Mighty Lion Chapter Memorial Hall

Our beloved brother John Adams Thornton, Jr. was born to Mary Thornton (Harris) and the late John Thornton, Sr. on August 9, 1955. He accepted Christ as his personal savior and in 2011 joined Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church. God accepted John into his kingdom on March 22, 2014

John was raised in Philadelphia Pennsylvania and was educated in the Philadelphia Public School System.  He graduated from Overbrook High School in 1973. He also attended Lincoln University where he obtained a bachelor's degree in Business Administration and was a Fellowman of the Groove Phi Groove Social Fellowship Incorporated.

John worked for the Philadelphia Housing Authority where he quickly moved up the ranks becoming Superintendent. Along the way, he fostered many lasting relationships with his co-workers and established many “extended” families with residents in the units he managed.

John spent the last few years with his long-term friend, fiancee, and soul mate Cereta Turcks who cared for him during his health decline over the last year.

John was the most loving, outgoing, loyal, and charming person you could ever meet. He loved his family and enjoyed spending time with his daughters TajMarie and Aja, who were the apples of his eye. John had a loving and alluring personality; all who knew him loved him and knew him as the life of the party. He was also known for his quick wit and love for music. John was a loving father, grandfather, and friend.

He leaves to cherish precious memories his mother Mary; daughters TajMarie and Aja; grandson Nazir; niece Paige; stepchildren Sharae and Trey; fiancee Cereta; his first wife Vernetta Johnston; long-time companion Patricia Murdock, and a host of relatives and friends.

John will never be forgotten, but as he would always say: “It Gets Greater Later”.

Fellowman Waters, the son of Gloria Yvonne Waters and the late William G. Waters, Sr., was born on September 29, 1959, in Wilmington, DE.  He departed this life, at the age of 52 on July 23, 2012.   He received his early education in the Wilmington public school system.  In high school, he was a member of the track team, swim team, karate club, student council, marching band, and honor society.

After graduation from high school, Keith attended Lincoln University in Pennsylvania where he received a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science.  He later went on to acquire two Master's Degrees from Wilmington University in Elementary and Special Education.

On Friday, May 27th, 1977, God in His infinite wisdom called home our beloved son, Mr. Johnnie Arthur Woodson, Jr., who was born on February 21st, 1955, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

He graduated from Gratz High School in Philadelphia, PA., and continued on to further his education at Lincoln University, where he obtained his B.A. in Psychology in 1976.  While attending Lincoln University, he was a member of the Psychology Club.  In the Spring of 1973, Johnnie Woodson was inducted into Groove Phi Groove Social Fellowship on the campus of Lincoln University as the 12th Swanxman of the Ant Hill Mob.

At the time of his demise, Johnnie was employed as a Counselor in Glen Mills, Penna.

In earlier years, Johnnie was employed as a lifeguard for the City of Philadelphia for six years.

In his youth, at a very early age, Johnnie became a Cub Scout and later went on to become a Boy Scout where he worked very diligently.

He leaves to mourn their loss: his parents John and Margaret Woodson; his fiancé Miss Thomasine Williams of the City; one daughter Jacqueline; one brother Darryl; grandmother Mrs. Lizzy Woodson of Williamston, South Carolina; Godparents, Mr. and Mrs. Harrington of the City and a host of uncles, aunts, other relatives, friends, and fellowmen.

You bade no one a last farewell

You said goodbye to none

Your heart has ceased to beat

Your stay on Earth is done

The flowers we place upon your grave

May wither and decay

Our love for you who sleep beneath the clay

Will never fade away

Homegoing service for Johnnie was held on Thursday, June 2nd, 1977 at Dauphin Street Baptist Church, located at 29th and Fletcher Street in Philadelphia, PA. The members of Groove Phi Groove -Mighty Lion Chapter remember the life of Johnnie Woodson. May the Creator bless his spirit and continue to protect his family.

Wilson H. Womack Jr. departed this life to unite with his heavenly father on May 4, 2015. Lovingly known as “Mack”, “Uncle Junie” and “Uncle Will”, he was born on September 5, 1945, in Chatham, Virginia to the late Wilson H. Womack Sr. and Bessie Mae Womack.

