Sherlean (Hinton) Nutter, our beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, cousin, and friend, peacefully departed this life surrounded by love and family and entered eternal rest on Sunday, January 4, 2026.

Early Life and Education

Born on January 22, 1943, in Pickensville, Alabama, Sherlean was the oldest child of Walter Hinton Jr. and Eula V. Curry Lanier. She moved to Kalamazoo in 1952 and attended South Middle School and Kalamazoo Central High School.

Personal Qualities and Interests

Sherlean was the beloved matriarch of her family, known for her strength, resilience, tenacity, commanding presence, and quick wit. She spoke her mind, did not tolerate disorder or disrespect, and was never afraid to correct a situation when necessary.

She often had a saying for everything, one of her favorites being, “Just keep on living, chile.” She embodied a unique blend of fire, sass, and determination and had a fondness for bright colors and flowers, both reflections of her vibrant personality. There was truly no one like her.

Sherlean appreciated quality and enjoyed nice cars and music, especially the blues and classic R&B. Her favorite artists included B.B. King, Bobby “Blue” Bland, Barry White, Aretha Franklin, and Jackie Wilson.

Career and Accomplishments

A dedicated and hardworking woman, Sherlean possessed an exceptional work ethic and was never afraid of long hours or hard work. After graduating from high school, she held several positions throughout her career before retiring from Pfizer (formerly Upjohn), where she worked for many years.

She was highly skilled with numbers and took great pride in managing and saving her money, often remarking that “her money looked just as good in her pocket as it does in yours.”

Hobbies and Enjoyments

Sherlean was also an avid reader who valued staying informed, regularly reading Consumer Reports, Mayo Clinic newsletters, and Harvard publications. She enjoyed visiting garage and yard sales, typically for what she described as a “quick look.”

During her more active years, she found joy in bowling, gardening, and spending time outdoors. She was well known in her neighborhood for walking her beloved Pomeranian, Bella. In her leisure time, she enjoyed word searches, Sudoku, and puzzles and collected items such as baseball cards, marbles, Trolls, Matchbox cars, and Garfield stuffed animals.

She was also a talented baker, best known for her sweet potato pies, which became a cherished staple at family gatherings and were loved by all who had the pleasure of tasting them.

Faith

Sherlean loved the Lord and was a faithful member of Galilee Baptist Church in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Family

Sherlean was preceded in death by her grandmother, Sallie Lawhorn; her parents; her husband, Earl Nutter; her child, Jamila Bukar; her grandchild, Jamila Yasmin; and three (3) siblings: Charles Hinton, Cassandra Faye Lanier Conner, and Mattie Johnson.

She leaves to cherish her memory the following loved ones:

A daughter, Katrine “Kay” (Alloys) Cabell of Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Ten (10) brothers: Ozie (Eunice) Hinton of Dayton, Ohio; Walter (Sandra) Dickerson of Little Rock, Arkansas; Jimmy Dean Hinton of Pickensville, Alabama; Willie J. (Pat) Lanier of New Jersey; Willie C. Lanier of New Jersey; Samuel Lanier Sr. of Aliceville, Alabama; Carter Frison of Aliceville, Alabama; Rev. Larry Lanier of Carrollton, Alabama; Ricky (Teresa) Lanier of Tuscaloosa, Alabama; and Rodney (Emma) Lanier of Gordo, Alabama.

Eleven (11) sisters: Sallie Prude of Kalamazoo, Michigan; Cedonia (Cornelius) Smith of Queens, New York; Annie P. Wiggins of New Jersey; Emma Summerville of South Carolina; Katie Barber Forte’ of Carrollton, Alabama; Olevia (Otha) Witherspoon of Carrollton, Alabama; Jennifer (James) Gavin of Tuscaloosa, Alabama; Eula “Dell” Lanier (Joe Graves) of Eutaw, Alabama; Ruby (Ricky) Clark of Columbus, Mississippi; Wanda (Carl) Woods of Carrollton, Alabama; and Brenette (Arthur) Gardner of Huntsville, Alabama.

A very special great-aunt, Corine Green of Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Ten (10) grandchildren: Audrea (David) Clarke of Fredericksburg, Virginia; Kashim (Ameena) Bukar of Indianapolis, Indiana; Sadiq (Miaa Fisher) Bukar of Columbus, Ohio; Brishen (Elizabeth) Miller of Morrisville, Pennsylvania; Barsen Miller of Kalamazoo, Michigan; Iyakolo (Ali Shafie) Bukar of Dallas, Texas; Bashir (Kendra) Bukar of Dallas, Texas; Zainaba Bukar of Kalamazoo, Michigan; Bazsa Miller of Kalamazoo, Michigan; and Beigh Morgan of Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Twenty-two (22) great-grandchildren: Ali Kashim, Hawwa, Nana, Aisha, Ali Mohammed, Jamila Annam, Hafsah, Sadiq Ali, Micki, Gunnari, AJ, Mufti, Bilal, Ameenah, Jameelah, Muhammad, Shamar, Elijah, Zainaya, Jaleel, Gabriella, and Bazsa James.

A host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends..