Taufiqah "Fannie" Mubarak
March 15, 2021
Taufiqah Fannie Grimmett Mubarak was born June 30, 1941 to the late Green and Ruth Grimmett in Hamtramck, Michigan. She attended Kasha & Dwyer Elementary School and graduated with honors from Northern High School in Detroit, MI.
Fannie was a very active young lady. Even though her father was very strict and a serious disciplinarian, it was said Fannie was a social butterfly. While attending school she was captain of the cheerleaders. Joining and attending Springhill Missionary Baptist Church, she was lead soloist in the choir. And, with such a beautiful voice, Fannie was recruited by Motown Records. Of course, Dad put his foot down with a serious NO.
Fan had some very interesting life experiences. One occurred while she was working for Kresge Department Store in Detroit. As a cashier, she was approached by an armed robber demanding her to open the register. Fan replied with an emphatic "No" and told the robber to come back in 20 minutes when a "white" cashier would be there to replace her. Since she was getting married and was afraid that Management would think that she put the man up to stealing the money for her upcoming wedding. Well, he would not leave and finally opened the register himself!
At age 24, Fan met her future husband and the love of her life, Arthur Geter Jr. at Selfridge Air Force National Guard Base in Michigan. at that time it was customary for church groups to provide transportation for young black women to the base to socialize with the black airmen.
Five years later, August 28, 1963, Fan and Arthur married. Prior to the wedding, Fan made hotel reservations for her wedding party. Of course, the reservations were cancelled once they arrived. Fan didn't skip a beat. She immediately switched to survivor mode and found overnight accommodations for her family and friends. The next day following the wedding the newlyweds moved to Newark, New Jersey. Shortly thereafter they converted to the Islam Religion as Taufiqah and Ahmad Mubarak. Later in 2009, her and her husband, Ahmad, traveled to Saudi Arabia to make Hajj, a once in a lifetime event.
Life was moving fast for Taufiqah. February 6, 1967, a daughter, Aleyah was born. The same year, as a birthday gift, Ahmad purchased a house for Taufiqah and the family moved to Scotch Plains, New Jersey. A second daughter, Sabrinah, was born June 5, 1970.
Taufiqah worked a short while at Prudential Insurance Company in Scotch Plains. Began her college studies at Essex County College in nursing. It was not long before Taufiqah realized nursing was not for her. She fainted at the first site of a cadaver and immediately switched to a teaching career. Taufiqah obtained an Associate Degree from Essex County College in 1976; a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Early Childhood Education in 1978; and a Master of Arts Degree in Early Childhood Education in 1993 both from Kean College. She remained a teacher for 25 years until her retirement in 2005.
Active in many organizations, Taufiqah was a member of the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA); National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa Inc. Epsilon Alpha Chapter; Xinos; Sister2Sister New Jersey; and, a Lifetime Member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).
Taufiqah loved to travel and didn't let her professional life keep her and the family home. Traveling to Hershey Park, Disneyland, the Geter Family Reunions in Florida, the Marable Family Reunions to Tuskegee and other trips all across the world. Everyone hated them but Mom mandated it. Aleyah cried until she became physically ill, Sabrinah tailed behind, and Ahmad fussed. Despite the issues, Mom pulled them through and everyone enjoyed each and every trip. Later in life, Taufiqah and Ahmad enjoyed road trips every year to Ocean City, Maryland for the Annual Ocean City Custom Car Show and frequent road trips to many different parts of the US. Then, it was International travel visiting Dubai, Oman, Hawaii, Mexico, England and cruising to Alaska, Italy, Rome, Spain, Cuba and up the Nile. Such memories!
Taufiqah and Ahmad were lifelong partners and companions that spanned a 58-year love affair, which was cut short following a nine year battle with breast cancer. On March 11, 2021, Taufiqah was called home to join her mom and dad, Ruth and Green Grimmett, sister Bernice Grimmett, and brother Aaron Grimmett. She leaves to mourn and cherish her memory, her husband Ahmad Mubarak; her children Aleyah Mubarak and Sabrinah Mubarak; her sisters Dorothy Jordan, Annie Grimmett, and Vickie Stamps (Aubrey); sister-in-laws Fredna Grimmett (Aaron's wife), Sherli McKinnie; brother-in-law Lee Geter (Pat); God sister Pat Alston-Wopt (Alvin). Dearest lifelong friends Etta Ray and LailaBey; Aunt Rosa Lee Fields and Uncle Charles Marable; nieces and nephews Robert Jordan Jr., Alberta Jordan Rigsby (William), Tonya Brown (Derwin), Aaron Grimmett, Jada Walker, Wendy Bailey (Michael), Vikki Pawlowicz (Tommie), Kim McKinnie, Sherri Montgomery (Blair), Kevin Geter (Claritza) and a host of great and great-great nieces and nephews, cousins, and friends.
