(0b3egme for Berber? Ha^erte Ctttt Alpha October 1, 1943 Omega December 17, 2 0 10 December 23, 2 0 10 1:00 p.m. Gilbert-Lambuth Memorial Chapel 1235 Fifteenth Street Augusta, Georgia 30901 Reverend Christopher J. Waters, Officiant Reverend Clarence Moore, Eulogist # b ttu a rj> Verdery LaVerte Tutt was born October 1,1943, in Augusta, Georgia. LaVerte, as he was known to most, attended Charles T. Walker Elementary School, A.R. Johnson Junior High School, and was a graduate o f Lucy Craft Laney High School, class o f 1961. He attended Savannah State College and Paine College and was honorably discharged from the United States Army in 1966 after two years o f active duty service. During his early life, LaVerte was a member o f Boy Scout Troop 42 at Bethlehem Center and was a proud member o f the first contingent o f African American Scouts from Augusta to attend the National Boy Scout Jamboree in Valley Lorge, Pennsylvania in 1957. He also had the distinction o f being the first African American to enter the National Soap Box Derby Race in this area. The Augusta Soap Box Derby Race was cancelled, rather than allow him the privilege o f participating because o f race. Officials o f Charlotte North Carolina Soap Box Derby heard o f the local cancellation and invited LaVerte to race his car in Charlotte, which he did proudly. Upon his return from the military, he was employed as an appliance salesman with Georgia Power Company, becoming the first African American to assume those duties. He was also employed as a salesman with Canada Dry Bottlers and the Sears Company. He worked as a switchman with Georgia Railroad Company. LaVerte joined the Richmond County Sheriff's Department in1972 as a Turnkey in the County Jail and later worked in the Records Bureau. He professed many times that this is "What I was meant to be doing!" Over the years he proudly performed duties as an investigator in the Vice and Narcotics Division and the Criminal Investigation Division. He served as a Deputy on the Road Patrol Division and was subsequently promoted to Sergeant and Lieutenant. During his tenure with RCSD, LaVerte completed training exercises and certification courses at the LBI Academy in Quantico Virginia, as well as local, state and regional training programs. LaVerte retired as Administration Lieutenant - Uniform Division in January 2010, after 38 years o f contin uous service with the Richmond County Sheriff's Department. During that time he managed to gain the confidence and trust o f his co-workers and was often described first as a gentleman who was honest, above board, objective, dedicated and who thoroughly enjoyed his work. LaVerte was preceded in death by his parents, Deacon Verdery and Mrs. Eulala McCladdie Tutt and his sis ter, Valeria Joyce Tutt Day. He is survived by his devoted wife o f 46 years, Betty Jean Morgan Tutt, Augusta, Georgia; daughters, Monica R. (Larry) Stevens, Evans, Georgia; Veronica LaVerte Tutt, Marietta, Georgia and Dr. Marva Tutt, Silver Spring, Maryland; grandchildren, Justin and Jordan Stevens, Evans, Georgia and La'Shika Stevens, Augusta, Georgia; brother, Byron L. Tutt, Sr. o f Augusta, Georgia; a loyal and faithful sis ter-in-law, Carol Ann Morgan; sisters-in-law, Mary Price, Gertrude Brown, Mattie Brown, Hattie (Robert) Murph all o f Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; brothers-in-law, Griffin L. Day, III, Las Vegas, Nevada, George (Edith) Morgan, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Herbert Morgan, Augusta, Georgia; goddaughter, Valeria L. Day; devoted childhood buddies, John Kenner, George T. Bryant and Theodore Bowman; and several nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. I knew little that day that God wasgoing to call your name, In life I loved you dearly; In death I will do the same. It broke my heart to lose you, you did notgo alone. For p art o f me went went you, the day God called you home. Tou left peaceful memories, your love is still myguide, And though I cannot see you, you are always a t my side, Our fam ily chain is broken, and nothing seems the same, But as God calls us one by one, the chain will link again. I love you Daddy! Flip