FREDERICK SIMEON CLEGHORN JR. 02/16/40 to 03/26/23

Early in the morning on March 26, 2023, Frederick Simeon Cleghorn Jr., age 83, climbed the Stairway To Heaven. By his side as he parted this world was his one and only partner, wife, love, and soulmate of almost 61 years, Gloria Gay Cleghorn. His last words were "Lord please don't let me suffer." With God's loving and tender hands his eyes were closed and he suffers no more.

He was proceeded in death by his father Frederick Simeon Cleghorn Sr., his mother Mary Cleghorn, his dearly loved grandmother Mamie Williams, sister-in-law Saddis Shambry, and brother-in-law John J. Jones Jr.

Frederick began his working career at Goodyear and retired early to start his own business. Our father was steadfast on his search for entrepreneurship and prideful in black business ownership. He was one of the original founders of Akron Minority Contractors. He moved on to form his own construction company F&G Constructions. In 1981 he and his wife Gloria opened Five Point Food Stamp Distribution Center located at 636 West Exchange St Akron, OH 44302. It was the first African-American owned food stamp distribution center in Summit County until it closed its doors in 1990. He and his wife Gloria continued their journey and started F&G Deliveries, a mobile meals program, where they served the community and took deep pride in serving the elderly and disabled until their retirement in 2015.

Frederick was raised as a Seventh-day Adventist, and his mother strengthened his walk in life by training him in the Word, for she knew and taught him the only true gift was a deep understanding and appreciation for his Heavenly Father. Many heard him say, "My Black Jesus always takes care of me." As the patriarch of the family, he was our foundation and our strength. Even with the weight of the world upon his shoulders Frederick effortlessly led and carried his family with three beacons of light guiding his way: faith, love and family. His favorite scripture was Psalms 23.

He leaves us to celebrate his beautiful presence, his big heart and his undying love. He also leaves behind his soulmate, wife, Gloria Gay Cleghorn; his two daughters who knew the abundance and true blessings of our beautiful father's love from the day we were born until the day he closed his eyes, Wendy Gay Cleghorn-Lee and Kelley Gay Cleghorn-Ezenyilimba; son (in-law) Matthew Chigozie Ezenyilimba; son-in-law James D. Lee. His seven grandchildren that were his everything: James Donavon (Enibokun) Cleghorn-Lee, Desteny Cleghorn-Lee, Akuadasuo Gay Nnedinma Ezenyilimba, Akunnaya Gay Ezenyilimba, Frederick Chigozie Ezenyilimba, Gloria Gay Ngakuda Ezenyilimba, and Darrell Allen Thornton Cleghorn-Lee. Two great-grandchildren Kyan Cleghorn-Lee and De-Erik "Denim" Brooks. Sibling Yvette Ausborn; siblings-in-laws Gladys Shambry, Alfred (Delores) Shambry, Larry Jones, George Jones, Theresa (Clifford) Fennell and Trena Jones; and a host of nieces and nephews. Also, dear friends for years James Robinson (of Wisconsin), William Threatt, Alfred "Jitter" Picket, and Richard & Theodore Dent; as well as countless friends throughout Akron, OH.

Our father Frederick did not want a service, he wanted to leave this Earth as he entered it, with God by his side, no audience. The day before he closed his eyes he sat in his living room, and to his surprise his beloved grandfather clock, which hadn't rung for years began to ring every 15 minutes until Sunday morning. We like to believe the chimes were the Angel's anthem opening up the gates of Heaven for dad…….

Timeless is his soul, forever is his presence, strength is his essence. Rest in paradise where you will eternally shine. We will be waiting on the next grandfather clock to chime.

-Frederick Chigozie Ezenyilimba