ROSCOE A. PERRY

Roscoe A. Perry was born to John Raymond and Sue Mable Perry on October 30th, 1932, in Washington D.C. He was the fifth child out of ten children born to this union. He was raised in D.C. and received his formal education at Armstrong High school. Right after high school Roscoe enlisted in the United States Navy where he served our country over the next 30 years. After retiring from the Navy, he worked for Rohr and Nassco for 20 plus years.

Roscoe met his wife while walking down the street in Charleston, South Carolina, in 1956, it was love at first site and they were married 30 days later. To this union was born seven children, Mark, Raymond, Leslie, Anthony, Benjamin. Two sons preceded him in death.  Roscoe and Oneatha (affectionately known as Tiny) was married for thirty-three years until her untimely death in December of 1989.

A few years later in 1996 Roscoe married Helen Mansfield-Strawn. He was married to her until her death in 2010.

While in the Navy he was stationed at various locations the last of which was San Diego. While stationed in San Diego he joined Calvary Baptist Church. His children were invited to a church picnic that’s when he fell in love with the church when he saw how good the saints treated his children. He soon after moved his membership to Greater Israelite COGIC, under the leadership of Pastor Harvey Jessie, where he was saved and filled with the Holy Ghost.

While at Israelite he stayed busy being on the Street Ministry, Usher Board, Choir, Youth Department and Men’s Council President. He soon became a minister and later in 1977 he was ordained an Elder.  Roscoe Perry loved preaching the word of God, one of his favorite scriptures were “Let brotherly love continue”.  Roscoe Perry lived that scripture to the fullest.  Always opening his home to strangers, saints and friends. 

Every Holiday, especially Thanksgiving and Christmas his house was full of guest from near and far, just the way he loved it.  He would often take his wife to work at NTC, while heading home he would see young newly enlisted Navy men at the bus stop and would give them a ride, all along the way witnessing and sharing God’s love.  We would often say “Dad did you know them” and he would say “No, it’s just nice to be nice”.

Roscoe Perry was loved by all. He was a mentor, father, brother and friend.  You could often catch young men at his house talking with him, seeking advice and encouragement.  Many young men such as, Craig Newton, Ronald Purvis, James Dearing, Elder William Baldwin, Elder Brian Garcia and Cubie King just to name a few.

As a father, Roscoe raised his children with old school love.  The children had to be in the house when the streetlights turned on and if you weren’t in the house, you could hear your named shouted from the porch and you knew to run.  He encouraged his sons to be their own man and his daughter to be strong. He loved his grandchildren and great grandchildren. Never missing a moment in their lives.

Our dad would often say “if I knew I was going to live this long, I would of took better care of myself”.  He is loved and will be missed by many.

On October 22, 2019 at 1:30 pm, Roscoe went home to be with the Lord. It was said by the Priest “after I prayed with him, he looked at me and smiled and took his last breath”.  He leaves to celebrate his life, his children Mark, Raymond, Leslie, Benjamin (Jody) Perry of San Diego and Anthony Perry of Bakersfield, California. His grandchildren, Rashanda Wear (James), Robert Burton, Anthony Perry, Jr, Nett’ea Boyd (Micheal), Bo Jr., Micah, Amaya and Joshua Perry. Great Grand Children, Aa’Zha, Ari’Ana, A’Zaria, A’Lexis Wear, Amari Perry, Micheal Jr. and Alexis Boyd. His brother Hardy Perry, sister Patrica Willams of Washington D.C. and a host of friends, cousins, nieces and nephews.

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