Whereas it has pleased our omnipotent God to remove from us our dear husband, father, brother, grandfather, brother-in-law, uncle, neighbor, cousin and friend, we bow in humble submission to Him who is able to comfort us in all our sorrow.
Alfred Eugene Lockley was the third son of six siblings born to the union of the late Barney Lockley, Sr. and Garrett Effie Hargrett Lockley on April 15, 1946. He departed this life on June 11, 2019. Two brothers, Barney Lockley, Jr. and Werner Lockley, preceded him in death.
Alfred accepted the Lord Jesus as his personal savior at an early age and joined the Mount Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church in Tallahassee, Florida where he grew spiritually, becoming the Sunday School Superintendent. After relocating to Detroit, Michigan, he joined Metropolitan Church of God and actively served with the Christian Citizenship Auxiliary. Following his retirement from Ford Motor Company, he relocated to Orlando, Florida and continued his spiritual journey by joining New Covenant Baptist Church. He regularly attended Sunday School and served on several ministries including: President of the Ushers, the Men's and Veterans Ministries, and participated in the Silver Strand Seniors Program.
Educated in the Leon County Public School System, he continued his education at Florida A&M University where he majored in Education. Alfred was a staunch advocate for Civil Rights and was once jailed for sitting in the lower level of a segregated movie theatre where Blacks were expected to sit in the balcony. He later served in the United States Army, receiving an honorable discharge, before being reinstated with Ford Motor Company, upon his return.
Alfred had a great sense of humor and loved his nieces and nephews. He always felt that he had to interview and investigate budding relationships-making them official only through his approval. Our beloved was very assertive and often volunteered himself as the spokesperson for the family at all events and occasions.
He leaves to cherish his memory: his wife Sarah; one son, Alfred (Monique) Lockley, Jr.; one daughter, DeEffie Lockley of West Bloomfield, Michigan; two stepsons-Norris Land and Aric (Laranda) Coleman of Grand Rapids, MI; three brothers-Quinton (Queen) Lockley of Babson Park, FL, Eric (Linda) Lockley of Tallahassee, FL, and Harold (Mary) Lockley of Detroit, MI; two aunts-Dr. Edith Ward of Tallahassee, FL and Drucilla Hargrett of Springdale, AR; one uncle, Fred (Rosemarie) Hargrett of Tampa, FL; special friends-Martin and Ann Cooper, and George and Cynthia Scott; eight grandchildren; one great-grandchild; caregiver, Marisol; and a host of nieces, nephews and friends.
A precious one from us has gone,
A voice we love is still,
A place is vacant in our home,
That can never be filled.