A Service of Thanksgiving
for a Life©s Task Faithfully Discharged
Jnstine Williamson Washington, Ea.D.
Gilbert-Lambeth Memorial Chapel, Paine College
Augusta, Georgia
November 27, 2004 11:00 AM
In Loving Memory of
Justine Wilkinson Washington, Ed.D.
Justine Wilkinson Washington, affectionately called "Dr. J.", was born May 9,1908, to the late Reverend Charles Walter Wilkinson and Mrs. Julia Winifred Foster Wilkinson in Atlanta, Georgia. While still a babe in arms, the family moved to Athens, Georgia.
While growing up in Athens Justine attended Elementary and High School at Union Institute on Baxter Street. She graduated from high school with perfect attendance and as the class Salutatorian. She continued her schooling and graduated from Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia.
She earned a Masters Degree in Administration and Supervision of Elementary Schools in 1948. Two years later she was asked to accept a vacant position at the Anderson County Training School in Pendleton, SC. It was not long before she was offered to serve as a Jeanes Supervisor for Teachers in 84 rural schools where she worked for 23 years.
In 1959 she accepted a scholarship to attend a doctoral program at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, KY. After completing two years teaching in Athens she was recruited by a former professor teach at Greer Rosenwald High School in Belton, S.C.
She served several years at Paine College as Assistant Professor of Education, taught courses in Education and Psychology.
In 1972 Justine was the first African American female to offer to serve on the Richmond County Board of Education and was elected and served 21 years. Two of those years were as Vice President and two of those years were President of the Richmond County Board of Education.
She has received many community and civic awards included The Liberty Bell Award, Georgia School©Boards Association Service Award, OutstandingBoard Member of the Year, Women of Excellence Award. One of the most enjoyable things in her life was her travel to Cuba, Scotland, England, France, Monaco, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Denmark, and Sweden and a return trip to Oglethorpe©s England.
A Service or Tnanksgfivingf
Justine Williamson Washington, Ea.D.
November 27, 2004 11:00 AM
VOLUNTARY
PROCESSION Hymn 302 Christ the Lord
The People stand as the body is borne into the Church. The Officiant says
I am Resurrection and I am Life, says the Lord. Whoever has faith in me shall have life, even though he die. And everyone who has life, and has committed himself to me in faith, shall not die for ever.
As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives and that at the last he will stand upon the earth. After my awaking, he will raise me up; and in my body I shall see God. I myself shall see, and my eyes behold him who is my friend and not a stranger.
For none of us has life in himself, and none becomes his own master when he dies. For if we have life, we are alive in the Lord, and if we die, we die in the Lord. So, then, whether we live or die, we are the Lord©s possession.
Happy from now on are those who die in the Lord! So it is, says the Spirit, for they rest from their labors.
iciant The Lord be with you.People And also with you.Officiant Let us pray.
O God, who by the glorious resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ destroyed death, and brought life and immortality to light: Grant that your servant Justine, being raised with him, may know the strength of his presence, and rejoice in his eternal glory; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
O God of grace and glory, we remember before you this day our Sister, Justine. We thank you for giving her to us, her family and friends, to know and to love as a companion on our earthly pilgrimage. In your boundless compassion, console us who mourn. Give us faith to see in death the gate of eternal life, so that in quiet confidence we may continue our course on earth, until, by your call, we are reunited with those who have gone before; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The people sit.
The Liturgy of the Word
THE OLD TESTAMENT LESSON lamentation 3:22-26,51-33
The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. "The LORD is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in him." The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul that seeks him. It is good that
one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD. For the Lord will not reject forever. Although he causes grief, he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love; for he does not willingly afflict or grieve anyone.
After each Lesson, the Reader says
The Word of the Lord. People Thanks be to God.
