And with Robert McFerrin's spirited rendition of "Ride On, King Jesus," St. Louisans bid a fond farewell to the last of a dying breed: a genuine Renaissance man. He had a strong commitment to St. Louis in general and its black community in particular. He often said we should all try to leave this place better than we found it. He certainly tried.
B r o t h e r D R . J O H N R. WATSON was b o r n on September 1, 1942, in Boley, Oklahoma. He passed away June 14, 1987, at St. Anthony Hospital. Ron was joined in Holy Matrimony to Carolyn Powell on August 29, 1965, and to this u n i o n o n e child w a s born, John Ronald Watson, II. A 1964 graduate of Langston University, Langston, Oklahoma, Ron was the second b l a c k g r a d u a t e from t h e University of Oklahoma School of Medicine in 1971. He completed his Internship and Residency at Harlem Hospital Center in New York from 1971 through 1974. He was Medical Director of the Alcohol and Detoxification Center in Harlem Hospital a n d Instructor of Clinical Medicine at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital from 1974 through 1977. He returned to Oklahoma, his home state, to continue his professional career as an Internist at HCA Presbyterian Hospital, Oklahoma City. He was licensed to practice medicine in the States of Oklahoma, New York, and Florida. His professional affiliations included: Southern Medical Association; American Medical Association; Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity; University of O k l a h o m a Alumni Association, O k l a h o m a C o u n t y Medical Association; Oklahoma State Medical Association; and Oklahoma City Med-De-Phar Society. Ron was selected by the United States Jaycees as one of ten recipients of the 1979 Outstanding Young Men of America, and his biography was published in their awards volume. At an early age, Ron was baptized at the Union Baptist Church in Shawnee, Oklahoma. On December 17, 1968, Ron was confirmed in the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer, Oklahoma City. Ron leaves to cherish his memory his wife, Carolyn and son, John; his mother, Alta Watson; brother, Kenneth Watson; sister, Glenda Watson Moss; nephew, Daniel of Clev., Hgts., Oh. Aunts-Lylah Hankins; Loyce Tucker; Johnetta Barbara; Myrtle Graham; Dora Thomas; Elmar Bowman and a host of other relatives and friends. + +
Brother JIMMIE LEE WHITE was born December 13, 1920 to Will & Georgia Ann White of Texarkana, Arkansas. H e w a s a g r a d u a t e of Booker T. Washington High School of Texarkana and went on to attend Arkansas State U n i v e r s i t y in P i n e Bluff, Arkansas where he lettered in football. After receiving his Bachelor's Degree, he entered the Armed Services a n d fought in t h e E u r o p e a n Theater during World War II. T h e S p h i n x / S p r i n g 1989
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After his discharge from the army, Mr. White furthered his education by obtaining a Master of Science Degree in Dairy Science from Michigan State University in East Lansing. He began his professional career by heading the Southern University Dairy Dept. in Baton Rouge, La. There, he met Vanilla Potter a n d t h e y w e r e m a r r i e d A u g . 6, 1949 in Manchester, Kentucky at Miss Potter's parents home. The couple then moved to Langston, Oklahoma where Mr. White taught in the Agricultural Dept. for 35 yrs. until his retirement in May of 1986. Mr. White is survived by his wife, Vanilla White, three sons, Jimmie White of Checotah, Okla., Robert White of New York, New York and Paul White of Manchester, Ky., two daughters, Clarice Wiggins of Lexington, Ky. and Mary Ann Phifer of Charleston, West Virginia. He has four grandchildren, Jimmie White III, Evelyn White, Steven Wiggins and Mathew Wiggins. He is also survived by one brother, James White of San Francisco, Calif, and two sisters, Rosebell Lauderdale and Thalia Bethel, both of Los Angeles, Calif. Mr. White was very active in civic and church organizations, a m o n g t h e m were St. Marys, Guthrie, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., the American Legion, Boy Scouts of America, the NAACP, the Negro Future Farmers of America and the Knights of Columbus. He served on the Board of Directors for the Langston Credit Union and the Langston Housing Authority. He also served on the Langston School Board and at his death, he was the Langston City Treasurer. + +
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Brother HENRY FRANKLIN VINCENT (H.F.V.) WILSON was the second of five sons b o r n to Prof. B. T. a n d Harriette Jeffries Wilson in Seguin, Texas, June 7, 1900. He departed this life on May 1, 1988 in a local hospital. His early years were spent on a small college campus in S e g u i n . L a t e r t h e family moved to Waco, Texas where he received his early education. H e recieved his A.B. degree from Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee. In 1946, he received his M.A. degree in School Administration from the University of Michigan. His t e a c h i n g e x p e r i e n c e i n c l u d e d s e v e n t e e n years as Mathematics instructor at Douglass High School, Ardmore, seven years as principal of Carver High School in Hominy, Oklahoma. He returned to Ardmore and served as principal of Douglass High School from 1951 to 1969. He served as Carter County Superintendent of Schools from 1971 to 1973. Mr. Wilson was a m e m b e r of many organizations a n d committees including the A r d m o r e United Way, H u m a n Relation a n d Job Placement, Ardmore Kiwanis, Southern Oklahoma Development Association, Big Five Community Action Services, and a life member of the Ardmore Chamber of Commerce. He was a member of First Baptist Church and served on the Deacon and Trustee Boards. He held memberships in the Carter County Retired Teachers Assoc, Oklahoma Education Assoc, and the National Education Assoc. He was a life member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. On June 2, 1932, he married Audrey Augusta Aarons of Pensacola, Florida. They have one son, Henry F. V. Wilson, Jr. of Arlington, Texas. He is survived by his wife Audrey of the home, a son, Henry, and a daughter-in-law, Martha; two grandchildren, Anthony and Nicole of Arlington, Texas; two brothers, J. J. Wilson, Waco, Page 43