Alpha Omega July 3, 1950 February 17, 2020

Sunday, February 23, 2020 Two O’clock P.M.

Early Hope Church Ministries

1129 Rocky Plains Road Covington, Georgia 30016

PASTOR KENNETH L. WILLIAMS, PASTOR, EULOGIST

PASTOR EMERITUS HEZEKIAH BENTON, JR, PRESIDING

In Loving Memory OF

Deacon Forrest Sawyer, Jr.

Floral Bearers Ladies of R.L. Cousins Class of 1968 Ladies of R.L. Cousins Class of 1970

Pallbearers Phillip Wise Mark Wise Cordell Lett Dion Gibbs Henry Seats Stargell Penn

Special Thanks Dr. Dan Sorescu, MD

Emory Heart & vascular Center – Atlanta, GA Dr. Nana Afari- Armah, MD

Temple University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA

An Expression of Gratitude

The family of Deacon Forrest Sawyer, Jr. would like to extend our deepest gratitude to all of our friends and neighbors who have shown care, courtesy, and comfort during our grievous and trying time. Your kind words and thoughtful deeds have been comforting in this hour and will be strengthening to us in the days ahead. May God Bless you and keep you.

—The Family—

Professional Service Arrangements Entrusted To:

Lester Lackey & Sons FUNERAL HOME, INC.

1163 Reynolds Street ~ P.O. Box 629 Covington, Georgia 30015 ~ Phone: (770) 786-6177

Email: llackeyandsons@aol.com

This note is to express sympathy and our appreciation for your trust in us. It is our purpose to give thoughtful service, and if in doing so we have helped to lighten your burden, our aim has been

accomplished. We sincerely hope that our services have been deserving of your confidence.

~ The Civil Rights Activist ~

Forrest Sawyer, Jr. was born to the late Mr. Forrest "Preacher" Sawyer, Sr. and Mrs. Elizabeth Sawyer on July 3, 1950. From an early age, Forrest was described as a strong-willed, dedicated and determined entrepreneur. As a little boy, he could oftentimes be seen pushing his lawnmower through the neighborhood as he cut grass and collected $.50 a yard for his efforts. From playing baseball on the neighborhood sandlot to excelling as a leader in Boy Scouts, Forrest was a typical little boy with an extraordinary acumen for organization and leadership. These skills came in handy as he made his mark on the football field as the quarterback of the R. L. Cousins Wolverines. Forrest led his team as quarterback to an historic victory. The 102-0 score was a Georgia state high school football scoring record which still stands today. Not content to only make history on the playing field, in March of 1970, Forrest exercised his influence and foresight to lead a group of five hundred Students from R.L. Cousins High School in a walk out in protest of the "7-5 Integration Plan" adopted by the Board of Education which would close and change the name of their school. Seeing the rising tensions of the Civil Rights Movement, Forrest enlisted assistance from another giant in the movement, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. who in response to his request sent Reverend Hosea Williams to help him organize the Covington branch of SCLC. Civil Rights was his calling. Forrest dedicated his life to helping others, exposing injustice, and championing equality for everyone. This passion led him and five others to be falsely accused and illegally imprisoned for forty-five days in the Newton County Jail. Drawing the attention of major influencers in the National civil rights movements, such as Dr. Martin Luther King, Sr., former Mayor Maynard Jackson, Atty. Billy Randall Jr. and Judge Thurgood Marshall, the case eventually reached the U.S. Supreme Court. After reaching the U.S. Supreme Court and with the help of civil rights attorney, Howard Moore, all charges were dismissed, and he and his colleagues became known as the “Newton Six”. As a result of the marches, area restaurants integrated, shops hired blacks to work in the front of the stores, blacks were hired to work in banks and other businesses, as well as in law enforcement and blacks began going through front doors of establishments instead of entering through the back. A few years later, blacks were elected to the county commission and the Covington City Council, including Sawyer’s father. He was truly ahead of his time. He was a man with a vision. He continued his relentless pursuit for justice, equality, and dignity throughout his life.

DEACON FORREST SAWYER, JR.

