Cllaude Kendrick

Mr. Claude Kendrick, was born on March 26, 1928, to the late James Carlton andNarcissus (Broomfield) Kendrick in Hancock County, Georgia. He was the second oftheir eight children: Willie Pierce, Fred, Olivia, Dorothy Mae, Ruby, James, Jr., (Billy),and Virginia; all have preceded him in eternal life with Jesus. Claude went to be with his Savior on December 17, 2013. Claude accepted Christ at an early age and was baptized at Trinity C.M.E. Church in Sparta, Georgia. He served as Deacon and Sunday School teacher at St. James BaptistChurch in Kinloch, Missouri, for several decades. During his twilight years, he attended the Church by the Glades in Coral Springs, Florida, where he lived near his son, Ray, andhis family. Upon completing the eighth grade, Claude worked with his family in farming untilNovember 27, 1945, when he enlisted in the United States Army at Fort Benning, Georgia. During the tail-end of World War II, his duties took him to Missouri, New York, France, andGermany. He served in the Quarter Master Corps Trucking Company. He was honorablydischarged at Fort Dix, New Jersey on May 2, 1947. Claude returned to Georgia and married his childhood sweetheart, the former Annie Chatman,in 1947. Osby (1947-2000), their first born, arrived in Sandersville, Georgia. The family moved to Kinloch, Missouri in 1949 and increased with the births of Ray and Debra Ann. In 1968, Claude married the former Ida Mae (Wise) Thomas. He accepted her two children, Audrey and Earl (Junior) as his own. They were wedded for 40 years until Ida went to be with Christ in 2007. He later relocated to Coconut Creek, Florida. For more than two decades, Claude worked for the Abex Corporation in Wellston, Missouri. He worked his way up from laborer to assistant foundry foreman; then, in 1982, the plant permanently closed its doors. At age fifty-plus years with an eighth grade education, apprehensive about competing with a younger, educated work force, he was abundantly blessed and his confidence rejuvenated when he was employed by St. Luke's Hospital. He retired from St. Luke's as the Laundry Department Supervisor. Claude was an avid hunter until he no longer felt safe participating in the activity. He was a lifelong fisherman and developed a particular fascination with the alligators in the Florida Everglades. Even after becoming a permanent Floridian, he remained a St. Louis Cardinal baseball fan. Though he lived most of his life in Missouri and his last years in Florida, his heart was always with his home state of Georgia and he visited relatives, friends and gravesites often. He leaves cherished memories with his children Ray (Linda) Kendrick of Coral Springs, FL and Debra (Lawrence) Harris of Hesperia, CA; ex-wife and friend Mrs. Annie Kendrick- Snorton of University City, MO; stepchildren, Audrey (Sam) Lewis of MO and Earl (Frankie) Thomas, Jr. of Mand families; grandchildren Neko (James) Jones of St. Louis, MO, James Kendrick of Coral Springs, FL, Troy (Brittany) Harris of CA and Claudette Harris of CA; great-grandchildren, Darron and Neko Osby of MO; many nieces, nephews, cousins, in-laws and a host of other relatives and friends. On December 22, 2013 @ 3:00 P.M. in Jewell, GeorgiaOn December 24, 2013 @ 11:00 A.M. in St. Louis, MissouriInterment: J.B. National Cemetery 2600 Sheridan St. Louis, Missouri 63126 .