George Edward Saxon

George Edward Saxon, Jr. was born to Annie Mae Williams and George Saxon, Sr. on December 17, 1929.  George was their second child.  He was born in the small rural town of Keysville, Georgia located in Burke County.  George’s mother traveled there when she was in the last weeks of her pregnancy in order to be with her mother, Lizzie Evans, when she delivered George.  She returned to Chicago shortly after George was born.

George was raised in Chicago, Illinois with his three siblings, Ganell, James, and Oterial.  As a child, he was very active and rambunctious.  To keep him out of trouble, his mother sent him back to Keysville to live with his grandparents, and to work on the family farm.  George picked cotton and plowed behind a mule.  That was a very tough and rough life for a city boy.  George kept writing to his father, and pleading for him to come to Keysville, and return him to Chicago.  Finally, George Sr. answered his pleas, and drove to Keysville to take George back home to the city life of Chicago.

The months of living and working on the farm taught George the value of hard work which he carried with him throughout his lifetime.

At the age of seventeen, George enlisted into the United States Army.  The lessons he learned on the farm of being up before dawn and work until dusk, and until you are dead-tired kept him in good stead with the military.  Those lessons served him well, and George served the military well and honorably throughout his lifetime.

After serving on the battle fields of Korea, George returned home. While home on leave, he became reacquainted with Inez Marie Jones.  They had been classmates in the sixth grade at Tennyson Elementary School.  They began dating and eighteen months later they were married on July 4, 1954.  From this union came a son, George Edward III and daughter, Sherrita Marie.

George continued to serve in the military on posts overseas and in the United States.  He rose in the enlisted ranks to the highest position that can be obtained by a non-commissioned officer in the United States Army, that of Command Sergeant Major (E-9).  His last two assignments, after returning to the states from a tour in Germany, were those of advisor to the Army Reserve Centers in Champaign-Urbana and Chicago, Illinois.  George received two Army Commendation Awards as well as other military badges, medals and awards.

Upon retiring from the military, George entered the field of teaching.  He also decided to resume his educational goals and entered Triton College where he earned his degree.  George taught ROTC at Harrison High School in Chicago, Illinois for eight years.  When the weather in Chicago reached seventy-seven below zero wind chill factor in the winter of 1977, George decided to pack up the family and belongings and head to California.  There he taught ROTC for over seventeen years in the Los Angeles Unified School District.  George was instrumental in activating a new ROTC Unit at Jefferson High School in South Central Los Angeles.  He designed the layout of the bungalow that still stands today.  Upon retiring from teaching, George and his family moved to Las Vegas, Nevada to spend his retired years.

Throughout his life, George had been a devoted son and brother.  He was a loving husband and father.  He was a very giving person who had done much for others without any recognition or thanks.  George was often misunderstood by others, because of his strict codes of what was right and wrong due to strong military training.  His stern manner was often misconstrued as being mean.  However, his soft heart was manifested in the quiet things he did for his needy students and family members without seeking praise.

George was preceded in death by his parents and three siblings. George leaves to mourn his transition his loving wife of sixty years (July 4) Inez Marie, his son George III, and his daughter, Sherrita Marie. Others who already miss him are his nephew, Andre Edwards (Gladys), nieces, Wanda Roberts, Pamela Cunningham, Bernice Shaw (Ernest) Royetta Jones, Elaine Cloman (Johnny), Eileen Morgan (Kenneth), and a host of great and great grand nephews and nieces.

Beloved and valiant soldier, you have fought a good fight and the battle has been won.  May you eternally rest in peace in the arms of your Lord and Savior.  May you rejoice in His words, “Good and faithful servant, well done, well done!”

Funeral services will be held at 4pm on Saturday, June 28, 2014 at Thompson Funeral Chapel, 926 S. Litchfield Rd., Goodyear, AZ 85338 with a viewing one hour prior.  Condolences can be sent to www.thompsonfuneralchapel.com.