Joe Jennings' Obituary
Joe Jennings, Sr. was born July 12, 1927 in Boligee, Alabama in Green County to Leola Smothers-Swint. Joe was one of eight children, Sisters Jezebel Dixon, Margaret Jennings-Varner, Anna Mae Owens, Mary Fox and brothers Jonas Jenings and Alvin Williams proceeded in him in death. His remaining sister Dorothy Bryant, reside in San Antonio, Texas. As an infant was baptized Baptist by his maternal grandmother Smothers, who raised him in the southern tradition where no one is a stranger, after his mother moved North to Michigan for work. Joe attended public school in Alabama up until age 13, when his mother's sister Eartha, and husband Dasher moved Joe to Michigan. Joe enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps in mid 1940's, and later enlisted with the United States Air Force in 1947, when it was established. Joe served during the Korean war and traveled to Toulouse, France, Japan and Germany and received an honorable discharge with the rank of Staff Sergeant July 20, 1956. After which Joe served in the United States Air Force Reserve until 1960. His service to his country gave him considerable pride.
In the later 1940's Joe met the Love of his life and married Veronica Almanza, joining the Almanza's Father in-law Henry, Mother in-Law Mary, brothers in-law Henry Jr., Juan Tomas, Frank, and Sisters in-law Guadelupe, Josaphina, Rose Mary and Conchita all proceed him in death. His sister-in-law Sefronia Almanza-Hassan of Detroit, Michigan and brother in-law of Chicago, Ill wil certainly miss him. Joe and Veronica spent over 75 years married until his passing. They had five children, daughter Hiawatha Mary White (Fred), and son Rodriguez Jennings (Robin), of Detroit, proceeded him in death. In California, Dr. Joe Jennings, Jr., MD. (Parisa), of Carlsbad and Veronica Jennings-Vega-Robert, (David), San Diego and Exavier Jennings, Detroit, Michigan. Grand-Father to Kimberly Maria (Deceased), Carlos Severa Bennett (Crystal) and James Bennett III, Dennis Vega, Veronica Vega, Kisha Alexander, Lashwanda Alexander-Miles (Jonathan), Erica Ward, Daniel McGee, Joseph Jennings III, Gabrielle Jennings, Francheska Jennings, Asialynn Jennings, Sokin Robert, Arsian Robert, Rodriguez Jennings, II, Monica Jennings, Brittany Jennings, Mieko Robert, and Persia Jennings. Great-Grand father of Kerstie Bennett, Jazmine Bennett, Diamond, Gerrell Bennett, Lucky, Crystal, Courtney Bennett, Carlos Bennett Jr., William Terrance, Sebastian, Jermain, Jordan, Adrian, Ava, and Azavier, Clifford Ward, Kiara Ward, Karissa White, Averi Miles, Xavier Miles. Joe worked at Chrysler Corporation and Ford Motors auto manufacturing facilities in Detroit and eventually broke through the color barrier in trucking and became an over the road Teamster Union truck driver. Joe's mission was to educate and train as many minorities as possible to help them gain employment into the prosperous profession of trucking. Joe retired from Yellow Freight Lines in the 1990's
Joe and Veronica moved to San Diego, California a strong military town in 2020. His neighbor, a Naval Seal would talk military with him for hours. They lived close in proximity to the Miramar Marines Air Base and when the military aircraft flew overhean Joe marveled and identify each aircraft. Joe was a good man and set an excellent example for many people to follow. Always.
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