Wilson moved to Chester, Pennsylvania in 1959 and was a graduate of Chester High School. In 1964, Wilson enlisted in the United States Army. While serving, he received a National Defense Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Expert Rifle Badge, and Letter of Commendation. He was honorably discharged from the United States Army in 1968.

After his military service, Wilson attended Lincoln University of Pennsylvania where he received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a minor in Economics. During this time, he also became a proud member of Groove Phi Groove Social Fellowship.

Wilson spent many years in the Sales Field and became the #1 Salesman in the Mid-Atlantic Region for US Surgical. He later became an Executive Medical Recruiter and leveraged his entrepreneurial spirit to start his own Recruiting Firm, Exodus Search, LLC. Following his retirement, Wilson took on the full-time role of raising his youngest daughter, Trinity. One of his life’s most rewarding commitments.

Wilson was a child of God. He accepted the Lord at the early age of 13 and became an ordained Junior Deacon at Mount Carnal in Chester, Pennsylvania. He later joined New Hope United Holy Baptist Church in Chester and became a Licensed Minister. Wilson’ was a current member of the Living Faith Christian Center in Pennsauken, New Jersey. He was a member of the Harvest Ministry, Men’s Small Group, completed classes to expand his spiritual knowledge, and was recently elevated to Deacon. Wilson’s favorite passage from the Bible was Psalms 51.
Wilson’s family and friends describe him as an adventurous child, with a curious nature. He was loving, kind, nurturing, charming, humorous, and possessed a determined spirit to be successful. He was a dedicated father, and leader, and loved the Lord with all his heart.

Deacon Ralph Crosby, Jr. was born on June 22, 1951 in Elizabeth, New Jersey, the son of the late Deacon Ralph Crosby, Sr. and Deaconess Annie L. Crosby.  His parents immersed him in the Baptist faith; he was reared in the Union Baptist Church of Elizabeth, was baptized at the age of seven and thoroughly enjoyed his church affiliation, especially singing in choirs and serving on usher boards.

Ralph, affectionately known as “Couchie”, lived and attended public schools in Roselle, NJ and graduated from Abraham Clark High School in 1969.  He was a member of Clark’s 1968-69, back-to-back, state championship basketball teams.  Following high school, he enrolled at Lincoln University, Oxford, PA where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science in 1973.  In addition to being a literary editor for the Lincoln newsletter, he also became a proud, life-long member of the Groove Phi Groove Social Fellowship, Inc.  During his Lincoln years he met and fell in love with his soul mate, Dorcas Clark of Newark, NJ.  They married in July 1976 and enjoyed 32 years of marital happiness.  From this union two children were born, a daughter, Syande, and a son Kaliq.

After graduation, Ralph moved to Washington, DC and began his professional career as an insurance claims examiner.  He later gained exposure to the business of real estate management and worked in this field from 1980-2004 in various capacities, including the property manager, regional manager and vice president of property investments.  He was the first minority to oversee the financial management of Class A residential high rise properties in Crystal City, VA and one of the earliest East Coast minority honorees obtaining the Certified Property Manager (CPM) designation from the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM).  Ralph was a past president-elect of the Apartment and Office Building Association (AOBA) of metropolitan Washington and he was also a member of the National Association of Realtors.

Ralph was an active member of the Israel Baptist Church for 30 years, serving as a deacon for the past twenty years.  His diaconate service along with earning the distinction as the 2008 Father of the Year, were two supreme accomplishments.  He greatly cherished his Israel family and thoroughly enjoyed his year of service as the church facility manager prior to his illness in July 2006.  On December 6, 2008, Deacon Ralph Crosby, Jr. ascended to his Heavenly Father.  We are all better as a result of him freely sharing his life with us.

Deacon Crosby leaves to cherish his memory his devoted wife of 32 years, Dorcas; one daughter Syande; one son, Kaliq; one grandchild, Aidan, mother, Annie Crosby of Roselle, NJ; three brothers-in-law Elwood Clark (Maggie) Newark, NJ, Angelo Clark (Earvient), Newark, NJ; Napoleon Clark of Rich Square, NC; one sister-in-law Veronica Godley (William) of Washington, NC and a host of devoted relatives, friends, and Fellowmen.

Fellowman Leighton Newlin provided reflections during the service.  Fellowmen Leighton, Rodney Ellis, Henry Houston, Dennis Thomas, Mark Mclendon, Michael Haskins and Christopher Hill served as pall bearers.

