Lenetta Kay Harris

Lenetta Kay Harris, commonly referred to as Kay by family and close friends, was peacefully welcomed into her Heavenly home, surrounded with love by her daughter, family, and friends, on Thursday, March 12, 2026, at the age of 79, in Lansing, Michigan.

Lenetta was born in Muskegon, MI to father Moses and mother Nathaniel (Nae) Harris (Kimble) on August 16, 1946. Shortly thereafter, Nae moved the family to Lansing where Lenetta would go on to graduate from J.W. Sexton High School in 1964. Lenetta was active in various causes including the Civil Rights Movement and began courses at Lansing Community College, earning an accounting certificate. Lenetta devoted her professional life to public service and began her career in Payroll Services at Michigan State University in the mid-1960s before joining the State of Michigan in the late 1960s. Throughout her time in state government, Lenetta served as a financial analyst and would work in various departments including Corrections and Lottery before retiring from the Department of Technology, Management, and Budget in 2003 after more than 30 years of dedicated state service.

In addition to being a devoted mother, sister, aunt, cousin, and friend, Lenetta truly loved her Lord and accepted Christ at an early age at Lansing Church of God in Christ where she attended for many years as well as New Jerusalem Church and Mount Hope Church in Lansing, MI. She enjoyed watching Spartan football and basketball, having traditional breakfast foods regardless of the time of day, classic movies, yard work and gardening, and the Golden Girls, serving as Sophia to her daughter's Dorothy, in both height and love for one another. Everyone who, even briefly, encountered Lenetta noted her loving smile, warm spirit, and gentle heart.

Welcoming her to her Heavenly home are her parents as well as her older sister Ann Costa and brother-in-law Ernest Costa, and older brother Moses Harris Jr. and sister-in-law Marva Harris. Along with her only child, Jacqui Broughton, Lenetta is also survived by one niece, Kara A. Abdurrahim, six nephews: Todd (Heather) Gibson, Joseph (Annie) Harris, Demetrius Harris, Anthony Costa, David Costa, and Stephen Costa, a host of great-nieces and great-nephews, cousins, and two grandcats, Miss Luna Tuna R. Paws and Jordan M.C. Paws.

The family will receive friends and loved ones Wednesday, March 18, 2026 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Palmer, Bush, & Jensen Funeral Home - Delta Chapel, 6301 W. St. Joseph Hwy., Lansing, MI with a private service and interment at Evergreen Cemetery, Lansing, MI.

Lenetta's family extends their sincere gratitude to the staff of McLaren Greater Lansing for the wonderful care received and the staff of Fresenius Kidney Care for their care over the previous five years. In lieu of flowers, Lenetta requested donations to causes that have directly impacted the family to be made in her name, which includes the American Cancer Society and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.