John Willie Roy

~Celebration Service~

Saturday, May 6, 2017 • 12:00 Noon

Midde Baptist Church - Whitehaven

801 Whitehaven Lane • Memphis, Tennessee 38116 Reverend Elatrice Ingram, Pastor Prelude Processional

Solo

Sister Vergeria Maclin

Scripture

Dr. Robert Gordon

Prayer

Reverend Elatrice Ingram

Expression with Markova Reed Anderson Eddie Harris Dale Early

Presentation from Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated President, Daryl Lewis

Reflections of our Father Karleen Roy

Solo

Sister Shirley Redden

Eulogy

Reverend Elatrice Ingram Parting View The Professional Staff of Harrison’s Memorial Chapel, Inc. Celebration of Life Immediately to Follow...

North Creek Golf Club 8770 N. Creek Blvd. • Southaven, Mississippi 38671

The Life and Legacy Of

John Willie Roy As the mist from the Mississippi River blanketed Monroe, LA.; as nature began to welcome the array of colors to usher in fall, the late John Henry Jones and the late Melinda Roy welcomed their little bundle of joy on September 15, 1941. They named him John which means gracious. John’s life would epitomize many of “ships.” As John grew into a young boy, he spent many days meandering around the bayous watching the “big ships” sail upon the muddy waters of the Mississippi River.

John’s mother, Melinda, decided to leave the Bayou State of Louisiana and relocate to St. Louis, Missouri.

Though John’s first encounter with ships came to an end, he would now be introduced to some of the ships of life. As John matriculated through the St. Louis Public Schools, he embraced and practiced ships of life such as penmanship, friendship, courtship, and relationship. John was a proud graduate of Vashon High School.

There were times in his life as a young man he longed to experience a ride on the “big ships” from his childhood. Fortunately, the military presented him with that longed-for opportunity.

In November 1961, during the summer of his life, John enlisted and served his country in the Navy while stationed at Great Lakes, IL. John rendered his service on the “big ships” until September 1965.

While serving in the Navy, John realized that education is the key to success. Therefore, after his honorable discharge from the Navy, John enrolled at Lincoln University in Jefferson City, MO with $15 to his name - a story he was proud to share. While at Lincoln, John pledge and became a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc - an “Alpha Man” in every sense of the word. He completed his pursuit of academic excellence in June 1969.

John not only pursued an education at Lincoln, but he also met the love of his life, Phyllis Marie Sims, as he delivered mail to the student dormitories as part of his school job. He would flirt and get her attention by saying, Hi Champ, his nickname for her which stayed forever.

This started a friendship that evolved into a relationship. The relationship eventually became a sparkling flame of love that resulted in marriage on January 31, 1970. With an awesome companionship for forty-seven years which spawned two beautiful children, Nicole Elaine and Karleen Denise.

This conscientious man of integrity embraced yet another of life’s ships –leadership. His initial venture into his lifelong love for the auto industry was a Field Manager for Ford Motor Company in Kansas City and St. Louis, MO. His prolific leadership skills were so profound that the former Chairman of Chrysler Corporation, Lee Iacocca recruited John to become one the company’s first African-American auto dealers in the 1980’s.

Once again, another one of life’s ships sailed for this up-and-rising businessman. Of course, this ship is entrepreneurship. This astounding man of valor opened Southland ChryslerPlymouth-Jeep-Eagle in August 1986 in Memphis, TN. His hard work and professionalism resulted in an expansion to another location, Southland Chrysler-Jeep of Southaven, MS.

This dealership was affectionately known as “The Good Guys on Goodman Road.”

As an experienced entrepreneur, John was consistently listed in the Black Enterprise’s Top 100 Automobile Dealers-thus leading him to be noted as past member of the Chrysler Minority Dealers Association, Mississippi Automobile Dealers Association, Greater Memphis Automobile Dealers Association and National Automobile Dealers Association.

John sincerely embraced worship. He became a member of Greater New Hope Baptist Church in East St. Louis, IL and later became a member of Middle Baptist Church (Whitehaven) where he loved attending Sunday School.