DEACON HUSBAND FATHER ACTIVIST HISTORIAN LEGEND

THE PEOPLE’S CHAMPION

GOD’S FIRST LIEUTENANT

In Loving Memory Those we love don’t go away.

They walk beside us every day.

Unseen, Unheard, but always near

Still loved, Still missed and

forever dear.

~ The Family Man ~ In pursuit of his love for civil rights, Forrest discovered another love in his life. While

working with Hosea Williams, Forrest met and later married the love of his life Sharon

Griffin. They were married in 1985 and shared a long, happy, and adventurous life

together which took them all around the country and afforded them opportunities to

continue his lifelong work to bring support, justice, cultural awareness, and civic duty

to a long list of friends, family, and colleagues which span over three decades. They

shared their love, life, and culture heritage with their children, grandchildren, and

great-grandchildren.

In addition to his lovely wife, Sharon, Forrest leaves behind Five Children: three

sons: Mr., and Mrs. Duane Bernard (Shanreca) Maddox, Mr. Daryle Goodwin, and Mr.

Marrio Freeman; and two daughters: Mr. and Mrs. James (Dana) Freeman, and Ms.

Kimisha Henderson. Nine Grandchildren: Quintavis Maddox, JaCorey Maddox,

Quaveous Maddox, Kayla Johnson, Jaylan Henderson, Javarian Henderson, Jaxon

Freeman, Layla Freeman, and Kyree Jamel Goodwin. Five Great-Grandchildren:

Jeremiah Maddox, Chasity Maddox, Mekaih Maddox, Aubrey Maddox, and Trinitee

Maddox.

Stepmother: Mrs. Corine Sawyers. Three Sisters: Mr. and Mrs. Charles (Goldie)

Dallas, Mr. and Mrs. Raymond (Frances) Jackson, and Mr. and Mrs. Don (Marie)

Barbee Two Brothers: Mr. and Mrs. Terry (Connie) Sawyers and Mr. Steven Sawyers

God Parents to: Pastor ZeEster Browning, Mrs. Paula Littlejohn Mrs. Sonya Smith

Sutton, Mr. Cordell Lett, and Mr. Tevin Norman

And a host of loving devoted nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Forrest was preceded in death by his father, Forrest Sawyer, Sr.; his mother, Elizabeth

L. Sawyers, and his sister, Elizabeth Hendrix Sawyers.

~ The Order of Service ~

The Prelude The Processional Selection “I Shall Wear A Crown” Elder Pamela Wilkerson The Scripture Readings Old Testament Pastor Willie Jackson New Testament Minister Carlus Williams Selection “This Little Light of Mine” Sister Teresa Freeman Prayer Pastor James Collins Poem Mr. Nyerere Jackson Family Reflections Mrs. Shondra J. Wilder Mr. Keith Alexander, Mrs. Frances Jackson Solo “Goodbye to Yesterday” Brother Ryan Benton Video Tribute Reflections Minister Roger Turner, Sister Rosemary Thrasher, Asst. Chief Philip Bradford Minister Marilyn Williams, Judge Samuel Ozburn , Chariman Marcello Banes Mrs. Sonya Smith Sutton, Pastor ZeEster Browning Civil Rights Musical Medley Maestro Raymond Hammond Selection “One More River” Pastor Cecil J. Rozier, Sr. Eulogy Senior Pastor Kenneth Williams

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS & THE DIRECTOR’S PRESENTATION

Staff of Lester Lackey & Sons Recessional……………….………………….….......................................………………………………….………..……

INTERMENT Flat Shoals Cemetery

Highway 162 Covington, GA 30014

REPAST Under the Stars

672 Moore St. Oxford, GA 30054

Friends and Family

His Journey’s Just Begun

Don’t think of him as gone away

his journey’s just begun,

life holds so many facets

this earth is only one.

Just think of him as resting

from the sorrows and the tears

in a place of warmth and comfort

where there are no days and years.

Think how he must be wishing

that we could know today

how nothing but our sadness

can really pass away.

And think of him as living

in the hearts of those he touched…

for nothing loved is ever lost

and he was loved so much.

My Loving Soulmate Heaven couldn’t wait for you