General Lee Young

Service Time and Date: Sat, Sept. 1, 2012 at 3:00 PM

Place of Service: Roy Hazzle Gymnasium- Aberdeen High School-Aberdeen,MS

Clery: Rev David Jackson, Officiating, pastor of Victory Church of Christ-Holly Springs,MS

Interment: Oddfellows Rest-Aberdeen, MS

Visitation: Friday, 2 - 6 PM @ Belle Memorial Funeral Home-Aberdeen, MS

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General Lee (Red) Young departed this life Friday, August 24, 2012 at Alliance Healthcare in Holly Springs, MS.

General was born February 22, 1923 to the late Eddie and Elnora Young in Aberdeen, MS. He confessed hope in Christ and joined Morgan Chapel UM Churh and remained faithful until his health failed and he moved to Holly Springs with his son and Daughter-in-law. Brother Young was baptized on January 26, 2011 at Victory Church of Christ in Holly Springs where he remained faithful until his death.

He was united in holy matrimony to Helen Young and to this six children were born. Two children, Christine and Johnny Young preceded him in death. He later married Fannie Walker, she him preceded him in death.

Bro. General Young served in the U.S. Navy for three and one half years and was a veteran of WWII. Over the course of his life he was employed as a truck driver and heavy equipment operator at the Shell Plant and he was self-employed as a skilled welder.

General was a strong humanitarian who was unafraid to stand for justice. One of his first accomplishments was fighting for the right to vote and he was quoted saying "We could fight together and not vote in the country we are fighting for" He was told that if he paid poll tax for three years in the amount of $2.00 he would be able to vote. This did not stop the General, he kept fighting through life's threatening obstacles such as being beaten, sprayed with water hoses, dogs being released on him and shots being fired in his home. Through all of this he became the first African American to vote in Aberdeen, MS. Voting was just the start of his firsts. He was the first black to enter a bank in downtown Aberdeen, MS and he started the first NAACP Chapter in North Mississippi with 25 members for a membership fee of twenty-five cents. He remained the president of his local chapter until his health failed, which gave him over 50 years of service to the NAACP. Mr. Young attended the 1963 March on Washington with 250,000 other protesters. He was with Dr. Martin Luther King in Memphis, TN on April 3,1968. He was involved in the 1965 Selma March "Bloody Sunday". General was well known by many other civil right activists such as Fannie Lou Hammer, Nelson Mandela, Dr Howard Gunn, Aaron Henry and Medger Evers. He was also noted for helping in the identification of Emmitt Till in Money, MS and the three slain civil right activists in Philadelphia, MS in 1964.

He leaves to cherish his memories 2 sons, Jimmy Young(Mary) of Holly Springs,MS), Evelyn and General Young,Jr(Bessie) of Omaha,NE; 4 daughters, Eva Hamilton(Holly Springs,MS), Evelyn and Elnora Young of Easton, MI, and Angie Michelle Blair of Columbus,MS; 2 stepsons, Johnny Walker(Mary) of Aberdeen,MS and Jimmy Walker, 27 grandchildren, on special grandson Jalone Young, a special step-granddaughter, two special nieces, Julie and Benita Young and a special caretaker, Teresa Frost.