Gerald Duane Kendrick

Gerald Duane Kendrick, 62, of Jefferson City, died Friday, June 20, 2014, at his residence. Gerald was born the second child to the union of the late Leonard Kendrick, Jr. and Helen Louise Wilkerson Kendrick on September 8, 1951. He received his early education in the Evanston public school system and graduated from Evanston Township High School. He loved sports and was a Boy Scout and played Little League Baseball. During High school he played Offensive linebacker and received State honors in his role on the very successful team. He made great friendships and obtained many life lessons from playing sports and the men in the Community that supported and coached the players. Even though his football skills afforded him many offers of scholarships to play ball, he instead chose a full academic scholarship to Union College in Schenectady, New York. Where he played because he loved football. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Union College, obtained a Master of Arts from Boston University and worked on a PhD in African American Studies from Temple University. While on the East Coast, he was a member of the Southern New Hampshire Outreach for Black Unity where he served as Parliamentarian. He received Christ at an early age and was baptized at Mount Zion M.B. church in Evanston, Illinois. He answered God's call and was ordained at the New Fellowship Baptist church in New Hampshire. His main love was the education and elevation of his people. His professional organization include, The College Language Association, The National Council of Teachers of English, Modern Language Association and the National Association of African American Studies. One of his most recent presentations was, "A Biographical Perspective of South African Poet, Dennis Brutus" at the Association of Africa American studies in Baton Rouge, La. He was listed as one of Five Top Favorite Professors in a National Education Association Poll. He served as Assistant Professor of English at Lincoln University. Gerald was on the College Board Development Committee for the English Achievement test. He served as Reviewer for Lippincott, Associate Editor Langston Hughes Review, Brown University and was cited in Who's Who Among Black Americans. He also served as instructor at Northeastern University and researcher at the Newberry Library. He was preceded in death by his parents and leaves to celebrate his homegoing, his sister, Wanda Lenore Mays, Evanston, Il.; his niece, Reisha Lenore (Aaron) Drumgold, Burlington, NC; 2 great-nieces, Alana and Alissa Drumgold, and one great-nephew Aaron Kendrick V. Drumgold; a favorite aunt, Irma Kendrick, Prairie View, Texas; cousin James "Mickey" Bumpas, Lawrenceburg Tenn.; cousin William Leroy Kennedy, S. Carolina; and a great host of other relatives, friends and students. "Oh sing unto the Lord a new song, for He has done marvelous things. His right hand and His holy arm hath gotten the victory." A Homegoing Celebration Service will be 11 a.m. Thursday, June 26, 2014, at Dulle-Trimble Funeral Home with Pastor Joe L. Martin officiating. An additional service will be held 1 p.m. Friday, July 11, 2014, at the House of Thompson Funeral Home in Evanston, Il. with the Rev. Cheryl Green officiating. Those wishing to email tributes or condolences to the family may do so at the www.dulletrimble.com website.