Tommie Abe Washington

Obituary of Tommie Washington 

On November 17, 1944 a darling little boy was born in Pheba, Mississippi to the parents of Iva Louise Johnson and General Washington. That little boy’s name was Tommie Washington. 

Tommie was a joy to all who knew him. He was an athlete, playing both baseball and basketball in the neighborhood and in school. However, he wasn’t just an athlete, he was also a scholar...graduating at the top of his class as valedictorian at Beasley Highschool in May of 1963. This doesn’t come as a surprise for those of you who knew Tommie, because if you did, you knew he loved reading. He was an avid reader, and you could find him on the porch, immersed deeply in a book of his choice. In the early years of his love for reading he read comics, and as he matured, he read just about every kind of book there was. 

In 1966 Tommie joined the United States Army, where he served in Germany for 3 years and was honorably discharged in 1970, at the start of the Vietnam War. When that happened, Tommie said he’d gladly take his “walking papers.”

Tommie moved from Phebe, Mississippi to Compton, California in 1972 with his brother James on the Trailways, Bus 9 where the two sat together for a long trek to the West! They arrived at the home of their older sister, Katherine Shelton, who accepted them into her home with open arms. Tommie went on to attend Southwest College in Los Angeles, CA. There, he received his Associate’s degree in Arts on January 31st, 1973. Later Tommie welcomed two daughters into the world, Alezika Washington and Latasha Pruitt.

Tommie was raised in the Church and continued to worship in Los Angeles at Unity Missionary Baptist Church under the stewardship of the late Booker T. Anderson. He remained a member there until 2006...and we all know what happened in 2006. Well, if you don’t know, here’s what happened: In 1997, at his older brother’s retirement party, he met Patricia. They married on June 24, 2006…and the rest is history.

This card was given to Tommie by his wife Patricia on Valentine’s Day 2016. It expresses the feelings she has for Tommie as her one true love. It reads:

From the moment I saw you, I wanted you.
From the moment I met you, I wanted to know you.
From the moment I knew you, I was in love with you.
From the moment I loved you, I wanted to share my life with you
...and from that moment to this moment, I will love you with all my heart. 

“I love you, for all that you do” -Patricia

A small card was found in Tommie’s wallet the day before he passed. It reads:

Safely Home
I am home in Heaven, dear ones;
Oh, so happy and so bright!
There is perfect joy and beauty
In this everlasting light.

All the pain and grief is over,
Every restless tossing passed;
I am now at peace forever, 
Safely home in Heaven at last.

Did you wonder I so calmly 
Trod the valley of the shade?
Oh! But Jesus’ love illumined
Every dark and fearful glade.

And He came Himself to meet me
In that way so hard to tread;
And with Jesus’ arm to lean on,
Could I have one doubt or dread?

Then you must not grieve so sorely,
For I love you dearly still:
Try to look beyond earth’s shadows,
Pray to trust our Father’s Will.

There is work still waiting for you, 
So you must not idly stand;
Do it now, while life remaineth--
You shall rest in Jesus’ land.

When that work is all completed,
He will gently call you Home;
Oh, the rapture of that meeting,
Oh, the joy to see you come!

Tommie transitioned from this earth to his Heavenly Home on Monday, September 7th at 5pm. He died peacefully with his wife by his side. Tommie is preceded in death by his parents, Iva and General Washington, his brother, Jr. and sister, Katherine Shelton (Russell Eugene). He leaves to cherish his memories his beloved wife, Patricia Washington of San Diego, CA; six brothers, Osephine Washington, James Washington (Jeri), Johnny Washington (Thelma), Ricky Washington (Anita), Jr. Johnson and James Bell (Brenda); five sisters, Bernice Suthad, Ernistine Bell (George), Clarice (Al), Betty Washington and Barbara Mitchell; two daughters, Alezika Washington and Latasha Pruitt; two step-sons, Sam and Seneca Paige; and a host of other relatives, friends and loved ones to mourn his passing. 

Internment will be at Miramar National Cemetery on Tuesday, September 29, 2020 at 2pm.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Tommie Abe Washington, please visit our floral store.