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Memorial for Major Samuel Elroy Pettiford
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Born in Plymouth, North Carolina on Sep. 10, 1920
Departed on Feb. 12, 2010 and resided in Mountainside, NJ.
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| Visitation: |
Thursday, Feb. 18, 2010
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| Service: |
Thursday, Feb. 18, 2010
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| Cemetery: |
Fairview Cemetery
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Please click on the links above for locations, times, maps, and directions.
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On February 12, 2010, Major Samuel Elroy Pettiford, age 89 departed and went home to be with the "Lord" after a lengthy battle with pulmonary related health issues.
Samuel, who was fondly known by loved ones as "The Major", was born on September 10, 1920 in Plymouth, (Washington County) North Carolina to the late James Lucius Pettiford, Sr. and the late Aseneath Wiggins. Samuel was 1 of 6 siblings who all predeceased him. As a young child, Samuel was education in Summit, New Jersey and graduated from Summit High School in 1940.
He enlisted in the US Army in 1942 and served during World War II until 1946. He then attended Howard University with the ROTC program, re-enlisted in 1948 and served in the Korean and Vietnam Wars. He earned the high rank of "Major" within the US Army, and was decorated with 11 awards before his retirement from the Philadelphia Air Defense in New Jersey in 1964. Samuel was quite accomplished in his military career; he had top secret security clearance and worked on classified military nuclear weapons such as the Nike missile which was set up in the Watchung Reservation in Summit, New Jersey. He was named OIC of this assignment and was one of the first black officers in the military to achieve this position. He had many outstanding accomplishments and received numerous letters of commendation.
After retiring from the military, he worked for the US Postal Service for 20 years. After retirement, Samuel resided in Jamaica, New York for 30 years then moved to Somerset, New Jersey until his final resting days at Brighton Gardens in Edison, New Jersey.
Samuel was predeceased by his father, James in 1951 and his mother, Aseneath in 1989, a brother, James, Jr. in 1971, a brother, Rothwyn "Stanley" in 1978, a sister, Vashti in 1980, a sister, Mary Louise in 1988 and a sister, Lorraine in 1997. He had 15 nieces and nephews and is survived by 11: Helene Delores Dorsey of East Brunswick, NJ, Vernon Pettiford of Orange, NJ, Vincent Arthur Hall of Flushing, NY, Richard Hall, Jr. of Flushing, NY, Sandra Knight-Brown of Rockaway, NY, Arthur B. Brown, Jr. of Perth Amboy, NJ, Ronald Knight of Buffalo, NY, Donald Knight of DeSoto, TX, Lauren P. Carter of Valley Stream, NY, Gregory Pettiford of Valley Stream, NY and Michelle Brown Hicks of Rahway, NJ. Samuel is also survived by 1st cousins, Jeanne Cross Jenkins of Westfield, NJ, Barbara Hall-York of East Orange, NJ and Mae Lorraine Eversley of New York City, NY and a sister-n-law, Shirley T. Pettiford of Valley Stream, NY and a host of grand nieces and nephews, great grand nieces and nephews, extended cousins and relatives whom he was equally fond of and maintained a loving relationship with all. During his lifetime of high level achievements, Samuel never hesitated to show grace and admiration to others in need. He was often known to be a gracious host for family and civic related events, and never stopped showing his family love and appreciation even in his final days. Uncle Samuel E. Pettiford will be greatly missed but his suffering will be no more.
To send a Life Tribute or Condolences to the Pettiford family, please click the "Sign Guestbook" link below.
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