Willie Kilgo, Jr.

Willie Kilgo, Jr was born to the late Willie Kilgo, Sr and Amanda Kilgo

[Curry] in Monroe, North Carolina, January 8, 1931. As a family of share-
croppers, Willie was raised on a farm where he, his parents and siblings

worked the land. Willie Jr would have nine siblings. He would go as far as
the tenth grade before leaving home to serve in the Korean Conflict circa
1950. Upon his return, Willie Jr. or “June” by which he is affectionately
known, would settle in Detroit, Michigan. He would meet and marry Willie

Bell Jacobs, formerly of Tifton, Georgia, in 1957. Together, they would cre-
ate a family which included two sons, Ronnie Lamont and Everett Lyal. The

family would soon move to New York City in the early 1960s with Willie
going ahead to find work, followed by the family, shortly thereafter. The

family would settle in Brooklyn, New York, before purchasing a home in Ja-
maica, Queens, where Willie Jr and his family would live until his retirement

in 1999. During this period, Willie worked in the service industry jobs, while

gaining additional skill in garage door installation and structural develop-
ment. Later, he would launch Willie Kilgo & Sons Carting and Demolition

business in 1972.
Willie Jr was not only a hardworking and astute businessman, but he was
equally passionate about his outside passions. These included, but were not

limited to, membership in the Prince Hall Masons Fidelity Lodge #32 in Har-
lem, NY, where he rose to the level of Worshipful Master. He also had a

great love for cars which he shared with his son, Everett, often spending

hours in his garage building and repairing his projects. Willie enjoyed fol-
lowing his favorite baseball team, the New York Yankees. At the top of his

favorite pastimes, however, were gardening and his first love: Fishing. Willie
always had a boat ready to go fishing in waterways near and far. His sons,
their friends and fathers often joined him, though his love for fishing would
often see him going it alone from pier to park.
Willie Kilgo has always been a faithful member of the church. He and his
loving wife, Willie Bell, have been long-term members of both the Church of
God in Christ and the Baptist Church having served thirty years in each. He
spent many years serving both churches as a Deacon. Willie also sang in the
Male Chorus and gave of himself to the church and community.
Finally, Willie Kilgo leaves to mourn his wife of sixty five years, Willie Bell,
his son and daughter-in-law, Ronnie and Subrenda Jean, grandson Brandon,

his son Everett, one brother, Jessie James, along with a host of well-loved in-
laws, nieces and nephews, an extended family, friend and associates.

And so, “Rest well, Willie Kilgo, Jr., and may the good works you’ve done
speak for you.”