Minor Washington, Sr. - Submitted for the USGenWeb by Richard P. Sevier 10/31/2015

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Minor Washington, Sr. - Madison Parish, Louisiana

From Sacramento (CA) Bee October 31, 2015

Minor Washington, Sr. died quietly at 8 a.m. on Monday, October 26, 2015 after a brief illness. He was born 
in Tallulah, LA on July 25, 1912 to John and Ollie Willie Washington. 

Minor Sr. was raised in a close knit family and was one of ten children, eight of whom survived to adulthood. 
Minor's parents were sharecroppers and his mother, Ollie was also a midwife who rendered services to both black 
and white plantation communities. Like most African American children of sharecroppers in the South, Minor's 
education stopped after the sixth grade and he joined his parents and siblings in the cotton fields. At the 
age of 17, he accepted Christ as his personal savior. 

In 1936, Minor met and soon married Beatrice Clark of Holly Springs, MI. They were blessed with 5 children. 
During WWII, Minor worked in the ship yards of Bremerton, WA. He soon settled his family in Sacramento. He 
worked at Globe Mills and later for the Rice Growers Assoc. at the Port of Sacramento. He was a strong supporter 
of the ILWU Union and sometimes represented his local.
 
In 1953 Minor joined the newly founded First Baptist Tabernacle Church in downtown Sacramento. He was ordained 
a Deacon within a year and served in that capacity for 61 years. He was a leader of the Laymen, of Missionary 
Auxiliaries and his abilities as a Biblical Scholar was widely praised. For many years, he served as Chairman 
of the Board of Deacons and the Board of Trustees. He was extremely instrumental in the growth and progress of 
First Baptist Church. 

As the Patriarch of his extended family, he inspired trust because of his self-confidence, honesty, generosity, 
firmness, faith, uncompromising force of will and deep love of family. To his children he was a strict 
disciplinarian whose demeanor spoke volumes. From his children he expected and encouraged excellence in school, 
church and in the community. Behind his ostensible sternness was a winning personality, a ready humor and a 
great story-telling ability. He had great interest in civil liberties and electoral politics. Minor Washington Sr.'s 
family will forever cherish his words, wit, guidance and love. 

He is predeceased by his wife, Beatrice; his daughter Janie Louise Washington Crawford-Gray; two grandsons, 
James B. Creel and Rawland M. Crawford, Jr. He leaves behind four children: his sons John Washington; 
Minor Washington, Jr., Clifford A. Washington, and one daughter, Dr. Margaret Washington. He leaves 15 grand children, 
15 great grand children, 5 great great grand children, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and fictive kin. 

Visiting Hours: Sunday, November 1, 2-5 p.m. at Harry S. Nauman and Son Funeral Home, Freeport Blvd. and 
Sutterville Rd., Sacramento. Home going Service: Monday, November 2, 11 a.m. at First Baptist Tabernacle Church, 
1800 Burnet Way, Sacramento. Interment: Sacramento Memorial Lawn.