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IN LOVING MEMORY OF
Cleophus Calhoun,
Jr.
October 30, 1932 – February 10, 2012
Obituary
The Early Years:
Junior grew up as the eldest of Little Buddy and Carrie Bell's children. For the first years of his life, the family's home house was in an old grove of pecan trees. They later moved to live on the main road in the white house with the blue trim. He confessed Christ and joined the Mount Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church where he remained a member his entire life. He loved listening to stories at his grandpa, Romie Calhoun's knee. As the years passed, his siblings came along, MG (Willie Mae Acree), Willie C. (Eddie Mae Ford), James (Henrietta McClain), Pearlie Bell (Raymond Mobley), Richard, (deceased) (Ardell Riggins), Lillie C. (Simon Peter Mosely, deceased), Louvenia (Johnny Caison, deceased) and Albert Jones.
As a young boy, Junior attended Rockdale School in Camilla where by all accounts he was a curious and bright student who had a thirst for knowledge. As it often happened in those days, he would miss school to work on the family farm during the planting and harvesting seasons.
As it was he group up in a loving, hard-working family. The family strived but four siblings passed in childhood; RC, Carrie Lue, Siely and Rosa Lee who even after long years were still remembered.
Into Manhood:
He often spoke of growing up, driving the family's car, a 1949 Ford. He traveled the dirt roads of Mitchell and Dougherty Counties with his brother and cousins. One Sunday afternoon, while out riding with his brother MG, they stopped by a house where many young people had gathered. He met a beautiful young woman named Ola Mae Blackshear of Putney, Georgia. The story goes that he told her right after meeting that she would become his wife. A little over a year later, they were married on December 24, Christmas Eve 1952.
He was drafted into the Army in 1953 to serve his country during the Korean Conflict. He served for two years, received an honorable discharge and soon returned home to Greenough. In recognition of his service he received two medals; the National Defense Service Medal and the Army of Occupation Medal (Germany). He would often speak of his service in the military as a turning point in his life.
After returning home and settling down with his wife, he attended Albany Vocational Technical School using his GI Bill monies to take up Masonry and Mechanics. As the years passed, he worked and honed his skills. For over 25 years he was self-employed as a brick mason and subcontractor with Rushton Brothers Construction, Albany, Georgia. Many buildings throughout Dougherty, Lee and Mitchell Conties have his stamp of precision and quality of work; to include, his own home (destroyed by a tornado in March of 2004) and the present day Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church. His brother, Richard who worked alongside him for many years learned the masonry trade from him. Through the years he hired many young men as laborers and taught them about the benefits of hard work.
He had valued contemporaries Henry Ward and E. C. Tolbert (both deceased) and Dave Freeman. He shared a special relationship with his father. He would cross the road every evening to visit him. His father, his closest friend passed in September of 1998.
He was a servant of the Lord. He worked in the church through the years. "Having been chosen one of good report, full of the Spirit and of wisdom," and capable of using the office well, was set apart publicly to the office and work of Deacon. He was ordained a Deacon on August 28, 1983.
Lord, thank you for life being as well with us as it was:
In many ways, he was ahead of his time, a man-child born in the midst of the Great Depression. For in part he was a self-educated man; if he wanted to know how to do something, he would learn about it from a book. He was an avid reader and hunter. He had many prized bird dogs, which he cherished. He loved baseball (the Los Angeles Dodgers) and managed a team in the Greenough Community.
Many sought his counsel, he could be counted on to be straing-forwared and honest. At the height of the Civil Rights Movement in Mitchell County, he marched with others to ensure fair treatment and educational opportunities for all. He instilled in his own children his life-long love of learning. He was determined to give them the formal education that passed him by; for Junior and Ola Mae's children it was "Albany State or nowhere." He was a proud parent of four Albany State graduates: a mathematician, an assistant principal, a dentist (Lieutenant Colonel) and a Senior Army Officer (Lieutenant Colonel) both active duty.
During 59 years of married life, Cleophus and Ola Mae raised four children, Shurmain (Marvin Broadwater), Shurlane (Kennith Josey), the twins, Stephanie (Simuel Jamison), and Stephon (Tangela Wimberly).
Granddaddy (Dai's) promise for the future:
Grandchildren came along of whom he would share his enduring love and expectations: Marvin, Marques, Elyse, Kenny, Stephon, Maya, Simuel, Morgan, Stedman, Sydney, and Shelby (deceased). Great-grandchildren: Zion and Marvin III, and the legacy continues...
The Evening Years:
He retired from masonry in 1983. His health began to fail a few years ago and many caring people came into Mr. Calhoun's life and eased his journey; to them, we are forever grateful. He remained strong-willed and determined; a loving father husband and father. He passed away on Friday, February 10th at the Mitchell County Hospital at the age of 79. His presence will be missed by his wife, children, siblings, and a host of relatives and friends.
The Funeral Service
The funeral service of Cleophus Calhoun, Jr., will be conducted Saturday, February 18, 2012, at 11:00 a.m., at Mount Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church, 6990 Palm Road, Camilla with Reverend George Tift, officiating.
Visitation will be at the Robert Jester Mortuary on Friday, February 17, 2012, from 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Pallbearers
Honorary Pallbearers will be Deacons of Mount Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church and his grandsons. Active pallbearers will be his nephews.
Committal
The committal service will follow in New Salem Baptist Church Cemetery in Baconton, Georgia, with full military honors.
Footprints
One night I had a dream--
I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord
and across the sky flashed scenes from my life.
For each scene I noticed two sets of footprints,
one belonged to me and the other to the Lord.
When the last scene of my life flashed before me,
I looked back at the footprints in the sand.
I noticed that many times along the path of my life,
there was only one set of footprints.
I also noticed that it happened at the very lowest
and saddest times in my life.
This really bothered me and I questioned the Lord about it.
"Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you,
you would walk with me all the way,
but I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life
there is only one set of footprints.
"I don't understand why in times when I needed you most,
you should leave me."
The Lord replied, "My precious, precious child,
I love you and I would never, never leave you
during your times of trial and suffering.
"When you saw only one set of footprints,
it was then that I carried you."
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