.jpg)
Sylvester McFerren, Jr. was born to Sylvester Sr. and Catherine McFerron on December 21, 1923. He was their 3rd child; the only boy, and had three sisters, Christel, Ethel and Delores. Sylvester attended Cook Elementary School and Dusable High School He had various jobs after hugh school. At one time his entire family and his uncle worked at the Chicago Stock Yard. The Chicago Defender Newspaper wrote an article about them.
In 1944 he married Odessa Smith. He joined the United States Marine Corps. Sylvester and Odessa had three children; Paul, Janis and Sheldon. Sylvester worked for the Chicago Transit Authority as a bus driver for 30 years. Odessa died in March 1980. After he retired, in 1983 he married Johnnie Mae Calcoate. They moved to Tucson, Arizona and traveled to wherever they wanted to go. Sylvester was a member of the Knights of Columbus. Johnnie died in 2010.
Sylvester leaves to remember him his daughter Janis, his son Sheldon, his niece Pamela, his cousin Mildred, granddaughter Priscilla, great grandchildren Latrell, LaShay, Rebecca and ReLeea, and great great grandson Keymoni, and his very good friend, Art Gill, other relatives, family and friends.
Sir Knight Sylvester was a Knight for 30 years and a Sir Knight for 28 years.
He was a member of the Montford Point Marines, the first African--American Marine Corp unit from 1942-1944. Sylvester was the guest of honor at our Veterans Benefit Dinner in 2012.
|