TO THE CHAPTER INVISIBLE
Ypsilanti, MI to Addie Mae (Pugh) and John Henry Peterson.
his wife, Cleo Peterson of Bloomington, IL; two daughters, Clarissa Peterson of Normal, IL and Laurie Peterson of Chicago, IL; two granddaughters Camri Peterson of Normal, IL and Marajei Joiner of Chicago, IL; one brother, John (Maryetta) Peterson of Ann Arbor, MI; two sisters Clara Pope of Ann Arbor, MI and Johnnie Mae Joplin of Ypsilanti, MI; one Aunt, Ann Anthony, Orlando, FL; and a host of family and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Bernice Holly-Fails and Carrie Williams. Rev. Dr. Israel B. Singleton 1927–2018 Past National Chaplain, Minister
Parks held many management and supervisory positions in the commercial food service industry. He subsequently worked as an Economic Development Representative for the U.S. Department of Commerce where he retired after 25 years. An avid hunter, fisherman, and conser- vationist, Parks was a past corresponding secretary, vice president, and president of the Nashville Sportsman's Club. He served as a member of the Board, treasurer, secretary, vice president, and president of the Tennessee Wildlife Federation. He also served on the Ten- nessee Wildlife Resources Commission, the Governor’s Council on Greenways and Trails, Greenways for Nashville, the Tennessee Recreation Advisory Com- mission, and the DOC Scenic Rivers Commission. Parks also served as the Chairman of the Board of Managers of the Northwest TMCA and a member of the Board of the YMCA Foundation of Middle Ten- nessee. A Life Member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., he was also a found- ing member of the Central Nashville Optimist Club, and a member of the Board of the Urban League. He survived by his brother, Walter, Jr. (Minerva); stepson, David Laurence Parks (Johnsy); granddaughter, Davita J. Parks; two nephews, David Lawson Parks (Marion) and Mitchell Hunter Parks (Cathy); and many friends.
He was a member of Mt. Calvary Missionary Baptist Church where he accepted Christ at an early age. He graduated from Willow Run High School in Ypsilanti, MI in 1963. Esaw attended Eastern Michigan University (EMU) where he met his best friend, Brother Eliehue Brunson. In 1965 while at EMU, he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in 1967, the same year he entered the Army. After being honorably discharged from the Army as a Sergeant E-5; he was awarded the Army Commendation Medal with two campaign stars for his tours in Vietnam. Upon returning to Ypsilanti, Brother Patterson chartered the Ann Arbor-Yp- silanti Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. and served as the Chapter Polemarch. He began his career at State Farm Insurance Company in 1971 in Mar- shall, MI, where he met his future wife, Cleotha Moore-Reed. They were wed on November 17, 1974 in Battle Creek, MI. He served with distinction at State Farm and retired as a Service and Busi- ness Analyst in 2003. Life Member Patterson was highly involved in Bloomington, IN, including chartering the Bloomington-Normal (IN) Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. In 1992, Esaw was appointed to the McLean County Board to complete an unexpired term. He then was elected to serve a four-year term. He was also a member and 33 rd Degree Free Mason and Shriner of the Elijah S. Betts Lodge No. 23 Prince Hall Grand Lodge State of Illinois. Esaw was a 35-year member of Wayman AME church with 12 years as a member of the Steward Board. He also served as the Pastor’s Steward during the tenure of Reverend Robert Harvey while he pastored Wayman.
Reverend Dr. Israel “Benni” Singleton entered
the Chapter Invisible on
March 11, 2018, the culmination
of a full, well- lived life. He
was born in December 5, 1927, in Aiken, SC, and he would eventually make his way to Baltimore, MD, the place he considered his home. While in Baltimore, he attended Douglas High School, but prior to graduating, he volunteered for service in the U. S. Army and completed two years of duty in the Alpha Company of the 555 th Parachute Infantry Battalion (the Triple Nickel), the first black airborne unit. Upon completion of his tour of duty in 1947, he was honorably discharged and used the GI Bill to enter Shaw Univer- sity. While at Shaw, he was one of the eight charter members, who in April 28, 1951, established the Delta Gamma Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi. He graduated from Shaw University with a bachelor’s degree in English, and he settled in Washington, DC, where he began his career in public service. During that initial period, he held several jobs, including working in the Department of Corrections, in the DC public school system as an attendance
Esaw Patterson 1944–2019 Vietnam Veteran, Businessman
Esaw Peterson (Delta Nu 1965) was received on the Golden
Shores on Sunday, February 17, 2019 in Normal, IL sur- rounded by family. Esaw was 74 years old. Esaw was born December 23, 1944 in
Brother Esaw Patterson is survived by
Publishing achievement for 105 years
THE JOURNAL SPRING ISSUE | 99
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