Sportsmanship was another life ship that John embraced. His love for the sport of baseball caused him to become an avid lifelong fan of the St. Louis Cardinals.

This generous man of valor was also charitable and community-minded. He supported the Memphis and Northwest Mississippi communities through organizations like Memphis City Schools, adopting Whitehaven High School as part of the Adopt a School program and the Desoto County Schools. He didn’t stop there; he also was an active, lifetime member of the NAACP. John’s ships of life were periodically interrupted by the death of loved ones; his mother, Melinda Roy and his youngest sister, Gladys Hamilton.

On April 27, 2017, at the age of 75, John relinquished all of his ships of life to step on board his final ship, The Old Ship of Zion, to set sail to his eternal destination.

John leaves his rich legacy to be carried on by his loving wife, Phyllis Sims-Roy (Memphis) and proud daughters, Nicole (Atlanta) and Karleen Roy (New York City), his sister, Betty Woodside (St. Louis) and sister-in-law, Michelle Bush (E. St Louis).

Extending his legacy, John is also survived by his niece, Falland Sims (Memphis), nephew, Courtland Bush (E. St. Louis, IL), and a host of other nieces, nephews, family, his God Daughter Leah Cooper Glover and “The Kelster” Kelli Jones Kincaid.

John will be terribly missed in the flesh by all who loved him, but his spirit and legacy will continue to live on…

Alzheimer’s disease is the sixthleading cause of death in the United States. Help us spread the word about Alzheimer’s and Dementia and get educated to know the signs to help a love one.

To Make a Tribute Donation in Honor of John W. Roy Alzheimer’s Association West Tennessee Office 713 S. Mendenhall Road Memphis, TN 38117 901.565.0011 www.alz.org

Endearing Memories of Our Father For the longest time, we thought our Dad’s name was “Roy Roy” since everyone, even Mom called him by his last name “Roy.” Dad would wake us up every day for school.

He would walk in our room and calmly say “Get up girls; it’s time to start stirring.”

Dad made Nicole give Karleen $20 out of each paycheck from her high school job.

He would say, “Nicole, you gotta take care of your sister.”

In college, Dad would open our mailed bank statements and highlighted every time we went out to eat or shopping. “Use the meal plan I paid for.”

Dad would always wake up every Sunday at 5 am to do the bills and listen to oldschool R&B classics.

Dad used to put powder on his feet every day; he was very particular about his feet; we are both now addicted to powder in the morning.

Dad taught us to make our bed military-style so a quarter could bounce off of it.

Dad used to call Karleen his “X” child because she never followed directions and did her own thing. Everyone called Nicole “Roy #2” because of her short patience and attitude.

If we ever brought take-out food home, we would go back to eat it in the fridge, and Dad would have already eaten it.

We started putting “DO NO TOUCH” on all take-out!

Every time the computer broke at home, Dad would blame Falland and Courtland for breaking it. He would leave a note for them, “Do Not Touch the Computer.”

Dad lived by the motto “Just Us,” But here we are today to celebrate him ...

ALL of us

Love, Nikki & Karleen

~Honorary Pallbearers~

Johnny Ash Brandon Benson Otis Braxton James Cooper Christopher Donaby Brian Moore Dr. Grady Saxton Howard Williams, Jr.

~Special Acknowledgements~

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Mid-South Alzheimer’s Association Lincoln University Metro Alumni Association Rusty Hensley, Esq. Gordon J. Kraus, MD Vawter, Gammon, Norris & Co.

~Interment & Committal Rites ~ Tuesday, May 9, 2017 • 1:00 P.M. Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery 2900 Sheridan Rd St. Louis, Missouri 63125

Distinctive Services by

3320 Millbranch Rd. Memphis, Tennessee 38116 901-452-7331 www.harrisonsfuneralhomeinc.com “There’s No Comparison To HARRISON” ~Since 1923~

901.351.0753 www.mysticalprinting.com info@mysticalprinting.com