Marie Harper, affectionately known as Rita, was born January 11, 1947 in Cook County Hospital, Chicago, Illinois. She received her education at Hyde Park High School in Chicago. She worked for many years as a health care provider in Chicago before moving to Lansing, Michigan, where she continued her service in health care. She was preceded in death by : her mother, Alice Nelson. Marie made her transition on Wednesday, June 20, 2012 at 10:20 pm. She leaves to cherish her memory: two loving sons, Maurice Nelson and Harold Nelson; five sisters, Barbara Smith, Geraldine Shorter, Gloria Nelson, Doretha (Max) Moore and Lucinda (Jeff) Nelson, and our sixth sister, Freddie Tyner; six grandchildren, Brittany Bostic of Atlanta, Georgia, Maurice Nelson II, Xavier Nelson, Marissa Nelson, Teria Henley of Chicago, Illinois, and Natasha Lowrey; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and special friends. Visitation for Marie Harper will be Friday June 29, 2012 from 9-11:30 am at Riley Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held Friday June 29, 2012 at 12pm at Riley Funeral Home.