Eugene Wall

To view Live Stream https://www.facebook.com/JonesvileAMEZC Eugene Alexander Wall entered heavenly eternal rest on Wednesday, October 5, 2022. He was born on October 30, 1927, in a rural area of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, near Old Providence Road and Hwy 51 to the late Tossie Ingram, a proud Farmer, and School Teacher Frank Houston. Eugene went by his middle name Alexander, charmingly known as Alec, and was the youngest of seven siblings. At the age of two, Eugene lost his biological Father, Frank Houston, battling a long-term illness, leaving Tossie and her seven children to tend to a Farm. When Eugene turned eight, Tossie married a man named Sylvester Wall (Papa Syl) on December 2, 1935. Sylvester was a “doer” and a man of all trades. He was a Music Teacher, Sharecropper, and Carpenter. Sylvester built his own House with the help of his family. Eugene spent a lot of time with his Stepfather, who helped to mold him into the man we lovingly refer to as “The Great Wall.” Growing up through the era of the Great Depression, responsibility came at a young age for Eugene. He worked on a Farm with his Mom and Stepdad, picking cotton, plowing soil with his Mule “Tom,” tending to the animals, and doing whatever needed to be done. By the time Eugene was 16, he had secured his first job earning 50 cents an hour at A&P Grocery Store to further help his family. Outside his responsibilities on the farm and at the store, Eugene enjoyed singing and playing sports. Eugene attended Pineville High School, where he and several other schoolmates organized the renowned Gospel Singing Group “The Golden Crowns of Charlotte,” where he served as President. They were legendary for hit singles “The Lord Has Brought Me a Mighty Long Way” and “Have You Got Oil in Your Vessel,” which is Eugene’s favorite. Eugene was a great athlete as the Pineville High School Baseball Team’s star pitcher and leading guard on their Basketball Team. Charmingly handsome, with a funny personality, and intellectually smart. With so many achievements, Eugene graduated Salutatorian of his class in 1949 from Pineville High School. After graduation, Eugene attended Carver College, obtaining an Associate’s Degree in Business. Unique and one of a kind, Eugene continued to live up to his name, “The Great.” Eugene’s will to succeed allowed him to persevere through adversity in a time of racism, segregation, civil rights, and inequality as an African American Man. He continued as a successor in life, enlisting in the United States Army. Eugene served in the Korean War as a Military Police Officer (M.P.O.) and received several Medals. Eugene was awarded the Korean Service Medal with two Bronze Service Stars, United Nations Service Medal, and National Service Medal. After an honorable discharge in 1954, Eugene returned home, worked, and continued to sing until he decided to move to New York in 1971. Eugene Wall, who had four girls, Kay-Frances, Sheila, Deborah, and Salathia Lynn, reunited with his soulmate Gloria Saunders who had two children, a son named Antoine and a daughter Latonda. The couple married on August 19, 1978, and relocated to Roosevelt, New York. Through their union they had their youngest child, Shimeka Wall, and created their beautiful blended family. Throughout 44 years of marriage, Eugene and Gloria became the “Village” that helped nurture so many people who considered them as family. One special person is Adrien Ruiz, an adopted sister in love who grew up with their daughter Shimeka since childhood in New York. The “Village” expanded when Eugene and Gloria relocated to Fort Mill, South Carolina, instilling love and values into their Grands. For a period of time, they took in Grand Daughter Trenise and “Planted the Seeds.” While in New York, Eugene worked at Nassau County Medical Center Trauma Hospital, where he retired in 1991 from the Housekeeping Department. Wearing many hats like his Stepfather, Eugene was a master of many talents. He was a Singer, Public Speaker, Farmer, Contractor, Truck Driver, and Bus Driver, along with selling meat and fish as a residential wholesale distributor, to name a few. The Great Eugene Wall was a Master of any job he touched. As an entrepreneur in New York, Eugene transported people & neighbors to various destinations, who became regular clients. While one would say cab, we believe he was the original “Uber.” One truly unique gift Eugene possessed was his words of wisdom. As a public speaker, he never spared an opportunity to inspire people with analogies and humor for thought. At an early age, Eugene joined Jonesville A.M.E. Zion Church, where he served in the youth choir and usher board. He returned to his home church after 31 years in New York. As a faithful man of God, Eugene loved attending Church and serving the Lord. He worshiped and praised along with his wife, Gloria, who also served on several boards. At Jonesville, he served as a trustee, Preacher Steward, Men’s and Gospel choirs, and other positions in the Church. In 2011 Eugene received the Louie B. Davis Humanitarian Award for his exemplified dedicated leadership and outstanding service. Eugene also created a community garden at the Church. Eugene was preceded in death by his parents, Sylvester and Tossie Wall. Siblings: Rosa Miles, Truelove Henderson, James ‘Jimmy’ Cunningham, Ida-Mae Houston, Robert Cunningham, and Mattie Audrey, also, Daughter Kay Frances and her husband, Curtis Parker. Eugene leaves to mourn: his loving wife, Gloria Wall of Fort-Mill, and four generations, Daughters, Sheila Wall-Hill, Deborah Ferguson, Latonda Staton of Charlotte, NC; Salathia Lynn Wall of Kannapolis, NC, and Shimeka Wall-Anderson (Marcus) of Roosevelt, NY and one son, Thomas Antoine Saunders of Brooklyn, NY. Eleven Grandchildren, Charles McCorbin, Phyllis White, Bernest (Bobby) Holit, Omega Holit, Patrice Hopkins, Trenise Pauling (Maurice Pauling), Phillip Hill, and Kennedy Hill of NC; Telisa Saunders, Kori Key, and Branden Anderson of NY. Twenty Five Great Grandchildren, Five Great-Great Grandchildren, and a host of nieces and nephews who truly and dearly loved their “Unc” Alec and considered him a father figure. Eugene also leaves many friends who love him.