Joshua Thomas Jeffries, Sr. was born on June 18, 1933 to Joseph S. Jeffries and Ida Mary Stewart Jeffries. Joshua, affectionately called, "Josh" was a native of Rochester, NY and attended what is now known as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. School No. 9 and Edison Technical schools.
Josh was an athlete on and off the courts and fields. In the 1950s he played on Baden Street Center's Whiz Kids basketball team. Josh encouraging youth to use sports as an outlet and assisted with the management of the basketball team that participated in the Rochester Church Basketball league.
A lifelong member of the Church of God and Saints of Christ, Josh was a member of the choir and a chorister. He could also be found showing the young men how to "handle" the shepherd-boy's staff. But Josh loved music! Josh could sing both bass and tenor. Josh would carry around his tape recorder and challenge choir members on "the way" the songs were composed. He was never afraid to tell you, "That's not how it goes." His athletic ability carried over into the choir as Josh picked his feet off the floor during the choir march.
A jokester in deed!! Josh was always looking for an opportunity to make you laugh even at the most inopportune times. He loved to have fun and could be counted on to play a card game or two.
Josh was "Mr. Social" and was fun even on his job at Kodak where he retired after many years of service. Josh performed various levels of carpentry and after his retirement, utilized his skills to keep the church repaired and maintained. He stayed active and worked part-time as a laundry attendant.
He met and married Mary Williams and from that union were born three children. Mary and his two sons Joshua T. Jeffries Jr. and Billy D. Jeffries Sr. were pre-deceased. He leaves to cherish his legacy his daughter Helen Louise Jeffries, grandchildren Camon T. Wyatt, Joshua M. Jeffries, Anitra (Gael) Jeffries-Ngounda, Jocelyn Jeffries, Billy D. Jeffries, Jr.; great-grandchildren Jocelyn, Braylon, Caedon, Analiyah, Harlem, Chance, Chase, Lillianna, Sharmeesha, Montriel, Paris, London, Kemet, Zion; brothers Howard (Dietrich) Jeffries, Sr., Freddie (Pamela) Jeffries, Darnell Smith; sisters Lillian McNeil, Lottie (Dominique) Elsey; aunts Viola Perry, Hazel Jeffries, Gwendolyn Jeffries; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family, and friends.
Family and friends may call Wednesday 11-1 pm February 16, 2022 at New Comer Cremations and Funerals, 6 Empire Blvd. (next to Donut's Delight). Funeral services will follow visitation at 11 am. Interment Riverside Cemetery.
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