Obituary of Michael William Vines

Michael William Vines, 64, of Cassopolis, MI passed away on February 25th, 2021. He was murdered in front of his home and fell victim to senseless gun violence in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Michael was born on September 26, 1956, to Marguerite Hunter and Joseph Vines Jr. in Chicago, IL. Michael spent the majority of his early life in the Bronzeville neighborhood on the southside of Chicago, and he frequently visited the family farm in Michigan where we enjoyed climbing trees with his brothers, Joseph, Dennis, and cousin George Sr. He graduated from Evanston Township High School and attended Eastern Washington University where he joined Alpha Phi Alpha, the first Greek-letter fraternity for Black men. After college, he joined the Army in 1982 and served until 1987. During this time he met his wife Lisa and they married on May 6, 1993, after she passed, he relocated to Sacramento California, where he later retired as a public school teacher. Michael loved photography and music especially blues, rock n roll ( Led Zeppelin) . He also enjoyed going to his VFW, classic movies, sports, the weather channel and he was very involved in our nation's political scene. Michael was preceded in death by his wife Lisa, parents Marguerite Hunter and Joseph Vines Jr. his brother Joseph Smith, Aunts Marion B. Hunter, Violet, Dorothy Mays, and Delores Banks. Michael leaves his family to cherish his memory, brother Dennis Vines, niece Marguerite Smith, nephew Jarvis Smith, cousin George Banks Jr., and Kelly Calloway. Friends and Fraternity Alpha Phi Alpha ( aka his ship) and his cherished friend Sharon Woods Taylor. Cremation has taken place and there are no services.