Albert E. Hartsfield Sr.

Albert Eugene Hartsfield, Sr. was born on April 7, 1949, the third of seven children born to the late Harry and Alberta Hartsfield née Murphy in Detroit Michigan. Albert attended Sacred Heart for elementary school, then Durfee Junior High. He graduated from Detroit Central High School in 1967. Anyone who knew Albert, knows that he was a born leader, and carried a mission of service to others throughout his life. After high school, he worked for Detroit Edison for about 4 years. He took the initiative and served his country during the Vietnam War, and enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served as a seaman stationed in California. After the navy he returned home to Detroit, and soon after found the love of his life, Gracie Hobbs. They married in June 1974. From that union, they have two children, Stacie Whitby and Albert E. Hartsfield, Jr. He loved his family. He was a proud and dedicated father and grandfather. He especially loved Gracie, his wife of 48 years. You rarely saw Albert without Gracie and vice versa. Albert was a spiritual person who believed in Jesus Christ. As a child, he was baptized Catholic at Sacred Heart Church of Detroit where he also served as an altar boy. Later Albert and Gracie joined the Metropolitan Chuch of God under the leadership of Reverend Robert O. Dulin, Jr. Albert and Gracie kept beautiful homes where they raised their children. His family, friends, and neighbors described him as a leader, friendly, outgoing and knowledgeable. Albert worked 34 years for the Detroit Public Schools (DPS) and Public Safety Police Department. He started with the cedar program in the mid 70s and retired July 1, 2009. He was the only person to start as a security guard and rose through the ranks to become DPS’s Public Safety Police Interim Chief. He loved being a police officer and took his mission to serve and protect to heart. He enjoyed gardening, dancing, Motown music, Frankie Beverly and Maze, the Manhattans and reality police shows. He was civic minded and served as President of the Oakman Boulevard Community Association. Albert was a conversationalist, and got along with everyone. He met no strangers and because he was a Hartsfield, he pontificated on everything —local, national and international events. Albert was a dapper dresser. He had an extensive wardrobe: stingy brim hats, starched shirts, suits pressed and spotless, and spit shined dress shoes. Outfits in GQ magazine had nothing on Albert. He may be gone from sight but he will never be gone from our hearts. Preceding him in death were his parents, his brother, Richard A. Hartsfield in 2013 of Southfield, MI and sister, Haroldeen Hartsfield of Houston, TX in 2020. He leaves to cherish his life and memory: his wife, Gracie, daughter, Stacie Whitby (Marcus); son, Albert E. Hartsfield, Jr; his grandsons, Marcus J. Whitby and Cacie D. Whitby; his sister, Joyce Y. Hartsfield of New York City, Judy A. Hartsfield (Leon Holmes) of Detroit, Anthony C. Hartsfield, Sr. (Anita) of Lexington, KY and Roderick T. Hartsfield (Janice) of Detroit, his sisters-in-law: Joyce Foster-Hartsfield of Southfield, Kyra Spencer, Edith Smith-Meah, Catherine (Paul) Jones, Kim (Charles) Phornore, brothers-in-law: Willie (Carol) Borders, Louis Borders; a paternal aunt, Olelia Stubblefield of Lincoln, NE, and maternal uncle and aunt, Henry (Doris) Murphy of Wilmington, DE, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Zoom Instructions 1. Go to Kempfuneralhome.com. 2. Click on your loved one’s photo. You are now on their Tribute Page. 3. You should see a tab labeled photo & videos (or it may be labeled media, depending on your device). Select that tab. 4. Just before the service starts, you will see an icon labeled Webcast (or it may be labeled external video, depending on your device). Select the icon. 5. You will begin to launch into the zoom meeting. 6. Wait for host to let you into the meeting.

Albert E. Hartsfield Sr.

April 7, 1949 - September 7, 2022