Funeral arrangements for two children, Stoni Blair, 13, and Stephen Berry, 9, the sister and brother who were found dead on March 24 in a stand-alone freezer in their apartment near downtown Detroit, have been entrusted to Ellis Funeral Home on the city’s west side.
While investigations are still ongoing, authorities believe the children could have been dead for as long as two years.
Funeral services for the two siblings will be held on Monday, April 13, at Greater Grace Temple in Detroit. The family hour begins at 10 a.m., followed by the funeral service at 11:00. A Gofundme page has been set up to help the struggling family with funeral, burial and related expenses. Individuals and/or organizations interested in making donations can do so by logging on to Gofundme.com/BlairandBerry, or by visiting any local Bank of America to make donations in the names of Stoni and Stephen.
Photo credit: Andre Smith
Like so many people in Detroit, around the nation and beyond, David L. Ellis, Jr., and wife, Sylvia Ellis, owners of Ellis Funeral Home, were horrified and mystified, after watching riveting televised news reports about the discovery of the children’s bodies. What was further appalling was that their mother, Mitchelle Blair, who has since been charged with felony murder, premeditated murder and torture of the kids, had occupied the dwelling, along with her two other children, all of whom were in constant and close proximity of the freezer’s encased bodies for a multiplicity of months, perhaps years.
“We were really saddened,” said Ellis, Jr. “As parents ourselves, we just couldn’t understand how anyone could do something so horrifying to children. In the funeral business, we’ve seen many tragic stories, but nothing like kids being killed and family members living in the house for a year or two. It’s so sad.”
The Ellises said one of the deceased children’s grandfather attends Greater Grace, where they (the Ellises) are members. The grandfather, according to Ellis, Jr., spoke with Bishop Charles H. Ellis, III, senior pastor of Greater Grace, after the tragedy. Subsequently, the victims’ family reached out to Ellis Funeral Home for much needed help moving forward with funeral arrangements.
“The family, after entrusting the children in our care, asked us to set up a GoFundMe page that could help with funeral, burial and other expenses,” said Sylvia Ellis. “So we are helping the family with funeral arrangements at cost.”
Photo credit: Andre Smith
The Ellises said they have a lot of empathy for the surviving family.
“David and I lost a daughter almost 13 years ago,” said Sylvia Ellis. “David has also lost a father and sister and I’ve lost a mother, so we know about the impact of losing loved ones. Yet, the deaths of those two children is so much more horrific. However, through our prayers and our faith, we are thankful to offer a ministry and service to help this family in their most difficult time.”
Collaborating with Ellis Funeral Home to help the young children’s family is Southfield-based MCS Multimedia, a legacy company of Mays Printing Company. MCS is donating such services as the designing and printing of the obituary as well as creating the Gofundme graphics and other printing needs.
“My family has been really blessed,” said,” James C. Mays, senior consultant and son of the late Black printing pioneer, J. Caulton Mays. “We felt that our family and our business could be a blessing to this family and to the young children that didn’t deserve to die like they did. Therefore, we decided to donate our printing services to help the family out.”
MCS Multimedia’s president and CEO agreed.
“We had to do something for this family,” said Elizabeth Mays, 25, a third generation printer and granddaughter of J. Caulton Mays. “I just wanted my company, in the legacy name of Mays Printing, to find a way to help comfort this grieving family who lost two very beautiful children.”
Photo credit: Andre Smith
For more information on funeral arrangements, or Gofundme, contact Ellis Funeral Home at 313.535.8800.
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