Carl Cecil Cain

On June 2, 2024, Carl Cecil Cain received his eternal heavenly reward by entering into the presence of his Lord and Savior JESUS Christ. He was born from the union of Ines Williams and Sammie Cain on August 2, 1934, in Freeport, Illinois. He was born sixteen months after his oldest sister, Carolyn (aka Maxine), Carl is the second oldest from this union. Additionally, he was blessed with seven more siblings from the union of his mother and stepfather, Oather Taylor Senior: Beverly (KC), Catherine (Roosevelt), Oather Junior (Rose), Russell (Frances), David (Geraldine aka Geri), Herbert (Deborah), and Mary.

Carl married his high school sweetheart, Katherine Amanda McNair on November 2, 1957. In 1951, he walked up to her locker and asked her to be his date at the eleventh-grade junior prom, and the rest is history. Carl and Katherine would have celebrated sixty-seven years of marriage this year. Born to their union are three daughters: Carlene (Willie), Cheryl, and Cerita (Marvin). Carl said his daughters were his greatest accomplishments and he relished being a GIRL DAD. Carl raised his daughters to love all sports and competition. Carl’s most precious gifts were his two granddaughters, Brittany Nicole (aka Brittany Lou) born in 1986 and Cheree Katherine (Jerome) born in 1991 who affectionately called him Poppie. Through the marriages of his two daughters, Cerita and Carlene, he was blessed with two bonus grandchildren, Monique and Willie III (aka Trae). Most recently, Carl’s first two great-grandchildren were born into his living legacy, Jerome Junior (aka JJ) in 2021 and Cherelle Kathleen in 2023. Carl was overjoyed and felt doubly blessed to become a Great Grand-Poppie.

Carl graduated from Freeport High School in 1952 and the University of Iowa in 1956, graduating with a degree in Political Science. He was an outstanding athlete excelling in both baseball and basketball. Carl’s athletic gifts and abilities garnered a basketball scholarship to the University of Iowa. Carl officially became an Iowa Hawkeye. Representing the “black and gold,” he had an illustrious basketball career from 1952 to 1956 earning All-American status. Carl received numerous accolades. These athletic achievements led Carl to Melbourne, Australia in 1956 for the Olympic Games. Carl’s #21 jersey was retired at the University of Iowa as one of the “Fabulous Five.” In later years, he would be inducted into the Illinois and Iowa Basketball Hall of Fame. Following retirement, Carl and Katherine relocated to Pickerington, Ohio in 2000 to be closer to their daughters and granddaughters.

How Carl wanted to be remembered was “simply and succinctly…to say or think… he came, he played and he did the job…every step of the way!”

Carl was preceded in death by his parents, Ines Taylor (Oather Sr.) and Sammie Cain, Jr. (Melvina); maternal grandparents Zetta (Lee) Williams; paternal grandparents Sammie, Sr. and (Abysinnia aka Grandma Pinky); and sister Carolyn (OJ) Edison, niece Carla Edison. He is survived by his loving and dedicated wife, Katherine Cain, daughters Carlene (Willie) Lee, Cheryl Cain, and Cerita (Marvin) Sellers; granddaughters Brittany Cain and Cheree (Jerome) Price; great-grandchildren Jerome Price Jr. and Cherelle Price; and bonus grandchildren Monique and Willie III; Sisters, Brothers and Sister-in-Laws, and a host of nieces, nephews, special cousins, dear friends and fur babies, Champion, Champ and Queenie (aka Queenie Girl).

Friends may visit at Schoedinger Margarum Northeast, 1051 East Johnstown Road, Gahanna, OH 43230 from 5:00 - 7:00 pm on Friday, June 14, 2024, and Saturday, June 15, 2024, from 10:30am - 11:30am with his Celebration of Life Service following, beginning at 11:30am.

For those unable to attend the funeral service who wish to be present in spirit, you may view the livestream of Carl's service at this link: https://view.oneroomstreaming.com/index.php?data=MTcxODMwMTc5OTMxMzc5OSZvbmVyb29tLWFkbWluJmNvcHlfbGluaw==