John D. Grant, Sr.

John D. Grant, Sr., 98, of Asbury Park, NJ passed away on June 7, 2018.  He was born in Ehrhardt, SC on May 18, 1920 to the late Alex and Lizzie Grant.  The family relocated to Asbury Park in the thirties.

John was the first African American hired as a driver and route man in the state of New York and New Jersey.  He was employed as a Ship loading Ordnance Man Supervisor in the Ordnance Department at Earle Naval Weapon Station in 1977, and retired after thirty-four years of service.  He also retired from New Jersey Transit in 1992 with fourteen years of service.

John joined Second Baptist Church in Asbury Park and was a faithful server.  He was a member of the usher board for fifty years, charter member of the J.H. Ashby Men’s Club, and was honored man of the year in 1980.

He was a Navy veteran of WWII and the New Jersey National Guard.  He was also a member of the American Legion Frederick Dempsey Post 266, and its first Aid N.A.R.F.E. 411, member of Mt. Pisgah Lodge #48 F&AM, PHA, Samuel Gordon Consistory #50, Adah Chapter #17 OES, PHA , and a life member of the NAACP.

He is predeceased by his wife, Louise Grant; daughter, Hazel Lee Richardson; and brother, Eugene Grant.

He is survived by one son, John D. Grant, Jr., Asbury Park, NJ; one daughter, Ethel Mae Linquard, Orangeburg, SC; eleven grandchildren; twenty great grandchildren; and granddaughter, Allisa Goldsmith Walton, Durham, NC.

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