Deacon John Elmore Program

Wednesday, November 28, 2021 @ 3:00 PM Antioch Baptist Church of Corona 103-02 Northern Blvd, Flushing, NY 11368 Reverend Dr. Marvin J. Bentley, Senior Pastor Hymn of Praise...................................................... “We’re Marching to Zion” Scripture.................................................... Old Testament & New Testament Prayer of Comfort....................................................................................

Reflections/Tributes (2 minutes please)................................ Family & Friends Musical Selection.......................................................... Patricia McLaughlin USHERS RITUAL Tributes/Resolutions...................................................... August Month Club

Male Ministry

Willing Workers Ministry

Couples Ministry

Ushers Ministry

Diaconate Board

Musical Selection.......................................................... Patricia McLaughlin

Resolution................................................. Antioch Baptist Church of Corona Reading of the Life Reflection..................................... Minister Andrea Taylor Musical Selection.......................................................... Patricia McLaughlin A Word of Comfort & Hope............................... Reverend Dr. Marvin J. Bentley Musical Selection................................ “We Shall Behold Him” - Bettie McGuire Benediction............................................................................................

Acknowledgements

Your words have comforted us; your support has strengthened us; and your love has sustained us.

We extend our deepest thanks to you for your kindness during our greatest sadness.

We appreciate it more than words can express, and it will always be remembered.

The Family Arrangements Entrusted To: Hill Funeral Services 100 Saint Nicholas Avenue, New York, NY 10026 Wilmick Hill (212)283-6500

Minister Lance Gray, Sr. (347) 680-6588

John William Elmore Jr, affectionately called “Johnny” was born August 13, 1943, in Greenwood, South Carolina to the late Emma Laura Arnold Green and the late Navy Reserve John William Elmore Sr. John was educated in the Greenwood Public Schools until he relocated and joined his mother in New York City. He continued his education at George Washington High School.

John’s first job took him to Eastman Kodak Co where he was a Forklift Truck Operator and became a pro at operating heavy devices. After working for the Taxi Maintenance Corp as a taxi driver, he landed a job as Personal Chauffeur for the CEO of David’s Cookies and his family who shared a personal and warm relationship with him. Upon leaving David’s Cookies, he was hired as a personal driver for the President and CEO of Zotos. He enrolled John into a Defensive Driving Course, where he received outstanding remarks and together, they became good friends and that friendship remained after John had left the company.

With his warm personality and skills, John became a personal driver and bodyguard to Actress Katherine Hepburn for 6 1/2 years, where they spent a lot of time at her home in Old Say Brook, Connecticut. They shared many great stories as they spent time with one another. She was protective of John as he was of her and made sure that wherever she went and stayed, the same was for John. He told about the incident when she was invited to her friend’s house in the Hamptons to spend the night. She asked where is John staying and it was said that there was no room for him so Katherine turned around and said, “well there is no room for me either” and told John, “Let’s go.”

When he left Katherine Hepburn’s employ, he became the personal driver and chauffeur for Steven Brill and family, the founder of Court TV. Although, he sold his company and became president of Brill Journalism Enterprises, LLC, he retained John as the family personal driver, for ten years because their needs changed as the children became older. He maintained contact with John who worked for him once a week during the Fall school term, where he taught at Yale University. John’s last Gig was December 2019.

On March 29, 1998, John became a faithful and dedicated member of the Antioch Baptist Church of Corona. And he was “off to the races”, loving it all. He immediately joined the Usher Board, as he stood at the door greeting everyone with that great big “infectious smile”, especially the elderly ladies, because he loved to make them laugh and feel good about themselves. He eventually was appointed as the Chief Usher by the Pastor but had reservations at first in taking the position and he said that the Pastor told him that this would be the first time a male would be in charge. He accepted and worked very hard at all times.

He became President of the August Club and worked just as hard. He pushed his members to do their very best and it resulted in them winning the Charles Auborne Cup for “three years, and it would not have ended there. He and his wife Ernestine became Deacons in 2012, where they served humbly. When they went out to give communion, there was one member, Lillie McMurray, whom he became friendly with and engage in conversation about certain types of food and eventually led to a conversation about “black eye peas” and how she would love to have a taste of it. Well, he cooked it for her and when he presented it to her, she was so excited and said she was not going to share and even when we went on another visit, she still spoke about the delicious taste of that black eye peas. He was a part of the Male Ministry and was always readily available when called upon to participate in the “Gentlemen’s Connoisseur” or cook breakfasts for Sister Friends Ministry and Mother’s Day. As you can see, he loved to be

in the kitchen and enjoyed every moment. He and his wife were also involved with the Couples Ministry, where they fellowship with other couples by meeting regularly, participating in various activities including the Couples Retreat.

Family was an integral part of John’s life where he showed his love and devotion to all by way of staying connected through visits, telephone calls and texts. He yearned for his family to attend church services regularly. When he hadn’t seen his children for a length of time, he would take a trip to visit them. They would gather for Family Reunions and celebrations in South Carolina or Springfield, Massachusetts. When John was introduced to his wife’s family and met her father for the first time in Charleston, SC, who was in the hospital at that time, gave a nod, smile and said, “he is the one.” It was instant love and affection between John and his wife’s family when they met. As we know, John loved to cook and share his scrumptious meals with others by entertaining. His biggest achievement in the kitchen was, when he discovered how to bake about 6 years ago. One day, he just stated that he wanted to bake a pound cake, but not “Duncan Hines”, so I told him to “google” and the rest is history. He was very proud of that accomplishment as he would receive orders or just share it with others. He also received different recipes from his aunt in South Carolina. On his birthday, he always baked a cake to celebrate. John love sitting at the dining table reading his Bible and meditating on God’s Word. In addition, for his love of gospel music, he also enjoyed country and western, jazz and needless to say R&B, because he just loves to dance.

