Phonell was born to Andrew and Zora(Missouri) Floyd in Fairmont North Carolina. He was one of nine children, five sister's Snoe, Francis, Lorena and Linda and Thelma Grace Whitworth and three brother's Roland, Graham, Hope.(who all preceded him in death).
He came to Detroit in 1935 and was educated in the Detroit Public School System and graduated from Northwestern High School.
He was recruited in the United States Marines in 1942 and became a Mumford Point Marine. He was in a group of the first African Americans who entered the United States Marine Corps from 1942 to 1949 at Montford Point Camp, New River, North Carolina. These Marines were to be trained at Mumford Point (later renamed Montford Point) at the Marine Barracks in New Point, North Carolina. Montford Point and Camp Lejeune (as the barracks were later called) were to become as synonymous with Black Marines in World War II, as Tuskegee would be with Black air pilots.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=244&v=pjTgZCnJvZk
After his tour of duty was completed with the Marines he was honorably discharged, he came back to Detroit and worked many jobs until he landed his position with the Detroit Board of Education as brick mason for over 38 years.
Daddy and momma were childhood sweethearts, they were married July 12, 1946, and to their union seven children were born, Vincent, Suzan, Bonnie, Lisa, Alisohn, Victoria and Lance. They were together for over sixty five years.
On a personal note, he was oh so loved, the best way I can describe my dad, he was a man of unconditonal love, integrity, faith, someone you could always count on, a man of his word and a great roll model. He was a man of old school morals, he was wise and had a great sense of humor. He was a very sweet and soft spoken man and he never complained about anything. He was generous to a fault, he would help ANYBODY and I feel he wasn't appreciated the way he should have been.
My daddy means the world to me and I feel so lost with him being gone and I have to get use to him not being here with me. I guess that I'm selfish when it comes to him because I'm a DLG (daddy's little girl) and even though I'm 50 years young I will never stop missing my daddy and probably will never get over him leaving me.
Phonell is grandfather to Whitney, Nageela, Dijon, Cortney, YaVonne, Antoine and Donald. He is g-grandfather to Kurt, Chelsea, Brooklyn, Tavonne, Antoine Jr, Deja' Dylan, Hailey and DeCarey and he has left behind a faithful pet poodle Bobo. He also has two favorite niece's Clementine McCarthy and Jacquelyn Scott who thought the world of him.
Bobo has joined his daddy in heaven January 2010.
THE MEASURE OF A MAN
Not - How did he die? But - How did he live? Not - What did he gain? But - What did he give?
These are the things that measure the worth of a man as a man, regardless of birth.
Not - What was his station? But - had he a heart? And - How did he play his God-given part?
Was he ever ready with a word of good cheer? To bring back a smile, to banish a tear?
Not - What was his church? Not - What was his creed? But - Had he befriended those really in need?
Not - What did the sketch in the newspaper say? But - How many were sorry when he passed away?
These are the things that measure the worth of a man as a man, regardless of birth.
He came to Detroit in 1935 and was educated in the Detroit Public School System and graduated from Northwestern High School.
He was recruited in the United States Marines in 1942 and became a Mumford Point Marine. He was in a group of the first African Americans who entered the United States Marine Corps from 1942 to 1949 at Montford Point Camp, New River, North Carolina. These Marines were to be trained at Mumford Point (later renamed Montford Point) at the Marine Barracks in New Point, North Carolina. Montford Point and Camp Lejeune (as the barracks were later called) were to become as synonymous with Black Marines in World War II, as Tuskegee would be with Black air pilots.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=244&v=pjTgZCnJvZk
After his tour of duty was completed with the Marines he was honorably discharged, he came back to Detroit and worked many jobs until he landed his position with the Detroit Board of Education as brick mason for over 38 years.
Daddy and momma were childhood sweethearts, they were married July 12, 1946, and to their union seven children were born, Vincent, Suzan, Bonnie, Lisa, Alisohn, Victoria and Lance. They were together for over sixty five years.
On a personal note, he was oh so loved, the best way I can describe my dad, he was a man of unconditonal love, integrity, faith, someone you could always count on, a man of his word and a great roll model. He was a man of old school morals, he was wise and had a great sense of humor. He was a very sweet and soft spoken man and he never complained about anything. He was generous to a fault, he would help ANYBODY and I feel he wasn't appreciated the way he should have been.
My daddy means the world to me and I feel so lost with him being gone and I have to get use to him not being here with me. I guess that I'm selfish when it comes to him because I'm a DLG (daddy's little girl) and even though I'm 50 years young I will never stop missing my daddy and probably will never get over him leaving me.
Phonell is grandfather to Whitney, Nageela, Dijon, Cortney, YaVonne, Antoine and Donald. He is g-grandfather to Kurt, Chelsea, Brooklyn, Tavonne, Antoine Jr, Deja' Dylan, Hailey and DeCarey and he has left behind a faithful pet poodle Bobo. He also has two favorite niece's Clementine McCarthy and Jacquelyn Scott who thought the world of him.
Bobo has joined his daddy in heaven January 2010.
THE MEASURE OF A MAN
Not - How did he die? But - How did he live? Not - What did he gain? But - What did he give?
These are the things that measure the worth of a man as a man, regardless of birth.
Not - What was his station? But - had he a heart? And - How did he play his God-given part?
Was he ever ready with a word of good cheer? To bring back a smile, to banish a tear?
Not - What was his church? Not - What was his creed? But - Had he befriended those really in need?
Not - What did the sketch in the newspaper say? But - How many were sorry when he passed away?
These are the things that measure the worth of a man as a man, regardless of birth.
