Mr. Jerry Summers, Jr.

Jerry Summers, Jr., 72, of Brooklyn, NY passed away on November 29, 2013 after an extended illness. Jerry was born in Orangeburg, SC to Vertell (Saxon) and Jerry Summers, Sr. He entered the Army in 1965 and achieved the rank of Sergeant First Class. He began service in the Army Reserves in 1969 and retired from Reserve duty in 2000. During his military career he received a good conduct medal and became an expert rifleman. Jerry also worked for the New York City Mass Transit Authority as a bus operator in Manhattan and the Bronx for 30 years. In the course of his career, Jerry received over a dozen commendations for his excellent service. He expressed many times that he greatly enjoyed his work, and really only retired "because it was time". After retirement, Jerry remained involved with other retired mass transit worker colleagues, meeting monthly for dinner and conversation. Always social, he also frequented Junior's Restaurant on Flatbush Avenue, Brooklyn where he made many good friends. Jerry was an avid gardener. In 2006 he helped to establish the Phoenix Community Garden in Ocean Hill, Brooklyn. He spent tireless hours working in the garden and took great joy in sharing his passion for horticulture with his friends and neighbors. Often seen with his two 4-legged companions, Brooklyn and Izzy, Jerry had a real "gift of gab". He loved to talk to just about anyone about just about anything. He was thoughtful, always considerate of others and gave unique gifts. A Renaissance man, Jerry loved everything from basketball and football to theatre, dance and art. Jerry enjoyed music, especially Jazz and Doo-Wop music from the 50's and 60's. Never one to be run of the mill, Jerry recently began wearing bow ties. Jerry is survived by his sister Johnnie Summers of Orangeburg, SC, daughter Allison Caban-Holt, son-in-law Gary Holt, and granddaughters Gabrielle and Sydney of Lexington, KY. Visitation will be held on Wednesday December 4, from 6-8 pm at Grace Funeral Chapels at 607 North Conduit Blvd, Brooklyn, NY. Funeral Service will be held on Friday December 6, at 10am at Grace Funeral Chapels, with internment at the Calverton National Cemetery in Calverton, NY with military honors. As the National Cemetery does not permit funeral flowers, in lieu of flowers, the family is establishing a fund to create a memorial for Jerry in the Phoenix Community Garden. Services for Jerry Summers, Jr. are being coordinated by: Grace Funeral Chapels 607 North Conduit Blvd. Brooklyn, NY 11208 Ph: 718-235-8088 or 800-378-7857 Fax: 718-235-6008 Directions to Grace Funeral Chapels: Subways: "A" Train to Grant Avenue. Grace is around the corner. Bus: Local Buses Q7, Q8, Q21A. From Brooklyn Via Highway: Belt Parkway East to Exit 17 (Cross Bay Boulevard). Left turn on to Cross Bay Boulevard - North. After 2nd light, turn right at sign "West - Conduit Boulevard." Straight on North Conduit for approx. 1.5 miles. Grace Funeral Chapels' Parking Lot will be on your right immediately after the Chapels building. From Brooklyn Via Linden Boulevard (27 East): Linden Boulevard to Euclid Avenue, (approximately .3 miles past exit 22A). Left turn on to Euclid Avenue. Proceed 2 blocks to Belmont Avenue. Proceed on Belmont 3 blocks to Autumn Avenue. Left on Autumn. Take Autumn for 2 blocks to Pitkin Avenue. Right turn at Pitkin Avenue. Go on to the 2nd light, which is at North Conduit Boulevard. Left turn on to North Conduit Boulevard. Grace Funeral Chapels' Parking Lot will be on your right immediately after the Chapels building. From Brooklyn Via Atlantic Avenue East: Traveling east along Atlantic Avenue, bear right at Fountain Avenue. This leads on to South Conduit Boulevard. Continue for 4 traffic lights (approximately ½ mile) to Pitkin Avenue, which is at the 4th light. Bear left and cross over to North Conduit Boulevard. Make a left turn at the light. Grace Funeral Chapels' Parking Lot will be on your right immediately after the Chapels building. From Queens Via Highway: Van Wyck Expressway South to Belt Parkway West. Exit 17W (North Conduit Avenue). Straight on North Conduit for approx. 1.5 miles. Grace Funeral Chapels' Parking Lot will be on your right immediately after the Chapels building. From Queens Via Woodhaven Boulevard or Crossbay Blvd Woodhaven Boulevard (South toward the Rockaways). Woodhaven Boulevard becomes Cross Bay Boulevard at Liberty Avenue (Subway El). Continue for approximately .8 miles until highway sign: 878 Nassau Expressway - East South Conduit Avenue - Kennedy Airport. At this sign there is also a traffic light and a regular street sign for North Conduit Avenue. (North Conduit Avenue becomes North Conduit Boulevard). Make a right turn on to North Conduit Avenue, continue for approximately 1.5 miles. Grace Funeral Chapels' Parking Lot will be on your right immediately after the Chapels building. From Manhattan Via Highway: Midtown Tunnel to the Long Island Expressway. LIE to Van Wyck Expressway South, to Belt Parkway West. Exit 17W (North Conduit Avenue). Straight on North Conduit for approx. 1.5 miles. Grace Funeral Chapels' Parking Lot will be on your right immediately after the Chapels building. From Manhattan Via Highway and Local Streets: Midtown Tunnel to the Long Island Expressway, to Exit 19 Woodhaven Boulevard. Right turn at Woodhaven Boulevard. Follow instructions above Via Woodhaven Boulevard. From The Bronx Via Highway Whitestone Bridge to Van Wyck Expressway South. Follow directions above from Manhattan via highway. Directions to Calverton National Cemetery: 210 Princeton Boulevard Calverton, NY 11933-1031 Phone: (631) 727-5410 Fax: (631) 369-4397 DIRECTIONS FROM NEAREST AIRPORT There are three airports on Long Island. The nearest is Long Island MacArthur Airport in Islip and travel time to the cemetery is about 30 minutes. JFK and LaGuardia are approximately 70 miles from the cemetery, making travel time approximately 90 minutes in local area traffic. Take the Long Island Expressway (495) to Exit 68 (William Floyd Parkway). Then take William Floyd Parkway, north four miles to Route 25. Take route 25 east for approximately four miles. The cemetery entrance is on the left. *In Lieu of Flowers; youcaring.com/memorial-fundraiser/Jerry-Summers-Jr-Memorial-fund/112918

Mr. Jerry Summers, Jr.

December 22, 1940 - November 29, 2013