ESTUS HOOD JR.

January 9, 1931 - August 31, 2014

Estus Hood Jr., 83, of Kankakee, died Sunday, August 31, 2014 at Riverside Medical Center. Visitation will be Friday, September 5, 2014 from 4:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. at Lax Mortuary and again on Saturday, September 6, 2014 from 10:00 A.M. until time of Funeral Services at 11:00 A.M. at Caldwell Chapel AME Zion Church. Pastor Lori K. Holmes will officiate. Burial will be in Kankakee Memorial Gardens. Estus Hood Jr. was born on January 9, 1931 in Copiah County, Crystal Springs, Mississippi, the son of the late Estus Hood Sr. and Elvira Myles Hood. He accepted Christ at an early age and united with Miller Spring Missionary Baptist Church in Crystal Springs, MS. Mr. Hood completed elementary school at Lowes Chapel, Utica, MS. His high school graduation was from Utica Institute, Utica, MS. He graduated from Jackson State University, Jackson, MS and then completed Graduate Schools of Washburn College, Topeka, KS, Ohio University Athens, OH, State University of New York, New York, NY and, Lane College Jackson, TN. While at Jackson State he met and fell in love with Eddie Mae Davis of Hattiesburg, MS. On December 22, 1952, he and the love of his life were married. This union was blessed with four children, Tyrone Antonio Hood (deceased), Estus Hood III, Arthur Leon Hood and Deborah Laquita Hood. Estus was an educator, teaching and coaching at several schools. He began his professional teaching career in Vicksburg, MS at Bowman High School, from 1956-1960; Holtzclaw High School, Crystal Springs, MS, from 1960-1963; Duck Hill High School, Duck Hill, MS from 1963-1964; McLaurin High School, Florence, MS-1964-1970-he received the Highland Conference Coach of the Year Award in 1966 and St. Anne High School, St. Anne, IL from 1970 until he retired in 1993. In addition to his teaching experience, he worked at Sears Roebuck and Company and retired after 20 years of service. In August of 1970, the family relocated to Kankakee, IL where they united with Caldwell Chapel AME Zion Church. Estus served faithfully throughout the years at Caldwell until his health failed. He served as Chairman of the Trustee Board, member of the Men’s Club, member of the Chancellor Choir and Boy Scout Leader. Estus was a member of several civic and social organizations, including Kappa Alpha Psi, Fraternity, Inc., and he served as President of the Kankakee Retired Teachers Association. Estus was always ready willing and able to utilize his knowledge and skills for the good of the organization. Additionally, he served his country in the United States Army and after four years of service he was honorably discharged. God saw that Estus was getting weary on this journey and on August 31, 2014 at 1:40 pm at Riverside Hospital he softly whispered in his ear, â€Å"Come on home, my good and faithful servant. You have run the race. You have finished the course. Now take your rest. Your work on earth is done. Well done.†Preceding him in his transition were his mother, father, one son, Tyrone, one brother, Morris, and three sisters, Minnie Ruth, Ella Mae and Bertha. Estus leaves rejoicing in the memories of his life, his beloved wife, Eddie Mae, of Kankakee, IL; two sons and one daughter, Estus III (Diane) of Carbondale, IL, Arthur (Sherri) of Teaneck, NJ, and Deborah (Raphael) of Boston, MA. His memory will be cherished by twelve grandchildren, Ramone and Raphael, Atlanta, GA, Brandon, Indianapolis, IN, Jasmine, Manhattan, NY, Quiana, Atlanta, GA, Crystal, Teaneck, NJ, Elexsia, Los Angeles, CA, Estus IV, San Antonio, TX, Evan, Tucson, AZ, Alana, Tariel and Raphael, Boston, MA. He leaves three sisters, Arthur LaPearl Clayton, Carthage, MS, Patricia Hood Hall (Dr. Lewis Hall), Pass Christian, MS, and Helen Delores Hood (Charles), Chicago, IL; four brothers-in-law, Nathaniel (Ethel Rae), Edward, Lonnie (Thyra) Tommy (Dee Dee); three sisters-in-law, Minnie Merle, Mildred and Delores, and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.