WILLIE R. RANDOLPH

Deacon Willie Reginald Randolph of Bronx, N.Y., went home to be with the Lord on Friday, Nov. 9, 2012. He was born in Petersurg, Va., to the late Elder Forrest Reginald Randolph and Christine Bias, and was raised and nurtured by his stepmother, the late Mother Audrey Mae Randolph Loftin. He was the oldest of 14 siblings. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 16, 2012, at the Trinity Baptist Church, 808 East 224th St., Bronx N.Y.

Deacon Randolph was baptized at an early age at Mount Pleasant Baptist Church in Chesterfield County, Va., and graduated from Carver High School in 1953. He attended John Jay College of Criminal Justice and Dartmouth College in New Hampshire.

From 1956 to 1960 he served his country through the United States Army within the 82nd Airborne Infantry Division and the 77th Artillery Division of the Reserves. He rose to the rank of SP-5 before receiving his Honorable Discharge.

Deacon Randolph began his employment with the New York City Transit Authority as a token clerk and rose to the level of Transit patrolman. He was selected as one of 10 patrolmen to be trained for a special Spanish language program to better communicate with transit users. He retired from this high risk position after 23 years of service without having to fire his weapon once.

In 1961 Deacon Randolph joined the Trinity Baptist Church, Bronx, N.Y., and served faithfully until his death. He was a Sunday school teacher, superintendent of the Middle School Sunday School Department, Scout master of Trinity Scout Pack 808, member of the Couples Club; the Laconia Nursing Home Religious Services Ministry and the Rehabilitation Center Religious Services Ministry. He provided free income tax service to the elderly and was an American Red Cross Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation instructor. And, in 1981, he was ordained a deacon and fully implemented all areas of his Diaconate responsibilities.

Deacon Randolph was a quiet, gentle man, who truly loved the Lord, his wife, family, the church and community. He was a servant of God and he enjoyed using the gifts God gave him through service to his church. He had a love of passing on Christian servanthood to youths and adults. Deacon Randolph was deeply loved in return by his family, church and the community.

He leaves to cherish his memory: his loving wife of 56 years, Frieda Sharpe Randolph; his sisters, Bessie Flowers, Winnie Foreman, Forrest Heath, Rosalyn Dance (Nathaniel), Carolyn Adams (Harold), Susan Gordon (Courtney), Karen Barber (Barry), Linda Haskins (Melvin), Debra Grandison (Joseph), and Voncelia Smith; his brothers, Samuel Randolph, Terrell Smith (Mary), Reginald Smith; his uncle, Ernie Ricks; a host of nieces, nephews, aunts, counsins and other relatives, "church children" and many friends.

Funeral arrangements entrusted to the staff of Granby's Funeral Service Inc., 4021 White Plains Road, Bronx, NY 10466. 718-519-6047. There will be online viewing of the service at:http://www.grandbysfuneralservice.com/