Verner Jean Wheeler

 Verner Jean Wheeler was born on April 12, 1934, in Pontotoc, Mississippi to the late Webster Pulliam and Beatrice Bradley. She was blessed to be raised by Willie Lee Bradley Sr., whom she affectionately called "Daddy." As the eldest of her siblings, Jean attended Pontotoc Schools. She gave her life to Christ as a member of New Lebanon Missionary Baptist Church where the family laid their roots. As the head of the house and a man of faith, her daddy made sure all the children were in church every Sunday. Throughout her life, Jean continued to profess the Lord Jesus Christ as her savior and lean on the power of prayer.

     As a young adult, Jean eventually moved to Mt. Clemens, Michigan, where she resided with her grandparents, Johnnie and Pearl Johnson. It was there that she began her passion of cooking professionally before relocating to Detroit, MI. She was the head chef at the University of Detroit Jesuit High School and then transferred to University of Detroit Mercy, where she remained until her retirement of 25 years in 1997. Jean was known for her beautiful food presentations, and she also enjoyed sewing, gardening, and decorating her home. No space ever stayed the same for long! She deeply adored all her grandchildren cherishing the time she spent helping care for them during their younger years and watching them grow. In her past time,  she loved watching her stories (As the World Turns & The Bold and the Beautiful) and Law & Order episodes. One thing for sure she held nothing back in conversation and her facial expressions told it all…. You never ever had to wonder how she felt about you. Though we mourn the loss, we celebrate her legacy, and we rejoice in knowing that we can still carry her spirit of joy in our hearts for decades to come.

Jean departed this earthly life on Tuesday, January 28, 2025. She was preceded in death by her parents’, Willie Lee Sr. and Beatrice Bradley, and Webster Pulliam; her brothers, Earven Bradley and John Bradley; her sisters, Mildred Bradley, Joann O'Neal, Rhonda Ross, and Deborah Bradley; a special aunt, Louise Cummings; a special cousin, Dorothy Tillmon; and her best friend and sister at heart, Frances Draper.

    She leaves behind a legacy of love and cherished memories with her two sons, Sheldon (Mildred) Wheeler of Belleville, MI, and Terence (Kiara) Hill of Redford Twp., MI; one daughter, Yolanda (Heshanta) Jackson of Las Vegas, NV; seventeen grandchildren: LaToya, Christian, DaMarco, Ashley, Adrienne, Iriana (Nalani), Jalen, Tyrell, Tiffany, Sheldon Jr., Maurissa, Tayshawn, Brendan (Liliana) , Jonathan,  Myka, Karter, Kendall. She is also survived by two great-grandchildren, Olivia and CJ with an expected third May 2025: Xiomara Kind Elise; four brothers: Willie (Wilma) Bradley Jr., Larry Bradley, Jackie (Magayle) Betts, and Michael (Flora) Bradley; three sisters: Ruth Bradley, Leona Merriweather, and Vanessa Banks; as well as a host of other relatives and friends.

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