We are gathered here to mark the sojourn through life of Tom Washington. Tom was sent by God to live in this wor1d, and now he has been removed by God from his station. He was sent to be a part of the family of mankind. He was born in Madison county, Mississippi, to Turner and Angie Washington on August 6, 191?, and died his death on April 18, 1972, in 5th City, Chicago.

Tom was a husband, father, and brother. He was the husband of Elnora' and the father of three sons , Percy, Thomas, and Herbert, and four daughters, Mary, Carolyn, Phyllistine and Joyce Ann. He was a brother to Clara, Josephine, Cam, Turner, Harry, Walter, Peter, Ail and Floyd, all who survive him.

Tom was a citizen of Chicago, and a committed member of the 5th City community. He was currently assigned to the reformulating task of seeing that Urban Services were provided for the community. He was a member of Pleasant Gift Missionary Baptist Church in Mississippi, and Tabernacle Baptist Church in Chicago.

Tom served his country in World War II, enlisting at Camp Shelby, Mississippi, in 1942, and was discharged in 1944 having reached the rank of Sergeant. He bore the scars of those trials the rest of his life.

He completed one life of service in the United States Army and the U. S. Post Office, then continued to be active as part of the Board of Managers of the 5th City Community. In becoming a servant to mankind, Tom pioneered the area of Urban Services. His wisdom came from a deep intuitive knowledge of his community. He arose early each morning, and was the responsible keeper of the keys. He was a man who was known by the entire community and respected by them. People came to him when they were in deep anguish and when something small needed repairing. He befriended many youth in times of crisis, and he worked steadily, faithfully towards a better future for his family, his neighbors and all men.

Tom was one who insisted on holding the long­range view, and in that context was patient and willing to keep working when immediate results were not available. He was a man of integrity, and in his constant presence held that integrity for the community. Tom embodied steadfast responsibility for the place where he was at any given moment. His particular concern for the physical care of 5th City symbolized the necessity of dealing with all the problems at one time. Above all else, Tom was a spirit man and constantly insisted that the deeps of human resources be released. Being a symbol of these fundamental principles of 5th City, Tom's life was an instrument for renewal within 5th City.

In Tom's departure from this life, he leaves behind a world that has been altered by his faithful labor. That alteration is not yet fully visible and few will ever know his full role. But local communities across the globe will arise to bless his name by building upon the principles and methods that he forged here by the expenditure of his life. First hundreds, then thousands, then millions of communities will feast off his life.

Tom died as he lived looking toward the future. His life and death is a sign calling all men to rise up and engage in building the new earth. He lived his life in radical engagement, and now in awesome peace is living his death. His life is complete and will remain forever a part of the eternal mystery that creates and shapes the world.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.