Michael Anthony Pitts

A Celebration Remembering the Life of Mr. Michael Anthony Pitts, of Lithonia, Georgia, formerly of Vincent, Alabama will be held on Saturday, November 20, 2021, at 1 p.m. at Liberty Christian Church with Pastor Theoangelo Perkins officiating. Interment will commence immediately following the services in Bakers Grove Church Cemetery. There will be a public viewing for Mr. Pitts at the church one hour prior to the service. Professional services entrusted to S.M. Goodson Funeral Home and Crematory-Talladega. Michael Anthony Pitts was born in Pell City, Alabama to Janie Hamilton Pitts and William Mallory, who preceded him in death. As a child, he attended Vincent Elementary School and later moved to Baltimore, Maryland where he was raised by his mother, Janie, and father, Richard Pitts. He attended Rock Glen Junior High School where he played Little League Baseball. He graduated from Baltimore Poly Technical Institute High School where he played lacrosse, junior and varsity football. He played college football for the University of Alabama under legendary Paul "Bear" Bryant where he was a 4-year letterman for the "Crimson Tide," and a member of the 1979 National Championship Team. Michael was recognized as an All-American and a selection to the All- Southeastern Conference. He was selected in the first round of the 1983 NFL Draft and played 12 seasons as a defensive end and tackle for teams that included the Atlanta Falcons, Philadelphia Eagles, and New England Patriots football teams. After he retired from the NFL, he was a recruiting coordinator and coached defensive line for Morehouse College under two head coaches, Doug Williams and Anthony Jones. Michael was an assistant defensive line coach and quality control coach for the NFL Cleveland Browns Football Club under Coach Chris Palmer. Later, he became defensive line coach, Men and Women's Track and Field teams coach, and subsequently interim head coach at Morris Brown College. He enjoyed serving as a volunteer defensive line high school football coach where his two children, Michael, Jr. and Phia, attended Alpharetta High School, and was certified by the Georgia High School Association. He assisted his wife, Gena, with helping her to develop the Professional Sports Wives Association, publish Professional Sports Lives Magazine, a trade publication for the leagues and team, and co-host their radio show, and most recently help start Domestic Wellness League, a non-profit to help youth and peers with mental health. While in between coaching jobs, he worked at Mud Pie, a gift wear company, as a fork-lift operator. Michael was dedicated, loyal, highly motivated with unparalleled work ethics. He was a family man with good morals and character and will be missed dearly. He loved to fish, travel to visit family, watch TV including sports with former coaches and cousins. He was an avid Atlanta Braves fan like his grandfather, James Hamilton. Michael enjoyed listening to music, grilling, cooking, doing handy man jobs, and attending high school games to watch his nephews and cousins play football and basketball. He leaves to cherish his memory, wife, Eugenie (Gena); son, Michael, Jr.; daughter, Phia Noelle; father, Richard Pitts; sisters, Rena Pitts, Joycelyn (Charlie) Evans, and Yvette (James) Nelson; sister-in-law, Jacqueline (Jackie) James; brothers, Darryl (Sundra) Mallory, Reginald Mallory, and Larry Hamilton; aunts, Bernice Threatt and Wilma Hamilton; uncles, Charles (Eloice) Hamilton and Paul Hamilton; nieces and nephews, Yasmin (Yummy), Deirra, Donnell, Tekoya, Jasma, Shawn, Maryon, Marteshia, Markeese, and LaShari; a host of great-nieces and nephews; cousins; former college and NFL teammates; former coaches; co-workers; and friends. S.M. Goodson Funeral Home and Crematory Talladega Sheffton M Goodson 256.480.3177