Fannie was a very active young lady. Even though her father was very strict and a serious disciplinarian, it was said Fannie was a social butterfly. While attending school she was captain of the cheerleaders. Joining and attending Springhill Missionary Baptist Church, she was lead soloist in the choir. And, with such a beautiful voice, Fannie was recruited by Motown Records. Of course, Dad put his foot down with a serious NO.
Fan had some very interesting life experiences. One occurred while she was working for Kresge Department Store in Detroit. As a cashier, she was approached by an armed robber demanding her to open the register. Fan replied with an emphatic "No" and told the robber to come back in 20 minutes when a "white" cashier would be there to replace her. Since she was getting married and was afraid that Management would think that she put the man up to stealing the money for her upcoming wedding. Well, he would not leave and finally opened the register himself!
At age 24, Fan met her future husband and the love of her life, Arthur Geter Jr. at Selfridge Air Force National Guard Base in Michigan. at that time it was customary for church groups to provide transportation for young black women to the base to socialize with the black airmen.
Five years later, August 28, 1963, Fan and Arthur married. Prior to the wedding, Fan made hotel reservations for her wedding party. Of course, the reservations were cancelled once they arrived. Fan didn't skip a beat. She immediately switched to survivor mode and found overnight accommodations for her family and friends. The next day following the wedding the newlyweds moved to Newark, New Jersey. Shortly thereafter they converted to the Islam Religion as Taufiqah and Ahmad Mubarak. Later in 2009, her and her husband, Ahmad, traveled to Saudi Arabia to make Hajj, a once in a lifetime event.
Life was moving fast for Taufiqah. February 6, 1967, a daughter, Aleyah was born. The same year, as a birthday gift, Ahmad purchased a house for Taufiqah and the family moved to Scotch Plains, New Jersey. A second daughter, Sabrinah, was born June 5, 1970.
Taufiqah worked a short while at Prudential Insurance Company in Scotch Plains. Began her college studies at Essex County College in nursing. It was not long before Taufiqah realized nursing was not for her. She fainted at the first site of a cadaver and immediately switched to a teaching career. Taufiqah obtained an Associate Degree from Essex County College in 1976; a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Early Childhood Education in 1978; and a Master of Arts Degree in Early Childhood Education in 1993 both from Kean College. She remained a teacher for 25 years until her retirement in 2005.
Active in many organizations, Taufiqah was a member of the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA); National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa Inc. Epsilon Alpha Chapter; Xinos; Sister2Sister New Jersey; and, a Lifetime Member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).
Taufiqah loved to travel and didn't let her professional life keep her and the family home. Traveling to Hershey Park, Disneyland, the Geter Family Reunions in Florida, the Marable Family Reunions to Tuskegee and other trips all across the world. Everyone hated them but Mom mandated it. Aleyah cried until she became physically ill, Sabrinah tailed behind, and Ahmad fussed. Despite the issues, Mom pulled them through and everyone enjoyed each and every trip. Later in life, Taufiqah and Ahmad enjoyed road trips every year to Ocean City, Maryland for the Annual Ocean City Custom Car Show and frequent road trips to many different parts of the US. Then, it was International travel visiting Dubai, Oman, Hawaii, Mexico, England and cruising to Alaska, Italy, Rome, Spain, Cuba and up the Nile. Such memories!
Taufiqah and Ahmad were lifelong partners and companions that spanned a 58-year love affair, which was cut short following a nine year battle with breast cancer. On March 11, 2021, Taufiqah was called home to join her mom and dad, Ruth and Green Grimmett, sister Bernice Grimmett, and brother Aaron Grimmett. She leaves to mourn and cherish her memory, her husband Ahmad Mubarak; her children Aleyah Mubarak and Sabrinah Mubarak; her sisters Dorothy Jordan, Annie Grimmett, and Vickie Stamps (Aubrey); sister-in-laws Fredna Grimmett (Aaron's wife), Sherli McKinnie; brother-in-law Lee Geter (Pat); God sister Pat Alston-Wopt (Alvin). Dearest lifelong friends Etta Ray and LailaBey; Aunt Rosa Lee Fields and Uncle Charles Marable; nieces and nephews Robert Jordan Jr., Alberta Jordan Rigsby (William), Tonya Brown (Derwin), Aaron Grimmett, Jada Walker, Wendy Bailey (Michael), Vikki Pawlowicz (Tommie), Kim McKinnie, Sherri Montgomery (Blair), Kevin Geter (Claritza) and a host of great and great-great nieces and nephews, cousins, and friends.