Sharon Frances ‘Sissy Wah-Poo’ Philemon

Sharon was born in Hannahville on Sept. 5, 1957, daughter of, Henry “Hank” and Lena (Meshigaud) Philemon Sr. She received her GED in 1991 and attended Bay College and Bay Mills Community College.

She worked in various departments at Hannahville Indian Community, bingo runner/caller, cashier, blackjack dealer, telephone switchboard and Hannahville Nah Tah Wahsh School Chapter 1 program office secretary and tribal court.

She served on Potawatomi Gathering and Pow Wow Committee, school board, housing board, child welfare community and Tribal Council.

Sharon loved to go to the casino and play bingo, attend concerts and listen to music, especially country music. Ronnie Milsap, Alan Jackson, Johnny Rivers were among her favorites and she was a HUGE fan of George Strait and Elvis. She loved attending and listening to Pow Wow music and spending most of her free time with her kids, grandkids, and family friends playing dice, cards and board games. She enjoyed baking with her granddaughters and loved watching her beloved Packers.

Among survivors are her daughter, Kelli Jackson of Hannahville; sons, Jeremiah Jackson of Hannahville and Randy Philemon of Powers; stepson, Russell “Ralph” Little of Hannahville; 12 grandchildren whom she cherished, loved deeply and who were her pride, joy and her world, Logan, Jazlyn, Liliann, Grayson, Kaiden, Anthony “Tony”, Lena, Jack, Nicholas, Angelina, Keshia and Kaide, all of Hannahville; brothers, Leon “Beehop”, Alan “Barney”, Henry Philemon Jr., and Jerry Ingraham, all of Hannahville; sisters, Elizabeth Miller of Indiana and Margaret (Ernie) Borlace of Ishpeming; sisters-in-law, Earlene (Carl Ohlen) Jackson and Alicia (Norman) Priebe of Escanaba. She is also survived by her nieces and nephews, Michelle (Marco A.) Philemon, Betsy (Kino) Trudeau, Brenda (Jesse) Rangle, Debbie Louis, Christine (Rob) Kroes, Michael (Stephanie) Philemon, Parker (Brittany) Trudeau, Joshua Jackson, Jared (Meshelle) Jackson, Scott Philemon, Henry III Philemon and Cody Miller; and cousins, Audrey Gamez, Charlene (Dave) Teeple, Marilyn Shawano, Lois (Fritz) Tovar, Gordon “Chuck” and Allen “Butch” Megenuph.

In addition to her parents, Sharon was preceded in death by the love of her life, Russell Ralph Wandahsega; children, Christina and James Jackson; stepdaughter, Jenny Little; siblings, William “Willy Plum” and Loren Philemon and Clay LaVeau, Pauline Louis, Lynn “Lolly” Philemon and Vivian (Mare) Trudeau; aunt, Charlotte Megenuph; uncle, Amos Megenuph; and nephews, Leroy Wandahsega, Warren George Megenuph Jr., Travis and Trevor Trudeau.

Visitation will be on Wednesday, Feb. 14, beginning at 4 p.m. at the Hannahville Community Center. The funeral service will follow on Thursday at 10 a.m. Burial will take place in the Hannahville Cemetery.

The Crawford Funeral Homes are assisting the Philemon family.