This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: Lace_Lynch Surnames: Classification: obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/topics.ethnic.afam.ms/1506/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Shadrach Pitchford Jr. Dies January 15, 2000 "Junior", as he was known to his friends came from Tchula, Mississippi (Holmes County) to Chicago in 1953. A young man at the time he left the south at a time when people of color had different drinking fountains and washrooms from the white folks. He came to Chicago for work, and work he found in Oak Park. Junior worked in Oak Park for thirty-nine and one half years. When he retired in 1997, he had been a Supervisor of the Oak Parks Public Works Dept. of Streets and Sanitation for over a decade. For decades on end Junior had breakfast before work at Jamie's Restaurant (now called Tyme and Honey) and later he moved to George's Restaurant (on Oak Park Avenue, across the street) when his favorite waitress (Erna Bjork) moved to her new place of employment. The seating order at the restaurant for years was Larry, Sam, Junior, and Tony. Everyone who knew Junior liked him, and had nothing to say but nice things-real nice things. He is survived by "two beautiful daughters" Deborah (Toni) Pitchford of Chicago and Penny Pitchford of Kansas City, Kansas. After ceremonies here in Chicago, it was Juniors wish to be returned to his place of birth for burial. His body will be buried in Tchula, Mississippi, but his friends will remember him in Oak Park. Thank you Junior for all the years of hard work to make Oak Park better and thanks to Oak Park who helped him climb the ladder to success and recognition. Oak Park First African- American Supervisor. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.