REMARKS FROM THE CANON TO THE ORDINARY qa^ The Reverend Canon H. Neal Phelps
TRIBUTES Dr. ShirleyA. R. LewsPresident, Paine College
Mr. Joseph D. GreeneCree© Walker Professor of business Administration
Augusta State University
THE GRADUAL Give Me Jesus Mr. Joel©RussellBrown
THE NEW TESTAMENT LESSON / Corinthians 15:20-26,35-38,42-44,53-58
In fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died. For since death came through a human being, the resurrection of the dead has also come through a human being; for as all die in Adam, so all will be made alive in Christ. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, after he has destroyed every ruler and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. But someone will ask, "How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?" Fool! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. And as for what you sow, you do not sow the body that is to be, but a bare seed, perhaps of wheat or of some other grain. But God gives it a body as he has chosen, and to each kind of seed its own body. So it is with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable, what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. It is sown a physical body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a physical body, there is also a spiritual body. For this perishable body must put on imperishability, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When this perishable body puts on imperishability, and this mortal body puts on immortality, then the saying that is written will be fulfilled: "Death has been swallowed up in victory." "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, because you know that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
TRIBUTES Mr. JeffPadgettPresident, Richmond County Board of Education
Mrs. Ann AT. Johnson Special Friend
THE SEQUENCE Hymn 369 Blessed Assurance
THE GOSPEL LESSON John 14:1-6
THE H OMILY The Reverend Dr. James Andrew Menger
SOLO It is Well with My Soul Mr. Joel Russell Brown
THE APOSTLES© CREED
Officiant In the assurance of eternal life given at Baptism, let us proclaim our faith and say,
Officiant and People
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
THE LORD©S PRAYER
THE PRAYERS
For our sister Justine, let us pray to our Lord Jesus Christ who said," I am Resurrection and I am Life." Lord, you consoled Martha and Maty in their distress; draw near to us who mourn for Justine, and dry the tears of those who weep.
People Hear us, Lord.
You wept at the grave of Lazarus, your friend; comfort us in our sorrow. Hear us, Lord.
You raised the dead to life; give to our sister eternal life. Hear us, Lord.
You promised paradise to the thief who repented; bring our sister to the joys of heaven. Hear us, Lord.
Our sister was washed in Baptism and anointed with the Holy Spirit; give her fellowship with all your saints.
Hear us, Lord.
She was nourished with your Body and Blood; grant her a place at the table in your heavenly kingdom.
Hear us, Lord.
Comfort us in our sorrows at the death of our sister; let our faith be our consolation, and eternal life our hope.
THE COMMENDATION
The Officiant and other ministers take their places at the body.
Officiant Give rest, O Christ, to your servant with your saints,People where sorrow and pain are no more, neither sighing, but life everlasting.
You only are immortal, the creator and maker of mankind; and we are mortal, formed of the earth, and to earth shall we return. For so did you ordain when you created me, saying, "You are dust, and to dust you shall return." All of us go down to the dust; yet even at the grave we make our song: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Give rest, O Christ, to your servant with your saints, where sorrow and pain are no more, neither sighing, but life everlasting.
Into your hands, O merciful Savior, we commend your servant Justine. Acknowledge, we humbly beseech you, a sheep of your own fold, a lamb of your own flock, a sinner of your own redeeming. Receive her into the arms of your mercy, into the blessed rest of everlasting peace, and into the glorious company of the saints in light. Amen.
©.dant Let us go forth in the name of Christ. People Thanks be to God.
PROCESSION Hymn 138 The King of Love
INTERMENT Southview Cemetery
REPAST Saint Mary©s Episcopal Church Parish Hall111 4 Twelfth Street
The liturgy for the dead is an Toaster liturgy. It finds all its meaning in the resurrection, because Jesus was raised from the dead, we, too, shall be raised. The liturgy, therefore, is characterised by joy, in the certainty that "neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, northings to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. "
This joy, however, does not make human grief unchristian. The very love we have for each other in Christ brings deep sorrow when we are parted by death. Jesus himself wept at the grave of his friend. So, while we rejoice that one we love has entered into the nearer presence of our Lord, we sorrow in sympathy with those who mourn.
The Reverend Dr. J. Andrew MenderOfficiant
The Reverend Canon H. Neal Phelps Canon to the Bishop of Georgia
Mrs. Rosa M. Hinton & Mrs. Gracie HamptonLectors
Mrs. Christine Crockett Organist
The Life of Justine Wilkinson Washington
Dr. Justine W. Washington was the only child, born in Atlanta, Georgia on May 8,1908, to the late Rev. Walter and Mrs. Julia Wilkinson. She and her family later moved to Athens, Georgia and spent and abundant amount of time with her grandparents, Robert and Emma Foster and her aunts, uncles and cousins. On December 25, 1940, she married the love of her life, the late Dr. Isaiah "Ike" Edward Washington, whom she was married to for 59 years. They were introduced to each other by Nurse Vesta Robinson and their friendship soon blossomed into an everlasting love. Justine and Ike traveled extensively and their travel experiences included Cuba, Scodand, Denmark and various parts of the United States, just to name a few.
