I’m FreeDon’t grieve for me, for now I’m free

I’m following the path God has laid you see.I took His hand when I heard His call

I turned my back and left it all.I could not stay another day

To laugh, to love, to work, or play.Tasks left undone must stay that way

I found the peace at the close of the day.If my parting has left a void

Then fill it with remembered joysA friendship shared, a laugh, a kissOh yes, these things I too will miss.

Be not burdened with times of sorrow,I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.My life’s been full, I savored much,

Good friends, good times, a loved one’s touch.

Perhaps my time seemed all too brief,Don’t lengthen it now with undue grief.Lift up your heart, and peace to thee-

God wanted me now; He has set me free.

Honorary PallbearersMembers of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated

PallbearersDeacons of First Nazareth Baptist Church

Floral BearersDeaconesses

ofFirst Nazareth Baptist Church

AcknowledgementWe, the family of Deacon Earl Benjamin Reuben, wish to express sincere thanks to all our many friends and acquaintances for all thoughts, prayers, and acts of kindness so generously rendered to us during the passing of our loved one. May God bless each of you with His mercy.

Services Entrusted To:

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Obituary Mr. Earl Benjamin Reuben was born March 16, 1920, in Newberry County,

South Carolina. He was one of fourteen children born to the late James and Matilda Stewart Reuben. He departed this life on Tuesday, November 7, 2017. He was a proud 97 year old.

Mr. Reuben attended elementary and high school in Silverstreet, South Carolina, and later completed his General Equivalency Degree. From September 17, 1941- January 19, 1946, he served in the U. S. Army Corps, and was assigned to the Medical Unit of the 870th Aviation Battalion at Pearl Harbor, Marshall Islands, and Okinawa. He was in Okinawa the day the Atomic Bomb was dropped. His army awards include: American Defense, Asian Pacific Service Medal, and WW II Victory Medal.

Upon being honorably discharged from the army, Mr. Reuben took advantage of the G. I. Bill, and enrolled at Benedict College, where he met, fell in love, and married Evelyn Smith. In 1950, he graduated from Benedict College with a Bachelor of Arts degree, and in 1951 he graduated from New York University with a Master of Arts degree. He completed further graduate studies at New York University and Indiana State University.

Mr. Reuben had an illustrious and rewarding career as an educator. He retired in 1982, after having taught for thirty (30) years in South Carolina Public Schools in Manning, South Carolina, at C.A. Johnson High School, and at Dreher High School, in Columbia, South Carolina. He also taught for twenty-five (25) Summers at Morris College and seven (7) years at Allen University, as an evening instructor. Mr. Reuben was always recognized as a leader. He served his profession in the following capacities: five (5) years as committee member of National Education Association, Past Chairperson of the Palmetto Association State Social Studies Department, Past President of the Richland County Teachers Association, and President of the Clarendon County Teachers Association. Mr. Reuben also served as President of the Benedict College National Alumni Association from 1959-1963.

Mr. Reuben believed deeply in the Lord and was baptized at an early age, at Welch Zion Baptist Church, the church that his father helped build, in Newberry, South Carolina. He began attending First Calvary Baptist Church with Mrs. Reuben while both were still undergraduates at Benedict College. He remained a member for fifty-five (55) years, serving as a deacon for thirty-seven (37) of those years. He also served as President of the First Calvary Retirees’ Ministry for fourteen (14) years, a member of the Fidelity Club and as Parliamentarian for many years. In 1999, he was honored by the First Calvary Baptist Church as “Father of the Year.” Since 2006, Mr. Reuben was a faithful member at First Nazareth Baptist Church, a Deacon Emeritus, a member of the Retirees’ Ministry, and he loved to attend Bible Study on Wednesday evenings.

On April 4, 1950, Mr. Reuben was initiated into Epsilon Epsilon Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated at Benedict College. He loved Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated! He was an active member of Omicron Phi Chapter, having served as Parliamentarian, representative on the Pan-Hellenic Council for numerous terms and having been recognized with Awards as Outstanding Citizen of the Year in 1991, Outstanding Service from 1988-1995, Senior Citizen of the Year in 1994 and 1995, and Omega Man of the Year in 1997.

Mr. Reuben was a Life Member of the VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars), and he was also a longtime member of the NAACP. For twenty (20) years, he served as Chairman of the Advisory Committee, Richland Teachers Council Federal Credit Union, and as a member. For six (6) years, he was a Governor’s Appointee and Member of the United States Constitution Bicentennial Commission of South Carolina. Mr. Reuben represented the state of South Carolina in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at the Bicentennial celebration. His life’s motto was: ”Do all you can for as long as you can for as many as you can.”

Mr. Reuben was married to the love of his life, the late Mrs. Evelyn Smith Reuben, for sixty-nine (69) years. He is survived by: their four daughters, Dr. Brenda (Ronald) Williams, of Charlotte, NC, Mrs. Patricia (Dr. Lonnie, Jr.) Randolph, of Columbia SC, Ms. Evelyn L. Reuben, of Hyattsville, MD, and Mrs. Jacqueline (Reverend Charles) Cherry, of Columbia, SC; one sister, Mrs. Carolyn Prioleau, of Washington, DC; and three grandchildren, Mrs. Erica Gipson, of Charlotte, NC, Dr. Melanie (Grady, Jr.) Johnson, of Lexington, SC, and Mrs. Patrice (Sergio, Jr.) Spencer, of Valley Stream, NY; six great-grandchildren. Ronald Gipson, Rian Gipson, Layla Kennedy, Liliana Spencer, Jayla Johnson, and Grady Johnson III; and a host of nieces, nephews, other loving relatives, and devoted friends, all of whom will miss him dearly.

Memories A Service of Remembrance

Prelude

Processional

Viewing…………………...……...………………..Funeral Directors

Opening Hymn ………………………. “His Eye Is On the Sparrow”

Old Testament ………………………….. Pastor Darrell Jackson, Sr.Pastor, Bible Way Church of Atlas Road

New Testament ……………………. Reverend Dr. Samuel K. LewisPastor, First Calvary Baptist Church

Prayer …………………………..….. Reverend Martin Luther QuickChaplain, Palmetto Baptist Hospital

Solo …………………………………………..….. Dr. Jayne Reuben

Remarks ………………...…… Attorney Wilhelmina Reuben-Cooke Reverend Dr. Charles B. Jackson, Sr.

Pastor, Brookland Baptist Church Mr. Vince Ford Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.

Attorney I. S. Leevy Johnson

Solo ……………………………………………. Dr. Nicole Edwards

Words of Comfort…...……………….Reverend Dr. Blakely N. Scott

Recessional ……... “Going Up Yonder” …….... Dr. Nicole Edwards

Postlude

Committal, Benediction and Interment

Crescent Hill Memorial Gardens2603 Two Notch Road

Columbia, South Carolina