Canary Mae (Speight) Braxton

Canary Mae Braxton (Speight), daughter of the late Haywood Speight and Dallis Smith was born in North Carolina on February 2, 1929.  While in Genesis Milford Center she received her wings and went home to be with the Lord on May 25, 2016.

Canary attended school in North Carolina and later relocated to Philadelphia to work.  While living there, she worked various jobs and retired from the Philadelphia Board of Education.  She found the love of her life Robert Thomas Braxton, Jr. and was married on October 24, 1953.  They were blessed with three children, Robert Thomas III, Dennis Carroll and Starlet Tenea.

Canary was a free spirted person who never met a stranger.  She always had a smile on her face and would do anything for you. She opened not only her heart but the door to her home for the children in the neighborhood and helped to build a “Village”. 

Canary relocated to Delaware in 1992 and she was very active in the churches she attended.  She was a member of Calvary Baptist Church, Central Baptist, Frontline Ministries and Bread of Life Christian Church.  At the age of eighty-one she became a Foster Grandparent and was known as “Mom B”.  She touched the lives of so many children at Nellie Stokes Elementary School for four years until her health began to fail.

Canary loved to listen to gospel music, laughing, game shows, seek and find puzzles, walking and meeting people.  She filled the void as a mother and friend to many and they in turn, gave back to help fulfill her life. 

Canary is preceded in death by her parents, Haywood Speight and Dallis Smith, step-father, Edward Redwood, Sr., her husband of forty years Robert Thomas Braxton, Jr., son Dennis Carroll Braxton, brothers Donald Redwood, Edward Redwood Jr., sisters, Carol Redwood Barnes and Deborah Redwood.

She leaves to cherish her memories, her daughter and caregiver, Starlet “Star” Harden (Braxton), son Robert Thomas Braxton III (Inez), grandson Shawn Harden, twin granddaughters, Stephanie and Celeste Braxton, brother George Redwood, sister-in-law’s;  Roberta Fitzgerald, an aunt Virginia  Fulgham (Alvin).  A host of very special family friends, the Jacobs Family of Philadelphia, PA, Joy Flynn of Raleigh, North Carolina and a host of aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

A special thank you to those who took care of her during her illness; Kent General Hospital Med Surgical 1A and 3 West Units, Amedisys Home Health, Brookdale Assisted Living, Capital Nursing Home, Delaware Hospice, Maxim Home Health, Milford Center, Seasons Hospice, Silver Lake Nursing Home and Westminster Health Center and the many friends who visited, called, sent cards and kept her in prayer.

Although our hearts may be burdened, we are thankful and grateful that God allowed us to keep her for so many years.  We only ask that God who never makes a mistake, sustain us during our bereavement and give us the strength to accept the fact that His will, not ours, must be done.

Funeral Services will be held 12 pm., Saturday, June 4, 2016, in the Union Missionary Baptist Church, 883 Lincoln St., Dover ; where family and friends may view from 9:30-12pm. Burial will follow in Sharon Hills Memorial Park. Condolences may be sent via: www.pippinfuneralhome.com.

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