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Leo Josey Obituary
A service will be at 2:30 p.m., with visitation from noon-2 p.m., Saturday at New Hope Baptist Church. Burial will take place at 10:30 a.m. Monday at Fort Richardson National Cemetery.
The Rev. Josey was born Dec. 10, 1916, in Red Springs, N.C. The U.S. Air Force brought him and his family to Anchorage in November 1960. He retired after 22 years of service to his country.
Following his retirement, Rev. Josey remained active. He was instrumental in founding Anchorage's first African American Southern Baptist churches, Greater Friendship Baptist Church, where he was pastor, and New Hope Baptist Church. Rev. Josey always blazed new trails. He worked with the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development in the early '70s, helping to develop one of the first youth employment programs. He attended UAA, where he earned the equivalent of his doctorate in psychology, focusing on alcohol abuse. He worked for the MOA, pioneering the city and state's alcohol counseling treatment program, focusing on respecting the heritage and familial structure of Alaska Natives. In all, Rev. Josey retired three times!
Rev. Josey's hobbies were reading, fishing and gardening. He was devoted to fishing in Seward, Homer and Willow, dropping his hook from the first day of season. He was a master gardener, growing record size dahlias, marigolds, peonies and cabbage. He was an avid reader who built a library of hundreds of books with a concentration on the classics.
He is survived by his sons, Leo Jr., and Terry; daughters, Carol Jackson and Wisteria Ward; son-in-law, Robert Ward, of Anchorage; goddaughter, Donna Bozeman; grandsons, Joseph Labbe', Marcus Knighten, Leo III, Eugene Ward and Yram, and Mike Wilson of Anchorage; granddaughters, Michele Knighten, Cazoshay Ward, Inman Wilson, Rhema and Breanna, and their mother, Wanda, Tamara and Mila Labbe', and 11 great-grandchildren.
Rev. Josey was preceded in death by his wife of 48 years, Mary Elizabeth.
Arrangements are with Janssen's Evergreen Memorial Chapel.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Leo Josey
Judy-Ann Davis Young
July 8, 2010
My heart is filled with gratitude because Rev. Josey stopped by to spend his life with us Alaskans. He leaves us with a rich legacy of integrity, compassion and wisdom steeped in God's grace. As an ancestor of generations to come, Rev Josey's life speaks volumns about the character of the man. Long live his legacy.
ROCHELLE COLEMAN
July 7, 2010
THE LORD IS RECEVING A GREAT MAN. I WILL MISS YOU REV. LEO .....I WAS SAVED AND WASHED CLEAN AT GREATER FRIENDSHIP,AT AGE 14, AND YEARS LATER REV LEO JOSEY BLESS ED ME AND MARRIED MY HUSBAND AND ME. I BELIVED IN OUR LORD AND STUDY THE WORD BECAUSED MY PASTOR HELPED ME UNDERSTAND HOW TO, I WILL NEVER FOR GET THAT ,BUT I KNOW HE KNOWS I GREATFUL.REST IN PEACE. YOUR WORK IS DONE
ROCHELLE COLEMAN ,TACOMA,WA.
June 28, 2010
Our prayers are with you during the homegoing of your father. I will always remember him. He is now with all of the New Hope Saints.
Love Wanda S. Hawkins and family
Carol (Thomas) Miller
June 27, 2010
I remember Rev Josey. He'll definitely be missed. My thoughts and prayers to the family.
Shirley Payton
June 22, 2010
To The Josey Family, Know that our thoughts and prayers are with you. I too can sing every verse of "I Am Bound For The Promise Land" with much vigor because of his enthusiastic rendition of this song and many others. May God Be With You.
June 21, 2010
We are thankful. We are grateful. He was a friend of the community, as well a a friend of GOD. Rev. Josey, like JESUS, gave of his life that we might live. We will always remember his smile and his guiding words. Much love to Wisteria & Robert and the entire family. At this time, we mourn the passing of a great man. And yet, we shall see him again. We remember ........., Leon & Frieda Jenkins and Family.
Razzmin Wray
June 18, 2010
Pa, you will always be missed and loved. I am so grateful for the last days we spent together, and I will forever hold them in my memories. I love you. Rest in Peace.
Doretha Cowan
June 18, 2010
My thoughts and prayers go out to the family, particularly Carol Jackson whom I reconnected with at CRG. "May the Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine upon you and give you peace." Numbers 6:24
June 18, 2010
God be with you and my blessing to the family as we share sympathy in the loss of your loved one. Wilma Jones
June Macon
June 17, 2010
My deepest sympathy to the family at this time. Rev. Josey was a very special leader in the community. He will be greatly missed.
Dr. Ed Rhodes
June 17, 2010
I saw Rev. Josey in Anchorage last summer and I reminded him that he preached my deacon's ordination sermon on Nov. 20, 1966, and that his text was Ezekiel chapter37, and that his subject was, "Bone to his bone". He said Brother Rhodes you are right and he laughed until he had tears in his eyes.We have lost a great preacher and an outstanding American. My heart and my prayers go out to the family.
June 17, 2010
I send my love and condolences to the entire family.
Preacher was a very integral part of my family and we shared Grandchildren and Great-Grandchildren. He performed family marriages, baptisms, and funerals. He was a loving, encouraging, and supportive person and will be greatly missed. Bertilla Evans
Ruby Greene
June 17, 2010
We were so sorry to hear of Uncle Leo's passing. Although he lived the farthest away he was the "favorite uncle." When I graduated from high school he gave me a beautiful Sheaffer pen and pencil set. It was quite a handsome gift and I used that pen throughout college and beyond until ball point pens came on the scene. It was always very special when he visited the"lower 48." He was a man of many talents and he will surely be missed.
Juneil Jones-Flemming
June 17, 2010
We were so sorry to hear of your loss. The thoughts of many are with you at this time of sorrow.
Manuel Wallace
June 17, 2010
I am deeply saddened by Rev Josey's passing. I met him shortly after I was assigned to Elmendorf AFB in early 1965. I became a member of Greater Friendship and I came to love he and Mrs. Josey. The world has lost a Black man of the highest caliber and character. May God rest his soul and may the family know that he was loved and will be missed in the days to come. I pray you each will find peace in knowing how much I cared.
Horace and Yvette Byes Sr
June 17, 2010
To our extended family, we celebrate the life of Preacher with the fondest memories. He performed the wedding ceremony for Horace and me almost 35 years ago. He will be remembered for many other things as well. Rev Josey had a memory like an elephant..could sing 1st thru 5th stanzas of every hymn in the book..We know he is singing and quoting poetry in the presence of the King now...He made an impact in the earth as a servant of the Most High God..Now he enters into that place of rest that Jesus has already prepared for him. With our love and support to the family...
Jami Cole
June 17, 2010
My heart is saddened by the passing of this man. He will be remembered with great fondness and caring. When I was growing up in Fairview way back in the day, Rev. Jose was active in community affairs and making Fairview a better and safer place for us all. He was caring, strong, and never hesitated to put a life lesson down. Children spent hours playing around his block and he helped guide the life of more than his own children over the years. My prayers are with the family. Rest in peace Rev you will not be forgotten!
Jami Cole
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