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May 16, 1922 -- July 27, 1987
*
Thursday, July 30, 1987 8 :0 0 p.m .
CONCORD BAPTIST CHURCH 190 W arren Avenue, Boston, Mass.
Rev. James Harris, Officiating

dJotjn iEiuuine Uenaon
Mr. John E. Venson was born in Augusta, Georgia on May 16, 1922 to the late Edwine and Millie Hill Venson Hill.
He was converted and baptized at an early age, at the Gardner Grove Baptist Church in Augusta, where he served as a faithful mem ber until he moved to Boston in 1940. He joined Metropolitan Baptist Church, under the pastorate of the late Rev. M.M. Minor. He served as a member of the Trustee Board and as the Minister of Music for many years. In addition, he worked with his mother, the late Millie Venson Hill, hosting visiting clergy and other prominent visitors to the Metro politan Baptist Church, he was made an honorary member of the Na tional Ushers Assoc, in 1967 by the late president of the National Con vention, Mr. Johnson
John later joined the Union Baptist Church in Cambridge, Mass, and served as a member of the Boston Unit Club and as Minister of Music, where he remained a faithful and loyal member until his passing on Monday evening, July 27, 1987.
Brother Venson was a quiet, unassuming Christian person, who never acknowledged the word "No." While others spent time debating who, what and why a job needed to be done, he quietly moved forward and began doing the task with no thought of rewards or praise.
John served in the U.S. Armed Services during World War II. Upon returning home, he received his Bachelor of Science degree from Paine College in Augusta, Ga. He later joined the faculty there and taught for many years.
After moving to Boston with his family, he attended Boston Univer sity, where he received his Masters of Business Administration. He moved from a leadership role with the United Negro College Fund organization to the executive staff of the National Urban League. John served with the Urban League as the Executive Director of the "OnThe-Job-Training" Program, and later as the Executive Director of the entire Greater Boston branch.
John joined the Gillette Co. in 1958 as the Manager of Community Affairs, where he continued his personal commitment to the community and extended the commitments of his company as well. He traveled for many years to the annual convention of major national Black organiza tions, and worked hard to ensure that the Gillette Co. was always well represented. John was highly respected and became fondly known around the convention circuit as "Mr. Gillette."
Brother Venson has served as an active member of many commun ity organizations including: O.I.C., the NAACP, the National Urban League, the National Assoc, of Market Developers, the I.B.P.O. Elks of the World and many more.
John has received many awards and citations for his outstanding community service and recently received an honorary degree from his alma mater, Paine College.

His faith was unshakeablh. He believed in God, in himself and his community, and in the company he had represented for so many years.
He leaves to mourn his passing: three loving and devoted brothers, Ralph S. Smith and Rev. }. Russ Ruffin of Boston, and Josh Aaaron of Augusta, Ga.; his son and daughter, Andre and Paula Wright of Boston; a stepmother Millie Aaaron of Augusta, Ga.; and godson, Paul B. Logan, of Richmond, Calif. He also leaves cousins, Rudolph Williams, Delores, Michiello and Hazel Beard, all of Boston; Mrs. Rebecca White (Jones) and Sgt. Wesley White of Killeen, Texas. Also, loyal and devoted friend Joseph Vernardo of Dorchester and two life-long devoted friends, Mrs. Mary Cotton of Dorchester, and Mrs. Mildred Wilson of Mattapan.

GMer of li>ermce

Rev. Dr. James Harris, Presiding

USHER'S SERVICE

7:45 a.m.

ORGAN PRELUDE

PROCESSIONAL

"Jesus K eep Me N ear the C ross"

SCRIPTURE LESSON

Old Testament, Isaiah 41:10-13, 17-20 New Testament, Romans 8:1-14

PRAYER

Deac. Johnny Valines Union Baptist Church

SELECTION

Concord Mass Choir

REMARKS

Mrs. Dorothy Green Boston Unit Club Union Baptist Church

Mother Pauline Hector Pastor, Solid Rock Holiness Church

SELECTION "God Will Take Care of You" Concord Mass Choir

SELECTION

"Precious Lord"

Concord Mass Choir

WORDS OF INSPIRATION

Ministers and Organizations

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS & OBITUARY

Mrs. Cloviria T. Mills Concord Church Clerk

SOLO

"Through It AW

Mrs. Frances Ingram

EULOGY

Rev. Dr. Jam es Harris

PAYING OF LAST RESPECTS

Concord Baptist Church

RECESSIONAL

"Sign Me Up"

POSTLUDE

"When We All Get to H eaven"

When all is done and my last word is said And ye who loved me murmur, he is dead, Let not one w eep for fe a r that I should know, And sorrow too that ye should sorrow so.

When all is done, and in the oozing clay Ye lay this cast-off hull of mine away, Pray not for me, for ufter long despair, The quiet of the grave will be a prayer.

When all is done, say not my day is o'er,

And that thru night I seek a dimmer shore,

Say, rather that my morn has just begun,

I greet the dawn, and not the setting sun;

WHEN ALL IS DONE!

Paul Law rence Dunbar

Acknowledgements

We the family, gratefully acknowledge the many acts of kind

ness, helpfulness, concern and prayers which sustained us

during the long illness and confinement of our loved one. You

were there when we needed you; and you were ready to offer a

helping hand and lend an encouraging word. Truthfully, we

could have endured without your love and understanding. It

was you who helped make lemonade from the lemons that were

cast our way rather than complaining of the sourness.

Tho we could search for all kinds of words to express our

gratitude and appreciation, we finally decided that the simple

two words, THANK YOU, sum up and say it better than any

others we would have chosen. So we say, THANK YOU!

THANK YOU! THANKS A BUNCH!

The Family

Arrangements bg
BARRETT-CHISOLM FUNERAL HOME 4 Freemont Street Mattapan, MA

Interment Sunday, August 2, 1987
Family Plot Gardner Grove Baptist Church
Augusta, Georgia