William H. Blue Sr.
FRANKLIN—William H. Blue Sr., 90, died July 23, 2009.
He was born to Neil Blue and Mary Purcell Blue in Hoke County, N.C.
He would often testify that he was to take a “flight out of here one day and it was not going to be TWA or any other airlines. It would be on the wings of Jesus.”
He was preceded in death by his parents; his loving wife, Dotsie L. Blue and son, William H. Blue Jr.
William and Dotsie Jones were married Dec. 17, 1937 and to this union three children were born: Dorothy (Pee Wee), William (Bro. Poor Will) and Lionel (Little Fella).
He was a loving father, a pillar and leader in the City of Franklin.
He served as a Union Steward at St. Regis Paper Co., where he was employed for more than 30 years.
He was a little league baseball coach, and boy scout master for 23 years.
He was president of the NAACP for 42 years and one of the founding members of the Franklin Community Choir. He was president of Union AFL-CIO for 23 years and served as Masonic Lodge Master three times for Franklin Star 28 with 52 years as a member.
He was the master behind and the visionary for the Martin Luther King Center, the opening of the swimming pool, and the pioneer for getting Southside children access to the Armory.
He marched for equal justice for all people and traveled extensively with the NAACP and met politicians, Queen Elizabeth, Martin Luther King Jr. and Jimmy Hoffa, who was president of the Teamsters Union.
William Blue loved his community and the people in the City of Franklin. He was known as Mr. Blue in the community and new residents to the city were told ‘you need to meet this man.’
He was dedicated to his church, New Mount Zion Baptist, and upon his death he was Emeritus Deacon.
He was a devoted Tuesday noon day prayer warrior. He was available to everyone needing prayer and spiritual advice. He was a voice for people who did not have a voice.
He was the monarch for his family; he loved his children Pee Wee, Poor Will, and Lionel (Little Fella).
He loved his grandchildren and gave them wisdom, guidance and spiritual development.
His nieces and nephews referred to him as Uncle William. Uncle William loved them like his own children, Robert, H.L., Walter, Sam, Charles, William,, Carolyn, Glenn, Ruth and Tina.
He shared with his daughter in-law, Gwen, his passion for policies in the political arena.
Survivors include his loving and devoted children, Dorothy Montague (New York City) and Lionel Blue (Gwen) Franklin; seven grandchildren, Bridget Todd ( Pennsylvania), Donald Montague (Arlene) New York City, Michael Blue (Maryland), Showanda Mayers (Johnny) Suffolk, Andre Blue (Capri), California, Lionel Perry (Odirias) Hampton, Eric Perry (Chanda) North Carolina; 11 great-grandchildren and a host of nieces, great nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives and friends.
Services will be held at 1 p.m. today at Apostolic Faith Church of God, Oak Street.