On May 15th 2008, Fellowman Crosby provided the following reflection on the life of his line brother, Fellowman Gary Westburn Majors, at the “Westburn” Homegoing service:

We honor the awesome presence of God who has given us the victory of life through his Son, Jesus the Christ, the joy of heaven and hope of the world.  We should also be currently mindful that to be “absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.”   It is only the remains of our beloved Brother, husband and father that lay before us since his physical spirit and soul are now seated on high at the right hand of the Father.

We have not the tongue to thank our Lord enough for ‘Wes’ love and commitment to life.  Likewise, we have not the intellect to understand God’s miraculous love for us all.  One way to discern the Master’s love is to understand its applicability to our departed Brother.  He loved Wes so much that he would not allow a prolonged, physical suffering to overtake him.  He loved Wes so much that he provided him and his blessed helpmate with four strong extraordinary talented sons to continue his work and his namesake.  The Master’s love was so profound, in fact, that he allowed no act nor occasion to break Wes’ unparalleled spirit, love of life and genuine relationships with us all.

What a Fellowman Wes was to all us within Groove Phi Groove Social Fellowship, Inc.!  Rest assured, Brothers, it was not chance that the Lord received Wes on our Founder’s Day, May 9th and allowed most of us to “roll” with him for 39 years.  It is also no coincidence that 37 years ago he was given the line name Ironman because of his exceptional physical presence, spirit and strength.  Know also that today’s Ironman movie comic hero had absolutely nothing on Brother Wes since all of his powers were natural and genuine.

As I prepare to take my seat, let me conclude by attesting to Wes’ love for his family.  Most of you are aware of my own medical plight and in that capacity of medical challenges Wes and I spoke literally everyday over the past year.  Our conversations were candid and intimate.  Although his boys don’t know me personally I do know them.

I often told him that Wes, Jr. was the embodiment of his maternal grandfather, Mr. Samuels of New York.  Debonair, insightful and confidently elegant in his walk.  How proud he was, Wes, that you navigated the grounds of Oxford, PA as he did and was the first family member on the verge of receiving your Master’s degree.  He also knew you as one worthy to carry his name.

In like manner, I told him that Garrett was the embodiment of his elder, Pop Harvey Chance.  He found Garrett to be string as a rock, unbent and a true disciplinarian.  Your Dad loved nothing more than your jarring hits on the football field as well as your true inner strengths.  The fact that you were able to combine your athletic talents with the receipt of your academic degree was confirmation for him that whatever the mind of man can believe it can indeed achieve.  Know also that he had already visualized the pageantry and excitement of your actual graduation event and was also tickled with your exposure to the NFL combine and the UCONN championship football ring you shared with him.

To Erich, I need only say that your qualification to study abroad in London literally sent your Dad into the Stratosphere!  This was an accomplishment that he could not have forecasted nor anticipated and the fact that it was affiliated with the Mercedes Benz Corporation made it oh so sweet.  As we marinated on this accomplishment I must also be honest and say we also hoped for complimentary Benz’s to drive.  In absence of these complimentary vehicles, we know you will someday assume your seat within some corporate board.

To Bryan whom I have spent time with, forever remember how your Dad so closely monitored and followed your basketball career and every bounce of your ball.  You know as well as I how we marveled at your point guard skills and you’re your one-quarter court bounce pass to a teammate and coach who didn’t think it possible in the Catholic University game is forever etched in my memory.  Remain steadfast and resolute in the completion of your college career realizing that the precious memories and thrills you provided your Dad will forever be with you as a sustaining presence.

And finally to his blessed wife and helpmate Merry, I only need to echo what Wes would periodically stress to me – “Merry has been better to me than I have been to myself.”  It is no secret that your oversight, courage, gentleness and care empowered your family and sustained your husband’s quality of life.  Please know that from this day forward your Lincoln University family along with numerous others will be there to sustain you with all the love and support you require.

Groove on, Brother Wes, Groove on.  We will see you in due time.

Two-hundred and one days after Fellowman Ralph Crosby delivered this reflection for his line brother and our Fellowman Gary Westburn Majors, Ralph ascended to the after-life.

The members of Groove Phi Groove – Mighty Lion Chapter remember the life of Ralph Crosby. May the Creator bless his spirit and continue to protect his family…