Mr. Robert Rochell Freeman

February 4, 1940 - November 28, 2017

Robert Rochell Freeman departed this life on November 28, 2017. He was the oldest child of the late Rev. Amos E. Freeman and Mrs. Ruby Mae Freeman of Denmark, Tennessee, born on February 4, 1940. He was a graduate of West High School, Denmark, Tennessee and held Bachelor's and Master's Degrees from Tennessee State University, Nashville, Tennessee in Agronomy, Plant Science and Biochemistry and an Associates Degree in Business Management from Lansing Community College, Lansing, Michigan. Rochell (as he was called by friends & family) accepted Christ at an early age at St. John #2 Baptist Church, Denmark, TN. He was ordained as a Deacon in 1966 at Morning Star Baptist Church, Alton, Illinois. He served as Sunday School Superintendent, Youth Advisor, Trustee, Chairman of the Deacon Board and sang in the Male Chorus at Friendship Baptist Church, Lansing, Michigan. He was a member of the Sanctuary Choir, Sunday School teacher, Lead Deacon and Second Lead Deacon at St. John # 2 Baptist Church, Denmark, Tennessee. After serving in the U.S. Army as a records clerk and GED instructor while stationed at Fort Wainwright, Alaska, his career included employment as a Quality Control Chemist, Water Resources Chemist, and Personnel Officer; retiring in 2002 as Training Coordinator for the Michigan Department of Civil Service. Rochell was a leukemia stem cell transplant survivor and a proud member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., Epsilon Tau Sigma Chapter. Rochell was a loving and gentle husband, father and grandfather; loved the Lord, his church and his pastor. He gave generously to many charities and loved encouraging young people in continuing their education by offering monetary rewards for good grades to college students at St. John #2 Baptist Church. He has been married to Merilyn Faye Menefee Freeman for almost 54 years. He also leaves to cherish his memories; daughters, Chevelle Freeman of Dallas, TX; Cynthia Freeman (Jay) Gibbs of San Antonio, TX; Jamille Freeman (Damon) Hunter of Memphis, TN; son, Dion (Vicky) Freeman of Lansing, MI; sister, Ruth Angela (Bruce) Bond of Denmark, TN; 1 brother-in-law, E. Jerome (Willa) Menefee of Albany, GA; 1 beloved Aunt, Mary Henning of Denmark, TN; 8 grandchildren - Dennie Price, Jr., Nolan Price, Sydney Parkinson, Joshua Freeman, Derek Freeman, Julian Hunter, Victor Freeman and Lauren Hunter; several great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends. He was preceded in death by his brother, Marvin Conwell Freeman and a son, Dennie Price, Sr.