John and Ernestine shared a very special love for each other. They complimented each other with lots of laughter and sharing warm and funny stories about their families and upbringing. They both love Broadway shows and would celebrate on different occasions. The last show they saw was “Ain’t Too Proud” for their Anniversary. One of their favorite hangout spots to celebrate was London Lennie’s on Woodhaven Blvd where John struck up a special friendship with the

owner. They have traveled to many places as far away as Alaska and as close as Delaware. They were a fun couple.

John’s relaxation time was watching “Westerns” over and over and over, i.e.

Gunsmoke, Bonanza, Rifleman, Cheyenne and many others. Being curious as to how someone could watch the same storyline, his answer was I might have missed something previously. He also enjoyed sports, Basketball, his favorite team: “Lebron,” Football, NY Giants and Baseball, NY Mets.

John lived in Lefrak City for many years and was well known in the neighborhood.

He would always invite someone to come to church. He was the floor captain for many years where they reside to make sure that the living conditions and surroundings were up to date. His presence would be missed as expressed by the neighbors.

After retiring, John enrolled at the New York Public Library’s Adult Learning Center at Seward Park to enhance his writing skills. He did so well that he was one of the few who were chosen to present his story “A Young Man’s Journey” (which is printed in this booklet), at an event held before hundreds of people.

That evening was one of his proudest accomplishments in his life.

On Friday, April 3, 2020 at 8:34 PM John transition from this earth to the deadly CO-VID 19 Virus, that has left a void and missing link of his generosity and love to family, friends and church family whom he shared his many gifts and talents.

John William Elmore, with his infectious smile, a man of God, a gentleman, who had a heart of gold and showed love and concern for others, particularly those who were less fortunate. He always wanted to give a helping hand.

His loving memories will be cherished by his wife, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, siblings, aunts, uncles-in-laws, nieces, nephews, sisters and brothers- in-law, and a host of other family and special friends.

Hello World, I am going to tell you a story about myself. I was born in a town named Greenwood, South Carolina. That town is famous for having the largest main street in the world. If you don’t believe me, you can always Google it. I was raised in a onehorse town called Cokesbury. It is about eight miles north of Greenwood. Around Cokesbury is what you call the farm; we raised all kinds of vegetables, potatoes, corn, pigs, cows, and chickens. If you wanted some meat, you would get your gun, go in the woods, find the wild game, kill it, clean it, bring it home, cook and eat it.

My grandmother raised 11 girls and 1 boy. After the boy and some of the girls had left home, she took in two grandkids, my brother and me. My grandmother worked so hard. She took care of the house, cooked, and cleaned. She even made some of our clothes and bed covers. We lived off the farm, and the little money my grandfather made from his job was just enough to buy the seed for the crops that would keep food on the table. It was hard living.

My brother and I did the farm work. My brother was lazy, and I had to do the work while he was sleeping under the tree. So, I wrote my mother a letter and asked her if I could come to New York, where she lived, and she gave me the green light. So now, I had to ask my grandmother. She knew it would be a loss of help on the farm, but she was afraid for me because she knew that a 15-year-old black kid who was big for his age and liked to speak his mind would cause a problem during those times of segregation in the South. She thought it would be safer to get out of town. There were separate laws based on skin color in those days. So, my grandmother gave me the green light. This was my special moment-I was going to the Big Apple!

That day, my grandmother made me a big lunch to take with me. This is what I mean by a big lunch: a shoe box with fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, com bread, com on the cob, sweet potato pie, collard greens, and a Mason jar of water from the well. Gramps and my brother took me to the bus station, and I was so happy to leave behind the hardships of country life. I boarded the bus (went straight to the back, where you had to sit if you were black) and gave a big wave, “See you later!” Gramps gave me a smile, but my brother didn’t look too happy.

As the bus went up the road, I started thinking about my brother. I knew I would miss him, but I was on my way now to New York.

It took about 18 hours to reach New York; that’s why my lunch was so big. The bus stopped in all these little hick towns on our way north, but if you were black, you weren’t allowed in some of those places. I carried five dollars in my pocket, but I saw signs that said, “No Niggers allowed.” That’s why black people carried their own food when they traveled back then.

Well, when I arrived in New York, it was good to see my mother, but it was just like jumping out of the frying pan into the skillet. My mother was with a man who was not my father. He didn’t like me very much, and I wasn’t crazy about him. He was the superintendent of the building where we lived in the basement. He put me to work right away. He gave me a mop and a bucket, took me to the sixth floor, and said, “Mop the stairs down to the first floor. Then clean all the windowpanes.”

But you have to keep living and keep moving. Life goes on, and you keep your spirits up.

Remember me with smiles not tears, For all the joy through all the years, Recall a closeness that was ours A love as sweet as fragrant flowers.

Don’t dwell on thought that cause you pain, We’ll see each other once again, I am at peace…. try to believe, It was my time….. I had to leave.

But “what a view” I have from here, I see your face, I feel you near, I follow you throughout the day, You’re not alone along the way.

And when God calls you, you will be, Right by my side….right here with me.

Till then, I’ll wait by heaven’s door We’ll be united evermore.

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