Milton Lee Washington

Milton Lee Washington was born April 1, 1944, to the late George and Dessie Washington in Joiner. He was the eldest of seven children.

He attended first grade in Joiner. The family moved to Blytheville, where he attended Robinson Elementary School. He was a 1963 graduate of Harrison High School. He graduated in 1967 from Mississippi Industrial College in Holly Springs, Miss., with a Bachelor’s Degree in Health and Physical Education.

Bro. Washington began a 42-year career in education as a health and physical education teacher as well as a football and basketball coach in Caruthersville, Mo., in 1967. He continued his coaching at Neil A. Armstrong Jr. High School in Jacksonville, Ill. While at Armstrong, he attended Sanigmond State University (now University of Illinois) in Springfield, Ill., earning his Master’s in Counseling. In 1975, he left education when he and his brother, Tommy, began their own real estate company, Century 21 of Peoria, Ill. He was named salesman of the month several times while there.

In 1978, Bro. Washington moved back to Blytheville, where he taught and coached at Blytheville West Jr. High School. In 1985 Bro. Washington began his service in administration and acquired his Specialist Degree in Administration at Arkansas State University. He served as principal for the Osceola School District as the first African American principal of Osceola Middle School. He was also the first African American principal at Osceola High School and the first African American Superintendent in Osceola (and Mississippi County, Ark).

Bro. Washington became a proud and faithful member of Epsilon Sigma Sigma Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. in Blytheville in 1979. Bro. Washington held many positions with the fraternity on the local, state and regional level. Bro. Washington was a member of the Southwestern Region Distinguished Service Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. He believed in being active in his community; it is evident in the numerous civic and professional organizations in which he was a member including Osceola Lions Club (charter member), Osceola Kiwanis, Arkansas Education Association, Osceola Education Association, Mississippi County Retired Teachers Association, Mississippi County Facilities Board, Arkansas School Board Association, Mississippi County Library Board, Black Superintendents Association, Osceola City Council, and Delta Regional Authority. He received numerous honors/recognitions including Osceola Community Choir, Osceola High School JR. ROTC, United Negro College Fund, Southern Poverty Law Center, Harrisonites Inc. and MA Clark #18 Fidelity/ Bethlehem #151.

Bro. Washington was a man of great faith. He was ordained as a deacon in 1972 at Mount Emory Baptist Church while living in Indiana. He continued his Christian journey in Blytheville as a Sunday school teacher, choir member and deacon at St. Paul MB Church, where he was an active member until his health declined. He was also treasurer of the General Baptist Association for several years.

Bro. Washington departed on Saturday, May 1, 2021, at the Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House in Jonesboro with his wife, Marva, at his side. He leaves to cherish his legacy his wife of 35 years, Marva An and granddaughter Rakia Edmonson of the home; sons Byron (Jackie) Washington of Blytheville, Rodney Edmonson of Sacramento, Calif., Michael (Katy) Washington of Ft. Worth, Texas, and Marcus Fowler of Jonesboro; brothers, Eddie J. ( Darlene) Washington of Peoria, Ill., Willie (Genoise) Washington of Columbia, S.C., and sister Betty (Willie) Larry of Little Rock; 23 grandchildren, 40 great-grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, siblings, Jo Carolyn Washington-Reed, Tommy Washington and Hattie Gene Washington Middlebrook.

The funeral will be held Saturday, May 8, at 2 p.m. at Saint Paul M.B. Church in Blytheville, with Pastor Bennie Washington officiating. The burial will be held at Whiteside Cemetery in Osceola.

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 viruses and in accordance with the families wishes masks are mandatory.

Services are provided by Wilson Funeral Home Blytheville.