Gene Autry Belk was born on May 4, 1941 in Lancaster, SC to Dewitt and Irene Belk. He graduated from the Detroit Public School system and started his working career selling newspaper subscriptions, where he won many awards and trips. He moved on to become a driver at the Detroit Department of Public Works. He joined the Detroit Police Department in 1975 and became the first African American Flight Instructor in the Aviation Section and was District Officer of the year for the Detroit Police Officers Association for District 16 in 2001. He retired from the Detroit Police Department shortly after. In his retirement he was Chief Pilot for Lee Steel Corporation and Pilot for the Traffic Helicopter for Fox2 News.  Gene's first love was flying and he earned the highest rating of Airline Transport Pilot. He also loved cowboy movies and taking trips to Las Vegas.

Gene shared two children, Sherry and Christopher with his former spouse, Mary K. Belk. In 1970, Gene and Irma married and one child, Geneece Belk was born from this union.

Gene made his transition on Monday, September 7, 2020 and will be missed dearly. He leaves to cherish his memory, son, Christopher; granddaughter, Kiara (Will); grandson, Devan; great-granddaughter, Charli; sister Perttia; brother Steven; Aunt Constance Crockett; special cousins, Josephine Horton and Pamela Roach (Clift Sr.) and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

He is preceded in death by his parents, DeWitt and Irene Belk, his daughters, Sherry Belk and Geneece Belk, his wife, Irma Belk, and brother Bill Belk.