Endia Jean-Barbour (Barbour) Weekley

Life Design of Endia Weekley

Design Timeline: Initiation September 24, 1943 – Completion June 9, 2023

Design Description: To know Endia Weekley was to have known the epitome of an amazingly loving friend, who was an excellent leader both at home and in the community.  She was a wonderful role-model and perfect example of what a wife, mother, daughter, grandmother and friend should be; serving all she loved and cared for.  She had a heart of gold and would do anything for anyone that needed help.  Always straightforward, if you wanted an honest answer, just ask her the question.  Her questions were with purpose.

Design Plan:  Endia Jean Barbour was born on September 24, 1943 to Frances and Osborne Barbour.  She was the last of five children and the only girl.  Her mother appropriately named her Endia and spelled it as in the “end” ENDIA.  After having four boys, God finally blessed her with the girl she desired and it was the “end”, completing the Barbour family.

Design Milestones:  Endia grew up in the small town of Covert, Michigan with her parents and brothers on the family blueberry farm.  She learned a strong work ethic as a child and served as the church pianist.  At seventeen she graduated from Covert High School, as the class valedictorian.  Endia attended Ferris State University, where she majored in pharmacy.  There she was introduced to the love of her life, Charles Willis Weekley, Jr. through their fraternity and sorority brothers and sisters.

Design Turning Points: On August 17, 1963 Endia and Charles were married and the following year the happy couple was blessed with their miracle baby girl, Andrea Denise.  In 1964, Endia began working as a teller at Union Bank, during a time when few women worked outside of the home and when women of color were rarely accepted into the workforce, let alone in such a visible role.  Her dedication and strong work ethic established, through her parents, paid off.  Over the course of a 42-year career in banking, through transitions and name changes, Endia earned many accolades and promotions.  She made history as the first African-American Banking Officer (Vice President) in South West Michigan.

Because Endia exhibited a high level of expertise and performance in her profession, she received the Courageous Voice Award of 1995, National Association of Bank Women Member of the Year 1987-88, Business Award for Achievement in Banking 1977, and American Business Women’s Association LaGrande Vitesse Chapter, Woman of the Year 1977. Endia was a member of Lambda Kappa Sigma Sorority, Inc., Negro Business and Professional Women’s Association, American Business Women’s Association, National Association of Bank Women, and many other organizations and boards, serving in officer positions during her tenure in many of them.  In 1998, Endia was recognized as a Giant in the city of Grand Rapids, Michigan, receiving the Milo Brown Business award.  She was inducted into Covert High School’s Hall of Fame and also received Chase Banks’ LEAD Award for outstanding leadership. She retired at the top of her game in 2003.

Endia served as head of the Altar Guild and as a Steward for many years at First Community AME Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan.  In 1990, Charles and Endia united with New Hope Baptist Church, where she eventually served as the Chair of the Trustee Board, a financial officer and in the administrative offices over the last thirty years.  Endia was an integral part of the office staff until retiring completely due to health issues.  She loved her church and enjoyed serving on multiple building renovation projects.

Endia believed in family and would do anything for hers, sometimes sacrificing her own health and wellness to provide care for others.  Her greatest joy was sowing into the lives of her grandchildren, Kenton and Alyssa.  Endia’s loving and caring nature was the catalyst for many special relationships, as she constantly modeled unconditional love.

Design Completion: On June 9, 2023 Endia closed her eyes and opened them being greeted by her grandparents Zadie and Samuel Ziegler, her mother and father Frances and Osborne Barbour, mother and father-in-love Charles Sr. and Mamie Weekley, brothers Lawrence and Dennis Barbour, son-in-love Kenneth Reynolds, sisters-in-love Sandra and Pauline Barbour, and Ingrid Weekley, niece Colleen Barbour, great-nephew Dale Weekley, Jr., and adopted daughter Marsha Auls.

She leaves to cherish her memory:  husband Charles Weekley, Jr., daughter Andrea Weekley Reynolds, grandchildren Kenton and Alyssa Reynolds, precious fur babies Pepper and Tiger, brothers DeElward (Diane) Barbour, Roland (Beverly) Barbour Sr., brothers and sisters-in-love Roger (Patricia) Weekley, Dale Weekley, Beverly (James) Pope, Blake Weekley, Prudence Gayle (Arthur) Freeman, Darryl Weekley, Noami Weekley, nieces and nephews; Teresa (Dana) Getman, Kevan Barbour, Donna (Todd) Ball, Kathy (Jeff) Roberts, Tracey Barbour, Roland Barbour Jr., Allen (Margaret) Barbour, Jessica (David) Tumusiime, Veniace Cunningham, Duane (Monica) Cunningham Jr., Janelle Casper and Scott (Nan) Williams; and a host of other nieces and nephews; adopted sons and daughters Cad Shannon, Pam Oliver, Carol Fedewa, Marcus and Janice Cole, Eric and Jill James, Greg and Judy Cumberland, Gerald and Nannette Perry, Sandra Jones, Lamar and Sylvia James and Valarie Parker; close friends Sue and the Getzen-Cleland family, Willa Hill, Nikki Pittmon, Iris Salters, the New Hope Church family and special friends “The Sunday Sisters”.

Endia said, “I’ll be waiting for you on the other side and remember, I love you more”.