Benjamin F. Booker Sr.

Our hearts are saddened by the passing of our dear beloved one, Mr. Benjamin Franklin Booker Sr. At the age of 85, he departed this life on July 30, 2009, in New Brunswick, N.J.

He was born on July 13, 1924, in Dinwiddie County, Va., and he grew up in Petersburg, Va. He was the son of the late Emmett and Lottie Booker.

Mr. Booker was a 1941 graduate of Peabody High School. He enlisted in the United States Army and was honorably discharged, having received four Medals of Honor. He completed four years of upholstery training at Virginia Apprenticeship Council. He and his brother, James M. Booker Sr., owned and operated an upholstery shop in Petersburg, Va., for many years. He was also a former member of Zion Baptist Church.

He moved to Somerset, N.J., in the 1950s and became a member of Sharon Baptist Church in New Brunswick. He sang baritone with the Fishermen's Choir. He was also affiliated with the Senior Choir, the Voices, the SHARE Program and the Outreach Program. Each February during Black History Month, he eagerly shared his singing talents with the choirs of Ebenezer Baptist Church and St. Alban's Episcopal Church. He loved people and never hesitated lending a helping hand to anyone he knew who needed assistance. He retired from New Jersey Aluminum in 1989, where he served as shop steward for more than 20 years.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 52 years, the former Thelma M. Scruggs of Metuchen, N.J.; three siblings: Ruth L. Hailstock of Atlantic City, N.J., James M. Booker Sr. (Bertha) of Petersburg, Va., Valerie Harris (William) of Chester, Va.; seven children, Frances B. Parham (Samuel) of St. Petersburg, Fla., Jacquelyn B. Hill (Wayne) of Petersburg, Va., Linda C. Gamble (Ernest) of Sayreville, N.J., Robert H. Adams (Stephanie) of Port St. Lucie, Fla., Kim M. Martin (Stanley) of Port St. Lucie, Fla., Benjamin F. Booker Jr. (Andrea) of South Brunswick, N.J., Karl L. Booker (Cynthia) of Twinsburg, Ohio; 23 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren.

Special thanks are extended to the staff at Robert Wood Johnson Hospital in New Brunswick, NJ.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 6, 2009, at Sharon Baptist Church, 25 Howard St., New Brunswick, N.J, 08901; (732) 846-0669. The Rev. Kevin Jones will be officiating. Burial with military honors will follow at Franklin Memorial Cemetery, North Brunswick, N.J. Family members and friends are invited to pay a final tribute to Mr. Booker from 9 a.m. until the service begins at 11.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Anderson Funeral Services. Flowers and acknowledgements maybe sent to Sharon Baptist Church.