Justine attended elementary and high school at Union Institute on Baxter Street in Athens, Georgia where she graduated from high school with perfect attendance and was the class Salutatorian. She attended and graduated from Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia in 1930 with a B. A. degree with a major in History and a minor in English. She matriculated at Atlanta University where she earned a Masters Degree in Administration and Supervision of Elementary Schools in 1948. It was through the Southern Education Foundation that she began work in a doctoral program and an agreement was made dirough the foundation for her to become a faculty member at Paine College in Augusta. In 1965 she completed her doctoral work and received a Doctor of Education Degree from the University of Oklahoma and this was done through the collaboration of the United Negro College Fund and the Southern Education Foundation which provided her with an I. B. M. Faculty Fellowship.
Justine had a great love for music and this was evident in her participation in the elementary school©s operettas. During her college years she took piano and violin lessons, sang in the Spelman Choir and played a Stradivarius violin in the Spelman Morehouse Beginners Orchestra. After graduating, she continued her work with music by playing the piano, organ and conducting high school and church choirs. According to Justine, she could not give music the attention it required for continued growth and development. And she said that she could attest to the reality of the statement that "if one fails to use one©s skills, those skills will be largely lost."
Her first career position was in her hometown at Union Institute High School where she attended and her mother had taught. For two years she taught History, English, French and Hebrew. Justine was recruited by a former professor to teach at Geer Rosenwald High School in Belton, South Carolina and after two years she was asked to teach at Anderson County Training School in Pendleton, South Carolina. From 1936 -1959 she served as a Jeanes Supervisor for Teachers in 84 rural schools for blacks in Aiken County. She served as an Assistant Professor of Education and "chair" of the Division of Education and Psychology at Paine College, where she retired in 1981 as Professor Emeritus.
Among Justine©s many accomplishments and accolades, 1972 she was the first African American female to serve as a trustee on the Richmond County Board of Education a position that she was elected to serve in for 21 years. For two of those years she served as Vice-President and from 1992 1994 she served as President. Other recognitions are the Georgia School Boards Association Sendee Award 1985, Women of Excellence Award 1989 and the Augusta Unit of Social Workers, Citizen of The Year 1995, just to name a few.
Although her health began to decline, Justine continued to serve on various boards and organizations. She did not let her health hinder her from continuing her travels, socialization or community service. Her warm smile and gentle persona were always upon her and her words were continuously kind. She will be dearly missed by those whose lives she touched especially those of her "adopted" children. On the evening on Saturday, November 20, 2004, the Lord whispered into her ear that her work on earth was done. He was pleased with all that she had done to let her light shine and He said to her, "well done my good and faithful servant, well done."
Active Pall Bearers
Mr. Richard A/sop
Dr. Mack A. Bowman, MM.
Mr. WillB. Evans
Mr. Ricardo G. Daggett
Mr. Stanley J. Hampton
Mr. Quincy Robertson
Honorary Pall Bearers
Members of the Episcopal Church Women Augusta Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Richmond County Board of Education Trustees The Augusta Chapter of the Unks, Inc.
Augusta Chapter of the National Alumnae National Association of University Women
Alpha MuBoule©Association of Spelman College
Paine College Faculty
Tributes
Dr. Shirley A. R. LewisPresident, Paine i
Dr. William A. Bloodworth, Jr.President, Augusta State University
Julia Celeste RobinsonPasadena, California
Devoted Cousin
Cynthia D. Sims Adopted Daughter
Vivian Alien Dixon Hampton, Virginia
Cordelia AlienAthens, Georgia
Anthony AlienAthens, Georgia
Charles AlienPetersburg, Virginia
Chanyse Alien Athens, Georgia
Deborah AustinHeph^ibah, Georgia
Relatives & In-Laws
Deborah Sims Beck (Welby Beck)Dallas, Texas
Reginald BrownDallas, Texas
Anita DixonWoodbridge, Virginia
Brittni Dixon-SmithWoodbridge, Virginia
Millicent Dixon (Paul) ~LundyYokota, Japan
Otner Relatives
Soloman Walker Augusta, Georgia
Gwendolyn Murphy (William) HardingAtlanta, Georgia
Goddaughter
Wanda HardingOrlando, Florida
Tonya Ward (Charlie) Houston, Texas
Tammy Evans Johnson Augusta, Georgia
Ine^ RobertsonAugusta, Georgiao © o
Church Goddaughter
Edward FletcherMartine?^, Georgia
Godson
WillB. EvansAugusta, Georgia
Godson
and a host of other relatives, god children, and friends
