Daisy Lee Vallentine

Daisy Lee Vallentine, 91, of Cleveland Ohio, departed this world on Thursday, January 19th, 2023. She was the daughter of the late Arlee and Maurice Mickens.

Daisy was born and raised in Mississippi but later moved to Memphis, Tennessee where she had four wonderful children: Willie (Rudy), Perry, Frank (Michael) and Veronica Vallentine.
Her son Willie preceded her in death.

Daisy was a resilient black woman living in the South. She was an outspoken and powerful force that did not hold her tongue for anyone. But most importantly, she was a mother raising her four children during times of heavy segregation and civil unjust. Daisy eventually made the decision to move her and her family out of the South and into the Midwest straight to Cleveland, Ohio.

As Daisy settled in the city, she met her true love, Leroy Wagner (Leroy preceded her in death).

Daisy and Leroy shared a true bond that could never be broken, and her kids and grandchildren loved him.
During her time in Cleveland, Daisy became an entrepreneur. She helped managed three grocery stores with her mother within the city.

In the 1960s Daisy joined the Afro Set, Black Nationalist Party for Self Defense and became a nationalist who served second in command under Queen mother (Grace Glynn).

Being a part of such a powerful group allowed her to express herself and truly deal with some social economic tensions within her community. As a nationalist, she had the opportunity to promote black community values and African culture with a non-violent but militant approach. During this time, she also managed a halfway house for African American men in Cleveland and had an article written about her in the Plain Dealer newspaper.

She had a love for fashion and style. Whenever she saw something, she liked in a store, she would buy it in every color. She loved wearing her full mink coats, hats, fox furs and big diamonds and she made sure her children and grandchildren express their value from the inside out with wearing those same things even at a very young age. There was no limit to her love. When she walked in the room, her presence was known.

Daisy was passionate about helping others. She would not hesitate to open her home to friends or loved ones. When Daisy was living on the east side of Cleveland, she fostered four children: Valerie Johnson, Bryan Matthews, Michelle, and Demetrius. She was a wonderful combination of strength, warmth, and kindness. A woman who loved her family unconditionally and she would make sure everyone was taken care of.

During her downtime she enjoyed playing cards with friends and family from Detroit. She enjoyed listening to blue note jazz and spending time with her children and grandchildren. She also found joy in saving seeds and planted a few peach trees that grew over 12 ft tall on Hecker Avenue that her and her family and neighbors got peaches from.

We will forever miss her laughter, humor, and the warmth of her smile.

Daisy is survived by (including deceased) her four children Rudy, Perry, Michael, and Veronica Vallentine. Her thirteen grandchildren Hakim Vallentine & his wife Shetika Vallentine (deceased), Maurice Vallentine, Stuart Vallentine, Jordan Vallentine, Cail Mitchell, Perry Coleman, David Thomas, Mark Thomas, Latashio, Jessic Goins, LaShunda & her husband Robert McClain, C'erra Vallentine, and Sirroll Vallentine. 16 Great-grandchildren Hakim, Shemikah, Paris, Payton, Tiffany, Perry (Mr.), Dayianay, Jesus, Nasir, Nadia, Gabrielle, Joshua, Naomi, Rhema, Ethan, Koven and of host great-great grandchildren. Daisy also had many cousins and friends just to name a few cousins Frank & Bubba, Aunt B. Willie, Vernesteen, Charles, Brandy, Yuel, our entire Detroit Glynn Family and soooo many more!