Roosevelt Fry

Roosevelt Fry, affectionately known as RoVel or RoRo, was born April 22,1935 in Yazoo County, Mississippi to Sam Fry and AC Taylor Fry. He was the oldest of two with both parents and his sister Nellie Mae preceding him in death.

Roosevelt attended Paradise School in Yazoo County. He acknowledged Christ and was baptized at New Zion Baptist Church under Pastor Luke Ross. Roosevelt left Mississippi in 1952 for a better life in Chicago. He took various jobs which included working at the Chicago stockyards, The Chicago Sun-Times and finally at Metro Sound before retiring. He worked as a mechanic in his later years doing what he loved most - working on cars.

Roosevelt met and married the love of his life, Josephine Pickett in 1953. To this union were born four children, Roosevelt Jr., DeBorah Ann, Michael Earl and Darrell [Butch]. Michael and Darrell preceded him in death. He eventually moved and bought a home on the South Side of Chicago where he raised his family and indulged in some of his favorite hobbies like fishing, cutting hair, playing pool and riding motorcycles. It was during his retirement that he really worked his hobbies which included working on cars, collecting model cars, gardening and watching vintage westerns. Roosevelt even stepped outside his comfort zone in 2009 and went on a cruise to Barbados. That was a huge step for him in that he believed water was for drinking and bathing only. Roosevelt saved to indulge in what made him happy, vintage cars, motorcycles and in recent years, electronics. His favorites were his ‘77 Corvette and his Harley Davidson motorcycle. He loved his cars, all of them.

Roosevelt quietly departed this life on Thursday, April 20, 2023 after a lengthy illness. He left on his own terms and did not regret his decision. He leaves to celebrate his memory his devoted wife of 70 years, Josephine; one son, Roosevelt Jr.; one daughter, DeBorah Tero McFadden; ten grandchildren, DanNita, Gizele, Jazmine, Aaron, Cheryl, Marcus, Kanisha, Josephine, Alex and Hannah; eleven great-grandchildren, Akhiel, Aniah, Princeton, Pierson, Grayson, Victorius, Royalty, Aariana, Angela, Angel, Aashton; one sister-in-love, Doris Smith (Mississippi); a host of cousins, nieces, nephews and friends that called regularly to wish him well and share prayers. He will truly be missed.