Obituary of Jermain Ransaw

Jermain Barnes was born on May 12, 1953, in Monroe, Michigan. She was one of ten children born from the union of Cody and Mae (Register) Barnes.  Jermain attended Monroe High School, graduating with the class of 1971.

On April 8, 1972, at the Second Baptist Church in Monroe, Jermain married the love of her life: Jather Ransaw Jr. Together the couple was blessed with the birth of one daughter: Jawanda. For many years while living in Monroe, Jermain was employed as a bus driver for Lake Erie Transit until her retirement. Jermain loved to bake and was famous for her potato salad and loved a good cheesecake. Every Christmas Jermain and Jawanda looked forward to the “Ransaw Cookie Factory”, a mother/daughter tradition where the pair baked cookies all weekend long: sugar, peanut butter, chocolate chip, and oatmeal raisin.

An extremely loving person, she always found time to have fun and laugh out loud in all that she did. Jermain enjoyed luxury train rides, going on Disney cruises, and vacationing at Hilton Head Island in South Carolina. She loved couponing and shopping for a great sale. Jermain was very health-conscious, spending time five days a week at the local gym. Gardening and growing flowers with her neighbor Kevin was one of her favorite hobbies.

Jermain was a devoted Christian and a prayer warrior. She loved listening to gospel music all day long from home to her car while running errands. Throughout the Monroe Community she taught Full Life in Christ classes and was a member of the Christ dance group “Daughter of Zion.” After moving to Illinois, she became a member of the Harvest Bible Chapel singing in the choir.

Jermain Ransaw, age 69 of Gilberts, Illinois passed away on Wednesday, January 11, 2023, at Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, Illinois. Her passing was preceded by her parents: Cody and Mae Barnes; her husband of forty years: Jather Ransaw, Jr.; and two brothers: Cody Barnes, Jr., and Walter Barnes.

To cherish her memory Jermain leaves behind one daughter: Jawanda Ransaw of Gilberts, Illinois; five sisters:  Josephine (Willie) Austin, Elizabeth Martin, Juanita Edwards, Elean (Lee) Cork, and Jacqueline (Milton) Page; two brothers: Roosevelt (Rachelle) Barnes, and Jeffrey Barnes; four very special grandchildren:  Theron “TJ” Gibbs, Greysen Gibbs, Raegan Gibbs, and Azriel Page; many nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews; and great-great nieces and nephews.

Friends may gather on Friday, January 20, 2023, from 4:00pm until 7:00pm at Merkle Funeral Service, North Monroe; 2442 North Monroe Street, Monroe, Michigan 48162; (734) 384-5185. Jermain will lie in state from 10:00am until 11:00am on Saturday, January 21, 2023, at the North Monroe Street Church of God; 2393 North Monroe Street, Monroe, Michigan 48162. A Celebration of Her Life will be at 11:00am also at the church with Reverend Rick Massingill, pastor of the church officiating.   Procession will follow to Roselawn Memorial Park in Lasalle, Michigan for burial.

Online guests may leave words of inspiration and comfort or share a photo by visiting www.merklefs.com.