MR. GREGORY BAILEY MR. RAYMOND BAILEY MR. RICKY GOODWIN MR. ALONZO PATTERSON MR. CHRISTOPHER ROBINS MR. ELANIS WESTBROOKS
ATTY. DEBRA ALFORD MRS. PATRICIA BAILEY
MS. DIANNE BRYANT DR. ANNETTE CHINN MS. LUVENIA CLARK MRS. DELORES EPPS MRS. VERONICA MCKENZIE MRS. ROSETTA MINDINGALL MRS. GLORIA STRONG

CELEBRATING THE LIFE AND LEGACY
OF
AN OUTSTANDING HUSBAND, FATHER AND EDUCATOR
FEBRUARY 1, 1922" DECEMBER 31,2012

WE, THE FAMILY OF DR. ALONZA LEROY EPPS, SR., WISH TO CONVEY OUR SINCERE THANKS AND APPRECIATION FOR YOUR MANY PRAYERS, GENEROUS GESTURES OF KINDNESS, EXPRESSIONS OF LOVE, ENCOURAGING WORDS DURING THESE HOURS OF OUR DEEPEST GRIEF. WE ARE ESPECIALLY GRATEFUL TO GOD FOR WONDERFUL CAREGIVERS. THANK YOU FOR TAKING SUCH GOOD CARE OF OUR BELOVED LEROY. WE ASK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO PRAY WITH AND FOR US. MAY EACH OF YOU BE RICHLY BLESSED WITH HIS FAVOR.
Final Arrangements Entrusted to: HICKS & SONS MORTUARY
2233 ANTHONY ROAD MACON, GEORGIA 3 1204
PROGRAMS BY: Reginald B. White- Unlimited Grafix- 404-502-5301

SATURDAY, JANUARY 5, 201 3 11 :OOAM
HICKS & SONS MORTUARY
2233 ANTHONY ROAD
MACON, GEORGIA

DR. ALONZA LEROY EPPS, SR.
Alonza was born February 1, 1922. He was the second of six children born to the late Tymes R. and Annie Hudson Epps. He spent his formative years in the city of Macon, Georgia.
He completed his early education in the Bibb County Public schools; he attended high school at Central City College; and he went on to matriculate for two years at the newly named Georgia Baptist College, where his father was a faculty member. He transferred to Hampton Institute in Virginia and was immediately drafted into the Army. While serving in the army, he taught soldiers at Fort Benning, Georgia before going to Okinawa in the South Pacific. He became 1st Sergeant over the Ordinance Motor Vehicle Co. 3119 in World War II.
After serving more than three years in the army, he returned to Hampton for further study. He transferred to Ft. Valley State College where he earned a degree in Education and Social Studies. Alonza never stopped advancing his education. He received the Master of Arts Degree in Education from Atlanta University, studied at Tuskegee Institute, and completed advanced studies at Columbia Teachers College in New York City. He received the Doctor of Laws degree from Union Baptist Seminary, Inc., in Birmingham, Alabama, and The Six Year Teaching Certification in School Administration from the State of Georgia.
During his career, he served as Teacher, Director of Guidance and Counseling, and Principal of several schools in Georgia, including Milan High, Lumber City High, Dickerson Training School in Vidalia, and Eugenia Hamilton Elementary School. He retired from the Bibb County Board of Education in 1977.
Dr. Epps met his beloved Helen in 1949 in McRae, Georgia at a regional teachers' meeting. Both were educators in Telfair County; Alonza, Principal of Milan High School and Helen Teacher and Librarian at Twin City High School. A year into their whirlwind courtship, while taking graduate courses at Atlanta University, they realized their love had blossomed. He asked for her hand in marriage and they were united in holy matrimony December 24, 1951.
Alonza was an active member of Tremont Temple Baptist Church fo r many years. He served as a Trustee Board Member and Sunday School Superintendent. He was also a star basketball player and enjoyed watching the sport on television. His hobbies included collecting newspaper and magazine articles and traveling. During his career in education, he was a life member of GAER, NEAR, BREA. He enjoyed attending meetings and was active throughout his retirement.
Traveling on the national and international levels with his beloved wife was one of Alonza' s greatest pleasures after retirement. They traveled to Europe, the Caribbean, Canada, Mexico, Grand Canyon, New York City, Smoky Mountains, Disney World, Hilton Head, and many other places. In 2001 , they traveled to Hawaii to celebrate ftfty years of marriage and renew their wedding vows as family served as witnesses. On December 24, 2011, they celebrated sixty years of marriage at Pinegate Community Center in Macon with family and close friends. Over the years, the couple entertained and celebrated special occasions with family and friends in Asheville, NC, Dallas, TX, Detroit, MI, Sylacauga, AL, Atlanta, Helen, Macon, and Villa Rica, GA.
Dr. Epps is survived by his wife of 61 years, Helen Reese Epps; son, Alonza Epps, Jr. , Macon, GA; four grandchildren, Keondria, Shanishie, Ny'Kiera Epps, and Jonathan Lyles; one greatgrandchild, Christian Epps; three sisters, Mrs. Anne Stroud, Atlanta, GA, Dr. Alva Bailey, Tuskegee, AL and Ms. Juanita Epps, Macon, GA; and many loving nieces, nephews and cousins.

