working at the International Longshoreman’s Association (ILA: Local 1248) in 1973. Michael was educated in Norfolk Public Schools and could have been anything that he wanted to be, but he chose to be a Longshoreman. People always looked up to him he was very well known no matter where he went. His children were his life he always looked out for their best interests, and cared dearly for his grandchildren. He acted as a role model for his kids, he was perceived as a father figure for boys and girls in his family as well as the community. When something or someone got out of line or needed a helping hand or a push in the right direction, he was there to always put things in order and set everyone straight, always putting the needs of the family before his very own. “Blue” was the backbone of his family, always standing strong, holding everything and everyone together. He was better known as “Blue” or “Boy Blue to his family and those who knew him best.
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