Alleyne Airgood

Alleyne Airgood, 84, of Benton Harbor, passed away Saturday, February 28, 2004, at her residence. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 10:00 A.M. Wednesday at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph, with Rev. John Hopson & Rev. Dr. Charles Shumate officiating. Burial will follow in Union Cemetery in Berrien Center. Friends may call from 4-7 P.M. Tuesday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Hospice at Home. Those wishing to share a memory or sign the guest book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Mrs. Airgood, also known as ?Aunt Bunny? or ?Gracie? was born March 3, 1919 in Berrien Center to Arthur & Hazel (Shaffer) Brenner. She graduated in 1937 as the Salutatorian of Berrien Springs High School. On February 26, 1940, she married Loren Airgood in Lafayette, Indiana. She and her husband owned & operated South End Grocery on Pipestone from 1940-1946, and Airgood?s Grocery in Berrien Center from 1953-1960. Alleyne was employed as a bus driver for the Berrien County Intermediate School District for 14 years retiring in 1984. She enjoyed having her grandchildren and other family come to the house and stay for extended periods of time. She enjoyed picking and canning fruit. Alleyne & Loren enjoyed many years together. They loved to travel and had visited every state in the continental US, and had made several trips to Canada. They also enjoyed many of the offerings of their local area-Lake Michigan Sunsets, Silver Beach & Shadowland Ballroom, the Berrien County Youth Fair, the Blossom Parade, and the Venetian Festival. They were avid Cub Fans, and for many years they have made numerous trips each year to Wrigley Field and even to Arizona for Spring Training. Alleyne was a member of Crystal Springs Church of God, and the TOPS Club. Alleyne is survived by her husband of 64 years, Loren; two sons- Rex Airgood of Benton Harbor, Larry Airgood of Estes Park, CO; two daughters-Laretta (Rev. Dr. Charles) Shumate of Anderson, IN, Linda (James) Neal of Lovelock, Nevada; two granddaughters- Chausette (Lou) Arenal of Santa Cruz, CA, Chara (Philip) Lavelle of Anderson, IN; four great-grandchildren-Louis, Chase, Addison, & Arabella. She was preceded in death by her parents, two sisters-Arlowyne Fowler, Mary Katherine Sherwood; and a brother-Dale Brenner.