Junius Amos Reese

Junius Amos Reese, 97

Troy-Junius Amos Reese, 97, died Saturday, May 20, 2006 at Samuel Stratton VA Medical Center in Albany.

Junius Amos Reese was born on May 4, 1909 in Lynchburg, Virginia; the youngest of three children born to Amos and Mammie Reese. His mother died when he was age 3 and he credits his father with having instilled in him a strong sense of responsibility, hard work, perseverance and solid ethical standards. Over the next few years, Junius developed varied interests which included a love for golf, bowling and cooking. It was his pursuit of opportunities in food service that brought him to Troy in 1930 where he worked as a waiter at various Capital District hotels. Junius also worked at the Watervliet Arsenal; as a chauffeur for Gordon L. Hayes, an electrical appliance dealer; and as a chauffeur for Ersa Poston, President of New York State Department of Civil Service. It was from this job that Junius retired in 1974. Upon coming to Troy in 1930, Junius joined the Fifth Avenue AME Zion Church where he served for 15 years as a valued member of the Board of Trustees. He became a charter member of the first African American Bowling league in Troy and in 1932, integrated Troy's Municipal Golf Club at Frear Park. In 1932, Junius married Jane Dennis; a union that was to last for the next 55 years. She predeceased him in 1990. In 1943, he joined the US Army and, after basic training, had tours of duty in the Philippines and New Guinea. He earned the rank of Staff Sergeant and was honorably discharged in 1945. Junius was famous for his sayings. Probably the one he is most noted for was: "I have met a lot of nice people in my life time and you are one of them." In addition to being a member of the golf and bowling leagues in Troy, Junius was also a member of the Albany Boyfriends and the 369th Veterans Association. He leaves a long list of cherished friends and family. Among them are Gloria White, Clara Park and Bernice Kerby of Brooklyn, New York, Laura Bell, Levy Weston and Catherine Simmons of Lawrenceville, Virginia, William Fuller, Sr., William Fuller, Jr., Irving Goldsberry and Carolyn Mills, of the Capital District, Clifford and Ernestine Johnson of Hackensack, New Jersey and William and Kim Allen of Hockessin, Delaware.

Funeral service will be held Wednesday, at 10:00 AM at the Fifth Avenue AME Zion 189 Fifth Avenue Troy with Rev. Robert E. Linder, Pastor, officiating. Relatives and friends may call at the CHURCH Wednesday from 9-10 AM prior to the service. Interment Memory's Garden in Colonie.

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