A childless Detroit couple and their east-side church boost Detroit youth

Scott Talley
Special to the Free Press

Standing before the King of Kings Missionary Baptist Church congregation was a collection of well-dressed, well-spoken, well-educated young men, but the proudest person in attendance was a woman — Minner Latham. 

The eight past members of King of Kings’ Boys to Men Mentoring Ministry made their way back to the church on March 20, 2018, from destinations across the country to honor Minner’s late husband, Gerald, during his homegoing service. 

The young men, nearly all holders of college degrees and professional jobs, represented living proof of the values Gerald had instilled in them, values that bonded them as a family.

“They made me proud and they spoke about the uncle that he was to them,” said Minner, who 17 months later still got choked up talking about the young men’s presence at her husband’s service. “I know the service was really emotional for all of them because it took them a while to even start talking about Gerald, but they all did what they needed to do.”

Minner and Gerald Latham are seen in a wedding photograph. The couple spearheaded a scholarship program at their church, King of Kings on Detroit's east side.

Minner met Gerald in the cafeteria of what was then Manufacturers Bank at 411 W. Lafayette in 1978. The two were married by 1981 and they both went on to have long careers in banking. But their highest-impact community work and passion became supporting youth, especially at King of Kings on Detroit’s east side.

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250 young people helped

In addition to Gerald guiding young men through the Boys to Men Ministry, the Lathams spearheaded the church’s scholarship fund for more than a decade. Fueled largely by the Lathams’ generosity and belief that education can open doors for young people in Detroit, roughly $15,000 and counting has been given to more than 250 boys and girls through the scholarship fund since 2000. All done at a church with approximately 150 total members.

“They have been a tremendous asset to our ministry and I believe God sent them here just for that purpose because they have done so much for our young people,” said Pastor Michael Johnson, King of Kings’ spiritual leader, who began the scholarship fund 19 years ago by challenging 20 members to give $1 for 50 consecutive weeks. Little did he know that two members without biological children would do so much for so many youths, and for so long. 

Destini Powers, 18, and a soon-to-be freshman at Western Michigan University, holds up her scholarship award at the King of Kings Missionary Baptist Church on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2019 in Detroit. Minner Latham and her late husband, Gerald Latham, as well as others from their church made sure that each student from their congregation received a monetary gift for graduating on to the next grade as well as a scholarship to graduating high school seniors.

“More than just our scholarship program, Gerald and Minner gave of their time and used their financial resources to assist certain families in the church who would have kids and may not be able to get them school clothes or school supplies,” said Johnson, who named the scholarship fund after the founder of King of Kings, the Rev. Clyde Daniel Glass. “Gerald and Minner would assist families and they wouldn't show favoritism. Any and every child at the church was like their own.”

On a sunny, summer weekday in the west side home she shared with Gerald, Minner, joined by Pastor Johnson and his wife, Minister Sarah E. Johnson, explained how the love she and Gerald had for their biological nieces and nephews naturally spilled over to youth attending King of Kings. Because of that, the couple became known as “Auntie Minner” and “Uncle Gerald” to youth members at King of Kings.

But for one young man who was a part of Gerald’s homegoing service, the bond is even deeper.

King of Kings Missionary Baptist Church minister, Sarah Johnson anoints and prays for Keith Steel, 6, during a scholarship and certificate reception on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2019 in Detroit. Minner Latham and her late husband, Gerald Latham, as well as others from their church made sure that each student from their congregation received a monetary gift for graduating on to the next grade as well as a scholarship to graduating high school seniors.

“The one I have leaned on the most is Michael Ganzie, who Gerald and I call our ‘God-chosen son,’ said Minner. Ganzie came to Detroit when he was 12 years old via Tchula, Miss. “There is not a week that goes by that we don’t touch bases even still. He calls to make sure I’m OK. He’ll even say, ‘Mom, do you have gas in your car?’ and ‘Don’t let the gas tank go below half a tank.’ He’ll call and say stuff like that because those are the kind of things Gerald would say.”

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From mailroom to vice presidency

Through the words he speaks along with his deeds, Michael Ganzie is proudly following Gerald Latham’s lead. As the story is told among King of Kings family members, while working in the mailroom at Manufacturers Bank — fresh out of Cass Technical High School (Class of 1973) — and attending Wayne State University part time, Gerald observed the increased opportunities that came to bank employees who furthered their education. 

He would go on to earn a bachelor’s degree at Wayne State, which propelled his career climb. He retired in 2007 as a vice president at Flagstar Bank. Likewise, Ganzie, a 2004 graduate of Northern High School, has made the most of the scholarship support he received from King of Kings and the extensive nurturing he received from Gerald Latham. Ganzie earned an associate’s degree from Wayne County Community College District, a bachelor’s in psychology from Tiffin University and is considering grad school options at four universities in Ohio, where he works as a substance abuse therapist in the city of Springfield. 

“He saw something in me and he (treated) me as his son,” Ganzie said of Gerald Latham, who took Michael at age 16 on his first plane ride (a flight to Indiana for a banking conference) as a reward for making the honor roll. That same year the two would have an important conversation, which explains Ganzie’s care for Minner Latham today.

“I asked, 'Why did you choose me?'” Ganzie said. “And he said when I pass, you’re going to take care of my wife. He said it with so much conviction that there wasn’t even a question that this is what I would be doing. I would do myself a disservice to not take care of the person he loved the most. I do it to honor him.”   

Ganzie also is fond of sharing a few words that he says were often repeated by Gerald Latham when talking to youth: “winners find a way and losers make excuses.” 

Members of King of Kings Missionary Baptist Church prepare to head home after a scholarship and certificate ceremony on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2019 in Detroit. Minner Latham and her late husband, Gerald Latham, as well as others from their church made sure that each student from their congregation received a monetary gift for graduating on to the next grade as well as a scholarship to graduating high school seniors.

And on Aug. 10 this year, youth touched by King of Kings were once again celebrated and encouraged to be “winners” as the church hosted its first scholarship banquet since the passing of Gerald Latham due to complications from diabetes. Highlighting the day in the C.D. Glass Fellowship Hall was a $500 scholarship for Destini Powers, who is headed to Western Michigan University after graduating with honors from Renaissance High School. 

Minner Latham and her fellow scholarship committee members also served up certificates and special sealed envelopes with “cash incentives” for about 30 boys and girls from King of Kings and nearby Lord of Lords Christian Ministries. 

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Unconditional love

Powers became consumed with emotion while addressing the banquet audience, and was at a loss for words. However, a week earlier, at an open house event in her honor, Powers had no difficulties sharing her thoughts when asked about two special people: “I wish everyone had an Uncle Gerald and Auntie Minner in their life so that they can experience the same unconditional love that I have.”

Powers has aspirations of being a pediatrician or pediatric anesthesiologist, a dream that will play out in coming years. However, her desire that even more young people are touched by the same support system she had is likely to come to fruition much sooner if Minner Latham has her way.

“Because I have been in the corporate field, I know education is so important,” said Minner, a graduate of Southeastern High School who retired from Comerica Bank in 2012 as a supervisor in the Global Funds Transfer department after 35 years in the industry. “For the jobs we had coming out of high school, you need so much more today. Our kids need more than a high school diploma or an associate’s degree. That’s why my commitment is not only to my husband, but also to my people. You have to go out and make your mark in life and that requires you to have an education, so doing what I can to support this scholarship fund is ongoing for me.”