REV. DR. TRENT WILLIAMS, OFFICIATING PASTOR, ZION BAPTIST CHURCH Mu skegon, Michigan
REV. DR. ANTHONY ALFORD , SR., EULOGIST PASTOR, STEWART MEMORIAL CME CHURCH Mobile, Alabama
PROCESSIONAL CALL TO CELEBRATION
HYMN OF CELEBRATION ... ..... ... " BLESSED ASSURANCE" ...... ....Congregation
SCRIPTURE LESSONS OLD TESTAMENT- PROVERBS 3:1 - 8 .... .......... ... ... MR. CRAIG M . EPPS NEW TESTAMENT -II TIMOTHY 4 : 1-8 ........... MRS. JACQUELYN WILLIAMS
PRAYER............. .. ...... .......... .... .. .. ... ......... ............... ...... ......... ...... REV. CARL VON EPPS Smith Chapel United Methodist Church Newnan, Georgia
SOLO...... ...... ..... " HIS EYE IS ON THE SPARROW" .. .... .. ........... MS. VICTORIA BAILEY REFLECTIONS (Please limit refl ections to 2 minutes)
MS. ALICE SMITH , Family Friend and God Daughter MS. TRUDY RUTLAND, Caregiver
INSTRUMENTAL SELECTION ..... ........ .. ... " How GREAT T HO U ART" ................M R. BRA NDON ROB INS FAMILYTRIBUTES
MRS. JOCELYN WESTBROOKS, Cousin MR. ALONZA LEROY EPPS, JR. , Son MRS. HELEN REESE EPPS, Wife ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ................. .... ... .. ................... MRS. SUSAN GIBSON CARTER MEDLEY OF HYMNS ......................... ...... .. .. .......... .. ...... MRS. EUDORA ALLEN , Pianist EULOGY........ .... ....... ...... ..... .......... .. ..... .... ....... .......... REV. OR. ANTHONY ALFORD , SR.
RECESSIONAL. .... ..... .... ................ "I'LL FLY AWAY" .... ... ...... .. .. .. .. ... . .. .... Congregation
INTERMENT WOODLAWN MEMORIAL PARK 2005 WOODLAWN DRIVE MACON, GEORGIA 3121 1

of His

CELEBRATING THE LIFE AND LEGACY
OF AN OUTSTANDING HUSBAND, FATHER AND EDUCATOR
FEBRUARY 1, 1922- DECEMBER 31 , 2012
SATURDAY, JANUARY 5, 2013 11 :OOAM
HICKS & SONS MORTUARY
2233 ANTHONY ROAD
MACON, GEORGIA