Phonell was born to Andrew and Zora(Missouri) Floyd in Fairmont North Carolina. He was one of nine children, five sister's Snoe, Francis, Lorena and Linda and Thelma Grace Whitworth and three brother's Roland, Graham, Hope.(who all preceded him in death).
He came to Detroit in 1935 and was educated in the Detroit Public School System and graduated from Northwestern High School.
He was recruited in the United States Marines in 1942 and became a Mumford Point Marine. He was in a group of the first African Americans who entered the United States Marine Corps from 1942 to 1949 at Montford Point Camp, New River, North Carolina. These Marines were to be trained at Mumford Point (later renamed Montford Point) at the Marine Barracks in New Point, North Carolina. Montford Point and Camp Lejeune (as the barracks were later called) were to become as synonymous with Black Marines in World War II, as Tuskegee would be with Black air pilots.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=244&v=pjTgZCnJvZk
After his tour of duty was completed with the Marines he was honorably discharged, he came back to Detroit and worked many jobs until he landed his position with the Detroit Board of Education as brick mason for over 38 years.
Daddy and momma were childhood sweethearts, they were married July 12, 1946, and to their union seven children were born, Vincent, Suzan, Bonnie, Lisa, Alisohn, Victoria and Lance. They were together for over sixty five years.
On a personal note, he was oh so loved, the best way I can describe my dad, he was a man of unconditonal love, integrity, faith, someone you could always count on, a man of his word and a great roll model. He was a man of old school morals, he was wise and had a great sense of humor. He was a very sweet and soft spoken man and he never complained about anything. He was generous to a fault, he would help ANYBODY and I feel he wasn't appreciated the way he should have been.
My daddy means the world to me and I feel so lost with him being gone and I have to get use to him not being here with me. I guess that I'm selfish when it comes to him because I'm a DLG (daddy's little girl) and even though I'm 50 years young I will never stop missing my daddy and probably will never get over him leaving me.
Phonell is grandfather to Whitney, Nageela, Dijon, Cortney, YaVonne, Antoine and Donald. He is g-grandfather to Kurt, Chelsea, Brooklyn, Tavonne, Antoine Jr, Deja' Dylan, Hailey and DeCarey and he has left behind a faithful pet poodle Bobo. He also has two favorite niece's Clementine McCarthy and Jacquelyn Scott who thought the world of him.
Bobo has joined his daddy in heaven January 2010.
THE MEASURE OF A MAN
Not - How did he die? But - How did he live? Not - What did he gain? But - What did he give?
These are the things that measure the worth of a man as a man, regardless of birth.
Not - What was his station? But - had he a heart? And - How did he play his God-given part?
Was he ever ready with a word of good cheer? To bring back a smile, to banish a tear?
Not - What was his church? Not - What was his creed? But - Had he befriended those really in need?
Not - What did the sketch in the newspaper say? But - How many were sorry when he passed away?
These are the things that measure the worth of a man as a man, regardless of birth.
He came to Detroit in 1935 and was educated in the Detroit Public School System and graduated from Northwestern High School.
He was recruited in the United States Marines in 1942 and became a Mumford Point Marine. He was in a group of the first African Americans who entered the United States Marine Corps from 1942 to 1949 at Montford Point Camp, New River, North Carolina. These Marines were to be trained at Mumford Point (later renamed Montford Point) at the Marine Barracks in New Point, North Carolina. Montford Point and Camp Lejeune (as the barracks were later called) were to become as synonymous with Black Marines in World War II, as Tuskegee would be with Black air pilots.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=244&v=pjTgZCnJvZk
After his tour of duty was completed with the Marines he was honorably discharged, he came back to Detroit and worked many jobs until he landed his position with the Detroit Board of Education as brick mason for over 38 years.
Daddy and momma were childhood sweethearts, they were married July 12, 1946, and to their union seven children were born, Vincent, Suzan, Bonnie, Lisa, Alisohn, Victoria and Lance. They were together for over sixty five years.
On a personal note, he was oh so loved, the best way I can describe my dad, he was a man of unconditonal love, integrity, faith, someone you could always count on, a man of his word and a great roll model. He was a man of old school morals, he was wise and had a great sense of humor. He was a very sweet and soft spoken man and he never complained about anything. He was generous to a fault, he would help ANYBODY and I feel he wasn't appreciated the way he should have been.
My daddy means the world to me and I feel so lost with him being gone and I have to get use to him not being here with me. I guess that I'm selfish when it comes to him because I'm a DLG (daddy's little girl) and even though I'm 50 years young I will never stop missing my daddy and probably will never get over him leaving me.
Phonell is grandfather to Whitney, Nageela, Dijon, Cortney, YaVonne, Antoine and Donald. He is g-grandfather to Kurt, Chelsea, Brooklyn, Tavonne, Antoine Jr, Deja' Dylan, Hailey and DeCarey and he has left behind a faithful pet poodle Bobo. He also has two favorite niece's Clementine McCarthy and Jacquelyn Scott who thought the world of him.
Bobo has joined his daddy in heaven January 2010.
THE MEASURE OF A MAN
Not - How did he die? But - How did he live? Not - What did he gain? But - What did he give?
These are the things that measure the worth of a man as a man, regardless of birth.
Not - What was his station? But - had he a heart? And - How did he play his God-given part?
Was he ever ready with a word of good cheer? To bring back a smile, to banish a tear?
Not - What was his church? Not - What was his creed? But - Had he befriended those really in need?
Not - What did the sketch in the newspaper say? But - How many were sorry when he passed away?
These are the things that measure the worth of a man as a man, regardless of birth.
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