Ethel Dell Chambers' Obituary
Ethel Dell Chambers, age 78, passed away on July 31st, 2025, at Trinity Health Hospital in Muskegon, Michigan, surrounded by her immediate family. Ethel was born to Moses and Adell Watkins on March 29th, 1947, in Phoenix, Arizona. Her family later moved to San Bernardino, California, where she was raised from the age of two. Ethel moved to Muskegon, MI, in 1973, where she met and married Bennie Will Chambers Jr. Here they had and raised three beautiful daughters.
Ethel accepted Christ at an early age. Ethel was a member of Love City Church of Muskegon. But often visited The Ambassador Church with her daughters, where she became a familiar and loving face to the church family.
Ethel graduated from Muskegon High School. She worked passionately for 27 years as a Residential Care Aide for Moka Corporation, retiring in 2014. In 1994, Ethel was a Caretaker for her father until he became severely ill and had to return home to San Bernardino, California.
Ethel enjoyed spending time with her family. Her grandchildren became a big part of her life. She loved to tease them and laughed when they would say, “Grandma, stop…”. Ethel had fallen head over heels for her first great-grandson that she and her husband shared. Mr. Ashton Jaron Moore. She loved hearing him come into her apartment, saying, Mema…, where are you… And this brought a big smile and joy to her heart.
Ethel loved watching movies on BET and Lifetime. She enjoyed social outings with her family and friends. She had a favorite song that she loved to dance to, which was "California Love by Tupac,” and she knew it all so well, as this is where she had lived for many years of her life. Ethel loved handbags and shoes. Her daughters always made sure she received one or the other or both on her birthday, Mother's Day, or Christmas. She loved her jewelry, lipstick, and other little trinkets, which she would hold onto for years. Ethel loved to shop until her health started to decline, and from there, her daughters made sure she had what she wanted and needed.
Ethel was preceded in death by her parents, Moses and Adell Watkins, 1 son: Nathaniel Watkins, 2 brothers: Nathaniel Watkins and Richard Lee Watkins, 3 sisters: Ola Mae Ellison, Willie Lou Watkins, and Debbie Watkins; 1 bonus daughter, Benita Lynn Wilson, and a special nephew who held a special place in her heart, Keysue Keyon Arthur Boone.
Ethel leaves behind her husband Bennie Will Chambers Jr., 4 daughters: Carol (Ernie) Turner, Benika (Marcus) Longmire, Tonika Chambers, Bennie S. Chambers; 1 son: Danny (Judy) Edwards all of Muskegon MI; 13 grandchildren: Curtis Summers, DaJuan Edwards, Coreyelle Chambers, DaJuana Edwards, Ernie Turner, Rayven Sims, Corey Turner, Takya Longmire, Edna Turner, Ciarra Edwards, Alayah Longmire, Rayna Chambers and Porshana Longmire; 6 great-grandchildren; 3 siblings: Moses (Annie) Watkins Jr. of Chicago, IL, Edward Watkins, and Linda (Elmer) Davis of Muskegon, MI; 1 bonus daughter, Laticia Fox of Grand Rapids, MI; 11 bonus grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, bonus great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
~ Lovingly written and submitted by the family
A funeral service for Ethel will be held on Thursday, August 7, 2025, at 12:00 pm at The Lee Chapel of Sytsema Funeral and Cremation Services, 6291 Harvey St, Norton Shores, MI 49444. Visitation will be held from 5 pm to 7 pm on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, and an hour prior to the service. Share memories with the family at https://systemafh.com.
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