Eugene Oglesby

Eugene Oglesby was born in Gaffney, South Carolina; Cherokee County, on February 11, 1917. He departed this life peacefully at University of Maryland Hospital on September 23, 2002, surrounded and lovingly comforted by his daughters and grandsons. Eugene was raised by his maternal grandparents, Nattie and John Beatty, and received his formal education in the Gaffney public School system where he graduated High School.On May 5, 1940 Eugene married his childhood sweetheart, Lillie Jolly. God blessed this union with one son (Roy, who died in early infancy), and five daughters. Eugene and Lillie moved to Baltimore, Maryland in 1941 to raise their growing family.Employment included such jobs as an enlistee in the Civilian Conservation Corps, a steelworker at Bethlehem Steel, a baker at old Rice’s Bakery, and his favorite as a cross country tractor-trailer driver. At this job, Eugene was a primary long distance driver for The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, and for US Army personnel. Due to his superior and much awarded safety record he was once entrusted to deliver the uranium core for an early US missile launch at Cape Canaveral. He later retired as a city employee from Enoch Pratt Library.Eugene, affectionately called “Diddy” by his daughters, loved singing with them especially at Christmas time. ‘Silent Night’ was his favorite carol and was sure to bring on a warm smile.He enjoyed all family gatherings, most especially with wife Lillie’s great southern style home cooking! He could regularly be found watching The History and Learning Channels, or reading a good book, but he seemed most pleased surrounded by his six grandsons, and handing out very generous gifts (smile).A strong, yet very quiet and peace loving man, Eugene (or ‘Gene’ as wife Lillie called him) always welcomed prayers from his daughters as well as others, before departing this life at the end of his recent(and thankfully short) illness, Eugene heartily reconfirmed his acceptance of salvation through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! The last words he heard just moments before departing this life were from his daughter Joyce who whispered, “Diddy, I love you very much, but Jesus loves you more.” He then took one last soft breath and passed on into eternity.Eugene leaves to cherish his memory: five loving and devoted daughters, Barbara J. (Oglesby) Pratt, JoAnn (Oglesby) Callaman, Joyce A. , Brenda M., and Betty L. Oglesby; brother, Harry Oglesby; sister-in-law, Anna Smith; six grandsons, Melvin A. Callaman III, Brandon L. Jones (Pleasant Hill, California), Neil D. Oglesby, Victor R. Pratt, Brian K. Gillyard, and Sengbi E. Pratt; two granddaughters-in-law, Rita Callaman and Tanya Fermin-Jones; nine great grandchildren; nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends.

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Eugene Oglesby

February 11, 1917 - September 23, 2002