Frederick Will West was born November 9, 1926 in Montezuma, Georgia. He grew up with his parents, Will “Hope” West and Bessie Engram West and nine siblings, Earl West, Mary West Sutton, Robert West, Ellen West Byrom, Beatrice West, Willie Mae West, Esther West Ragin, Clovis “C.W.” West, and Edgar West who all preceded him in death.
At the age of 10, under the Christian education tutelage of his Aunt Martha, he cited these words – “I believe in the Lord because he has forgiven me for all my sins. I want to join the church and be baptized and live in the church until I die.” He then joined the New Hope Baptist Church, Montezuma.
Frederick graduated from Flint River Farms School in Montezuma; and after graduation, he attended Savannah State College. He later transferred to Fort Valley State College where he received his BS degree. He taught at Flint River Farms School for one year before he was drafted into the United States Army. He completed two tours, serving in the Korean War. After the last tour, he began his career at Robins Air Force Base in Warner Robins, Georgia. For 40 dedicated years, he worked as an Inventory Control Specialist.
On November 13, 1965, he married his college sweetheart, Gwendolyn Barber West. They celebrated their 49th wedding anniversary, shortly before her death in 2014. After his marriage to Gwendolyn, he joined Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Jackson, Georgia, where he faithfully served on the Senior Usher Board until his health began to fail him.
Frederick is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Reverend Dr. Larry (Gwendolyn) West, Laurel, Maryland; his grandsons: Sean (Vonda) West, Conyers, Georgia; Brian (Hanne) West, Porsgrunn, Norway; three great-grandsons: Christien West, Landen West and Liam West; his first-generation nieces and nephews Slaughter James Crockett, Atlanta, Georgia; Gwendolyn Priscilla Dixon, Atlanta, Georgia; Linda (Sonny) McCoy, Jacksonville, Florida; Thelma Denise West Montezuma, Georgia; Robert Eric West, Americus, Georgia, Bessie (Jessie) Warren, Montezuma, Georgia; Gerald West, Perry, Georgia; Yolanda (Jerome) Kendrick, Oglethorpe, Georgia; Tonya (Quentin) Garnes, Montezuma, Georgia; Ann (Gerry) Harris, Montezuma, Georgia; and Tony Brown, Perry, Georgia; four generations of other nieces and nephews, including Henny Oliver Houben, Richard Houben, Brian Houben, Kevin Houben and Mike Houben, Holland, The Netherlands; special cousins; and devoted caregivers and friends, Willie Grier and Charles and Lucille Childs McElhaney and family, Jackson, Georgia. Our family will be forever grateful to the staffs of Encompass Home Health, Thomaston, Georgia; Grove Park Davita Dialysis Center, Jackson, Georgia; and Eternal Hope Hospice, Griffin, Georgia.
Those who knew him and knew him best, affectionately call him “Uncle Fed,” “Uncle Fred” or “Hoss” and enjoyed being around him for his giving nature, his fun personality and love of life. The memories of the “Coolest Cat In A Cadillac” will remain with us forever.”
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