Obbie B. Sartin Jr.

Sartin, Obbie B., Jr. Passed away in his sleep on Thursday, March 21, 2013 at the age of 77. He was born September 18, 1935 in McComb, Mississippi to the late Rev. Obie B. and Synovia (Nee: Turner) Sartin Sr. Obbie attended Berglund School in McComb, MS, through the eleventh grade and graduated from Lincoln High School in 1954. He was a member of New Zion Topisaw Missionary Baptist Church in Ruth, MS, and later joined Zion Hill Missionary Baptist Church in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, which was organized and pastored by his father Rev. Obie Sartin Sr. During his time he served as Sunday school teacher and Superintendent. On April 14, 1955, Obbie married Ethelen McClain, and to that union, three children were born, Anthony, Renee' and Marla. Obbie attended the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, from 1954-1958, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Education with a certification in Upper Elementary Education. He was inducted into the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity and was a cadet in UWM's ROTC program. He received the 1958 Outstanding ROTC Graduating Senior Award and was the first African American in Milwaukee, WI to be commissioned as Second Lieutenant in the United States Army from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Obbie was certified to teach grades 6-12 and held a lifetime teaching license from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. He furthered his education by completing a Master of Science in Education degree with a concentration in Educational Administration and Supervision in 1971. Obbie's first teaching assignment for the Milwaukee Public School district was at McKinley Elementary School where he taught 5th grade. He taught at Lincoln Senior High School from 1960-1966, serving as assistant coach for the following sports: freshman-sophomore football (1960-1961); varsity football (1961-1962); and varsity track (1963-1966). During his years at Lincoln, he also served as head coach for varsity cross country (1962-1965) and varsity wrestling (1960-1966). Obbie taught in the district from 1958-1985. He was recently honored in 2012 by the Historical African American Teacher (HAAT) organization as a pioneer teacher in the Milwaukee Public Schools. Obbie was preceded in death by his parents, Rev. Obie and Mrs. Synovia Sartin Sr., and his brother, Leonard Sartin. He leaves to cherish his legacy a longtime companion, Charlene Lewis and her son Wilbert; three children, Anthony Sartin, Dr. Renee' (Bishop Lawrence) Kirby, and Marla Bronaugh; eight grandchildren, Charita Adams, Antoinette Sartin, Monique Sartin, Rev. Lawrence L. (Chandrika) Kirby II, Charisse Kirby, Courtney Bronaugh, Garrett Bronaugh, and Mackenzie Eford; six great-grandchildren; two special cousins (Ouvida McDowell and Johnnie Walker) and a host of relatives and friends. Services will be held at Zion Hill Missionary Baptist Church, 1825 W. Hampton Avenue, Milwaukee, WI, on Thursday March 28th, at 6:00 PM with Bishop Lawrence L. Kirby and Pastor Lawrence L. Kirby II officiating. Visitation will be held from 3:00 until 5:00 PM, with the family hour commencing at 5:00 PM. Arrangements entrusted to Reid's New Golden Gate Funeral Home, 5665 N. Teutonia Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 414-358-0538.