Elzie Givens
Elzie "J" Givens, Junior, at age 73, passed away on June 24, 2015 in Tucson, Arizona surrounded by his loving wife, Janette Givens, and his sons, Jamal and Jarte'h Givens.
He was charismatic, funny, and full of life. More often than not, he wore his cowboy hat and a toothpick tucked in between his smile. He never knew a stranger. His friendly demeanor quickly disarmed people and he enjoyed listening to other people's life experiences. He liked to travel and was adventurous. J was passionate about The Kingdom and message thereof, playing the keyboard and arranging music, taking care of and riding horses, bowling, teaching/coaching youth, and enjoying his grandchildren. Over the years, He played in several bands in the U.S. and abroad and served as a choir director for his church.
J was born on March 17, 1942 in Yardley, Pennsylvania where spent his childhood. J enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and was stationed at Barksdale Air Force Base, where he met his future wife, Janette. They were married May 13, 1967 in Shreveport, Louisiana.
Soon after, J was drafted to the Vietnam War. When Sergeant Givens returned stateside, he stayed on with the Air Force as a photo lab technician. After his military service, he worked for Eastman Kodak in Rochester, New York. Looking for warmer weather, J and Janette relocated to Inglewood, California, where their two sons were born, then to Atlanta, Georgia in 1980. Tapping into his adventurous side, in 1982, J gained employment at Saudi Aramco Oil Company as a photo science engineer. He moved his family to Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, where they resided for 20 years. J and Janette retired in Tucson, Arizona to be close to their sons and grandchildren.
J is survived by his loving wife and his two children (and spouses) Jamal (Raquel) and Jarte'h (Meg) and four grandchildren: Zion, Jae, Macario and Valentina. J is also survived by his brother, Ron Givens. He was preceded in death by his sister, Amelia "Sis" Givens.
There will be a memorial service to celebrate J's life on Saturday, July 11, 2015, 10:30 am at Faith Community Eastside Church, 8455 E. Golf Links Rd., Tucson, Arizona. In lieu of flowers, contributions to the Wounded Warrior Project, a charity and veterans service organization, would be appreciated.
J's Favorite Verse
But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.
Job 23:10
King James Version (KJV)
Acknowledgements
The family would like to thank all who attended the service to help celebrate J's life and the special person he was. Also, they would like to extend a sincere appreciation for the prayers, words of encouragement, and kindness.
In Him,
The Givens