0~ ~
DR. ALONZA LEROY EPPS, SR.
ALONZA WAS BORN FEBRUARY 1, 1 922. HE WAS THE SECOND OF SIX CHILDREN BORN TO THE LATE TYMES R. AND ANNIE HUDSON EPPS. HE SPENT HIS FORMATIVE YEARS IN THE CITY OF MACON, GEORGIA.
HE COMPLETED HIS EARLY EDUCATION IN THE BIBB COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS; HE ATTENDED HIGH SCHOOL AT CENTRAL CITY COLLEGE; AND HE WENT ON TO MATRICULATE FOR TWO YEARS AT THE NEWLY NAMED GEORGIA BAPTIST COLLEGE, WHERE HIS FATHER WAS A FACULTY MEMBER.
HE TRANSFERRED TO HAMPTON INSTITUTE IN VIRGINIA AND WAS IMMEDIATELY DRAFTED INTO THE ARMY. WHILE SERVING IN THE ARMY, HE TAUGHT SOLDIERS AT FORT BENNING, GEORGIA BEFORE GOING TO OKINAWA IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC. HE BECAME 1ST SERGEANT OVER THE ORDINANCE MOTOR VEHICLE Co. 31 1 9 IN WORLD WAR II.
AFTER SERVING MORE THAN THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY, HE RETURNED TO HAMPTON FOR FURTHER STUDY. HE TRANSFERRED TO FT. VALLEY STATE COLLEGE WHERE HE EARNED A DEGREE IN EDUCATION AND SOCIAL STUDIES. ALONZA NEVER STOPPED ADVANCING HIS EDUCATION. HE RECEIVED THE MASTER OF ARTS DEGREE IN EDUCATION FROM ATLANTA UNIVERSITY, STUDIED AT TUSKEGEE INSTITUTE, AND COMPLETED ADVANCED STUDIES AT COLUMBIA TEACHERS COLLEGE IN NEW YORK CITY. HE RECEIVED THE DOCTOR OF LAWS DEGREE FROM UNION BAPTIST SEMINARY, INC ., IN BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA, AND THE SIX YEAR TEACHING CERTIFICATION IN SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION FROM THE STATE OF GEORGIA.
DURING HIS CAREER, HE SERVED AS TEACHER, DIRECTOR OF GUIDANCE AND COUNSELING, AND PRINCIPAL OF SEVERAL SCHOOLS IN GEORGIA, INCLUDING MILAN HIGH, LUMBER CITY HIGH, DICKERSON TRAINING SCHOOL IN VIDALIA, AND EUGENIA HAMILTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. HE RETIRED FROM THE BIBB COUNTY B OARD OF EDUCATION IN 1 977.
DR. EPPS MET HIS BELOVED HELEN IN 1 949 IN MCRAE, GEORGIA AT A REGIONAL TEACHERS' MEETING. BOTH WERE EDUCATORS IN TELFAIR COUNTY; ALONZA, PRINCIPAL OF MILAN HIGH SCHOOL AND HELEN TEACHER AND LIBRARIAN AT TWIN CITY HIGH SCHOOL. A YEAR INTO THEIR WHIRLWIND COURTSHIP, WHILE TAKING GRADUATE COURSES AT ATLANTA UNIVERSITY, THEY REALIZED THEIR LOVE HAD BLOSSOMED. HE ASKED FOR HER HAND IN MARRIAGE AND THEY WERE UNITED IN HOLY MATRIMONY DECEMBER 24, 1 951 .

ALONZA WAS AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF TREMONT TEMPLE BAPTIST CHURCH FOR MANY YEARS. HE SERVED AS A TRUSTEE BOARD MEMBER AND SUNDAY SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT. HE WAS ALSO A STAR BASKETBALL PLAYER AND ENJOYED WATCHING THE SPORT ON TELEVISION. HIS HOBBIES INCLUDED COLLECTING NEWSPAPER AND MAGAZINE ARTICLES AND TRAVELING. DURING HIS CAREER IN EDUCATION, HE WAS A LIFE MEMBER OF GAER, NEAR, BREA. HE ENJOYED ATTENDING MEETINGS AND WAS ACTIVE THROUGHOUT HIS RETIREMENT.
TRAVELING ON THE NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL LEVELS WITH HIS BELOVED WIFE WAS ONE OF ALONZA'S GREATEST PLEASURES AFTER RETIREMENT. THEY TRAVELED TO EUROPE, THE CARIBBEAN, CANADA, MEXICO, GRAND CANYON, NEW YORK CITY, SMOKY MOUNTAINS, DISNEY WORLD, HILTON HEAD, AND MANY OTHER PLACES.

IN 2001, THEY TRAVELED TO
HAWAII TO CELEBRATE FIFTY YEARS OF MARRIAGE AND RENEW THEIR WEDDING VOWS AS FAMILY SERVED AS WITNESSES.

ON DECEMBER 24, 20 1 1, THEY

CELEBRATED SIXTY YEARS OF

MARRIAGE

AT

PINEGATE

COMMUNITY CENTER IN MACON

WITH FAMILY AND CLOSE FRIENDS. OVER THE YEARS, THE COUPLE ENTERTAINED AND CELEBRATED SPECIAL OCCASIONS WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS IN ASHEVILLE, NC, DALLAS, TX, DETROIT, Ml, SYLACAUGA, AL, ATLANTA, HELEN, MACON, AND VILLA RICA, GA.

DR. EPPS IS SURVIVED BY HIS WIFE OF 6 1 YEARS,
HELEN REESE EPPS; SON, ALONZA EPPS, JR., MACON, GA; FOUR GRANDCHILDREN, KEONDRIA, SHANISHIE, NY'KIERA EPPS, AND JONATHAN LYLES; ONE GREAT~GRANDCHILD, CHRISTIAN EPPS; THREE SISTERS, MRS. ANNE STROUD, ATLANTA, GA, DR. ALVA BAILEY, TUSKEGEE, ALAND MS. JUANITA EPPS, MACON, GA; AND MANY LOVING NIECES, NEPHEWS AND COUSINS.

