Freddie W. Isom

Freddie W. Isom was born March 25, 1935, to the union of Wiley and Susie Carr Isom, in Halley Arkansas. He was the eighth of eight children. On December 13, 2017, Freddie transitioned to join his father, mother, sister, Gussie, brothers, James and Henry, and other significant relatives and friends. Freddie was a member of the Providence Baptist Church and attended services there whenever they were held. In 1953, he came to Kansas City, Kansas to live with his brother, Henry and his family and to find work. Because a medical condition prevented him from working at the Packing House with his brothers, he became an Elevator Operator at a local hotel. He joined the United States Army in 1956, and served four years. He worked as a Telephone Operator and Truck Driver. Much of his tour was spent in Germany which afforded him the opportunity to travel to such places as Holland, Amsterdam, Paris and the like. When he returned home in 1960, he began working for the Atlanta Life Insurance Company. On October 29, 1960, Freddie married Brenda Wood, a girl he had met at Stranger Rest Baptist Church. Dr. C.A. Pugh officiated. To this union two children were born, Charlton Douglas Carr and Cameron Danielle. With his family complete, Freddie took on several jobs as a test, the United States Postal Service and Cab Driver. Neither of these suited him. While he encouraged his wife to finish her schooling, he worked and kept the children. He loved taking them to the park and to haunted houses at Halloween. He cooked for them and dressed them for school. Because he loved to travel, the family took a vacation every year traveling to such places as Mt. Rushmore, the Grand Canyons, and points beyond. For many years, Freddie kept a garden in the back yard, where he grew a variety of vegetables. On Thanksgiving morning, he would go out and harvest the collard greens that he had grown to complete the meal he was cooking for thirty to thirty-five family members and friends. Freddie took advantage of the GI Bill and attended National College of Business and the Art Institutes, where he worked on his passion for drawing and photography. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and the Optimist Club of Kansas City. After thirty-seven years, he retired from Atlanta Life, did substitute teaching for USD 500 for a short while, worked for Roya Neighbors Insurance Company for several years, and volunteered at Providence Hospital for many years. When his wife had knee replacement surgery, he became her Chauffer to and from therapy. Freddie was a proud member of Strangers Rest Baptist Church. He served as s Sunday School Teacher, a member of the Choir and Male Chorus, the Grief Management Ministry and the Deacon Ministry, where he was the longest serving sitting Deacon. Freddie W. Isom leaves to cherish his memories, Brenda, his wife of fifty-seven years; a son, Doug (Dena); a daughter, Cameron (Monsuru) Peleowo; sisters, Juanita Leverett and Lucille Hankton; grandchildren: Desmond, Ayoka (Rainey), Rasheedat, Tobi, Dominique, Denisha, and Dustin; great-grandchildren: Aniyah, Christian, and Koran; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Funeral Service for Freddie W. Isom will be held Thursday, December 21, 11:00 a.m. at Stranger?s Rest Baptist Church, 2052 N. 5th St. Kansas City, Kansas. Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. at the Church. Interment, Highland Park Cemetery.

Freddie W. Isom

March 25, 1935 - December 13, 2017