Mother Flossie Mae (Mills) Chappelle
Flossie Mae Mills was born August 21, 1927 in Uhrichsville, Ohio to Edna Mae Lowery and David Harris.
She was the youngest of three siblings raised by Edna and William Vernon Mills.
She was educated in a one room schoolhouse in Ohio from kindergarten to 8th grade. Flossie graduated from Uhrichsville High School in 1944. Flossie met the love of her life at a skating rink in Ohio. He was from another small town in Ohio, Coshocton. She became the bride of Arlander Looney Chappelle on
July 15, 1949. Flossie & Arlander followed her older sister Aurelia Watson (Aunt Rita) and moved to
Buffalo, NY, which was a booming industrial city.
Flossie and Arlander had 3 children, Jacqueline Shinita, Arlander Laverne “Lanny” & Veronica Lynn. They provided a loving, disciplined & nurturing home to them along with Flossie’s mother Edna M. Lowery.
Their friends were always welcomed at 11 Butler Ave and 39 Hedley Pl with that same love, discipline & nurturing. Flossie and Arlander took their children on a road trip vacation every year, always to Ohio,
Detroit and White Plains to visit family. However they did go to the World’s Fair in New York City in
1964.
Flossie volunteered for the Blind Association of Buffalo for over 40 years with her forever friends Virginia
Jackson, Addie Lidge, Emma Crockett & Dorothy Richardson. Flossie worked at Western Electric in the
Diamond Dye Lab for many years. After her husband passed in 1987, she went back to work in the
Buffalo Public School System. She worked in the cafeteria at various schools. She worked at the Parent
Child Center, which was a school where young mothers could continue their education in the same
building with their children being taken care of. Flossie watched the babies and she loved that job. The
center closed and she then worked as a Teacher Aide. Her eyesight began to fail in 1998 due to
Glaucoma and she retired from Buffalo Public School System.
Flossie loved to cook. She enjoyed large family dinners on Sundays and holidays. Growing up, the
Chappelles would gather every day at the kitchen table for dinner.
Flossie enjoyed her grandchildren & great grandchildren. She always wanted what was best for them.
She provided shelter for some, and was equally generous with money, advice & chastisement with all.
She took many to church and earnestly prayed for them to be saved. She would often say “Give God
some of your time.”
Flossie loved to sing and in earlier years dance. Some of her favorite songs were “I am Redeemed,”
“Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross,” and “How Great Thou Art” to name a few. Her love of singing was passed on to her daughter Jacqueline, grandchildren Derrick, Korey, Aisha, Kristin, Jacqueline, Tatiana
and great grandchildren Jaycee, Davon, Joshua, Bradley, Khari’Mari and Brady.
Flossie attended Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist church in Dennison, OH. She was baptized in the river.
After moving to Buffalo she joined Friendship Baptist Church. She united with Faith Baptist Church in
December of 1955, the year the Church was established, under Pastor Roscoe M. Mitchell. She was a
Faithful member until death. She served in various choirs, Mother’s Club, Mission Ministry, Bible Study,
Sunday School, Seasoned Seniors, Trustee Ministry (one of first females). Flossie was appointed Mother
of Faith Baptist Church on September 9, 2009 by Pastor James R. Banks II. She was also a member of the
American Baptist Women and was honored for being one of their oldest members.
Flossie’s blindness didn’t stop her from living. She lived by herself for years still cooking. Went to church
every Sunday and Wednesday. Flossie could be found on that third pew singing. She went on outings
with her friends: shopping, annual MLK celebrations, lunch, vacations and church bus trips. Flossie,
Dorothy Richardson, Emma Crockett, Mamie Bell & Delores Gibbs celebrated their August birthdays
every year.
In July 2019 Flossie moved to Terrace View Long Term Care Facility. She could be heard raising a hymn at
church services there or whenever the mood struck her. She departed this life on June 18, 2020
peacefully.
Flossie had many different names, Floss, Mom, mommy, moma, grandma, gram, grams, Aunt Flossie,
cousin Flossie, Grandma Chappelle, Miss Flossie. All who called her by those names knew that they were
loved.
Flossie was preceded in death by her husband Arlander L. Chappelle Sr., mother Edna M. Lowery, father
David Harris, step-father William Vernon Mills, brother Clinton Vernon “Spin” Mills, sister Aurelia M.
“Rita” Watson, great granddaughter, Ryan Z. McCullough.
She leaves her legacy of love to her children: Jacqueline Ruffin, Arlander (Mary) Chappelle, Veronica
(Elder Benjamin) McCullough. Grandchildren: Dayan Ruffin, Trevor Ruffin, Shinita (Rayshawn)
Chappelle-Minter, Derrick Ruffin, Korey McCullough, Aisha (Jerry) Atkins, Kristin (Bartholomew) Roberts,
David (Danielle) Ruffin, Jacqueline Ruffin, Kameron McCullough, Arlanda Chappelle, Levi Ruffin III,
Tatiana Ruffin. Great Grandchildren: Natasha Aiken, Trevor (Ruthie) Perry, Janiera Ross, Jerome Ross,
Jayla Corbin, Jaycee Jones Jr., Davon Gbaraba, Kendall Ruffin, Dineja Gbaraba, Joshua Gbaraba, Antoine
Sims, Bradley Atkins, Khari’Mari Smith, Kayla Bell, Brady Roberts, Dakota Ruffin, Simone Ruffin, Griffin
Roberts, Raymir Jackson, Kyrie Ruffin, Ryan McCullough, Faith Bell, Levi Ruffin IV
First Cousins: Carol White, Joanne Poole, Helen Combs, James Mills, Elsie White, Annie Lowery, Mary Jo
Lacey, Virginia Robinson
Goddaughter: Karen Mayweather
Friends: Mamie Bell, Mother Mae R. Stanley
And a host of cousins and friends
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