HOW DO YOU KNOW THE MEASURE OF A MAN?
IS IT THROUGH THE LIFE HE LEADS? IS IT THROUGH HIS PATH OF INTEGRITY,
THAT HE NEVER WOULD CONCEDE? DO YOU KNOW THE MEASURE OF A MAN
WHEN HE STARES INTO YOUR EYES? WHEN HIS LOVE AND KINDNESS FILLS YOU
AND HIS SPIRIT YOU CAN'T DISGUISE. CAN YOU SEE THE MEASURE OF A MAN?
WHO SMILES THROUGHOUT HIS PAIN. WHO ALWAYS EMBRACED THE SUNSHINE AND LAUGHED THROUGH ALL THE RAIN,
I HAVE SEEN THE MEASURE OF A MAN WHOSE FAMILY HOLDS HIM DEAR,
WHO'S STRENGTH WAS INSPIRATIONAL. AND INTENT ALWAYS SINCERE.
I HAVE KNOWN THE MEASURE OF A MAN.
ONE WHO TOUCHED YOUR HEART, WHO THE ANGELS SOFTY SPOKE TO AND
WHO FROM US NOW MUST PART. REMEMBER THAT THE MEASURE OF THIS
MAN SHALL NEVER FADE OR BE LOST AND THE LOVE HE BOUGHT INTO OUR
LIVES WILL NEVER BE FORGOT. SOFTLY WE WILL SPEAK OF HIM
To CHASE PAIN AWAY AND THE LOVE WE SHARE BETWEEN US
WILL UNITE US AGAIN SOMEDAY.

REV. DR. TRENT WILLIAMS, OFFICIATING
PASTOR, ZION BAPTIST CHURCH
Muskegon, Michigan
REV. DR. ANTHONY ALFORD, SR., EULOGIST
PASTOR, STEWART MEMORIAL CME CHURCH
Mobile, Alabama
PROCESSIONAL
CALL TO CELEBRATION
HYMN OF CELEBRATION .......................... "BLESSED ASSURANCE" ............................Congregation
SCRIPTURE LESSONS OLD TESTAMENT~ PROVERBS 3: 1~8 ......................................................MR. CRAIG M. EPPS NEW TESTAMENT~ II TIMOTHY 4: 1~8 .............................................MRS. JACQUELYN WILLIAMS
PRAYER ......................................................................................................................REV. CARL VON EPPS Smith Chapel United Methodist Church Newnan, Georgia
SOLO.................................. "HIS EYE IS ON THE SPARROW" ...................................MS. VICTORIA BAILEY
REFLECTIONS (Please limit reflections to 2 minutes) Ms. ALICE SMITH, Family Friend and God Daughter Ms. TRUDY RUTLAND, Caregiver
INSTRUMENTAL SELECTION.............. .... "How GREAT THOU ART" ............... .. MR. BRANDON ROBINS
FAMILY TRIBUTES MRS. JOCELYN WESTBROOKS, Cousin MR. ALONZA LEROY EPPS, JR. , Son MRS. HELEN REESE EPPS, Wife
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS .............................................................................MRS. SUSAN GIBSON CARTER
MEDLEY OF HYMNS...................................................................................MRS. EUDORA ALLEN, PIANIST
EULOGY....................................................................................................REV. DR. ANTHONY ALFORD, SR.
RECESSIONAL .............................................."I'LL FLY AWAY" ..............................................Congregation
INTERMENT WOODLAWN MEMORIAL PARK 2005 WOODLAWN DRIVE MACON, GEORGIA 31 21 1

MR. GREGORY BAILEY MR. RAYMOND BAILEY MR. RICKY GOODWIN MR. ALONZO PATTERSON MR. CHRISTOPHER ROBINS MR. ELANIS WESTBROOKS
ATTY. DEBRA ALFORD MRS. PATRICIA BAILEY
MS. DIANNE BRYANT DR. ANNETTE CHINN MS. LUVENIA CLARK MRS. DELORES EPPS MRS. VERONICA MCKENZIE MRS. ROSETTA MINDINGALL MRS. GLORIA STRONG
WE, THE FAMILY OF DR. ALONZA LEROY EPPS, SR ., WISH TO CONVEY OUR SINCERE THANKS AND APPRECIATION FOR YOUR MANY PRAYERS, GENEROUS GESTURES OF KINDNESS, EXPRESSIONS OF LOVE, ENCOURAGING WORDS DURING THESE HOURS OF OUR DEEPEST GRIEF. WE ARE ESPECIALLY GRATEFUL TO Goo FOR WONDERFUL CAREGIVERS. THANK YOU FOR TAKING SUCH GOOD CARE OF OUR BELOVED LEROY. WE ASK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO PRAY WITH AND FOR US. MAY EACH OF YOU BE RICHLY BLESSED WITH HIS FAVOR.
Final Arrangements Entrusted to: HICKS & SONS MORTUARY
2233 ANTHONY ROAD MACON, GEORGIA 31 204
PROGRAMS BY: Reginald B. WMe- Unlim~ed Grafix- 404-502-5301