Alvin Cage Booklet

C E L E BR AT I N G T H E L I F E & L E GA C Y O F

Sunrise

August 2, 1928

Sunset

November 30, 2020

L I F E

R E F L E C T I O N S

Alvin Walter Cage Jr. was born on August 2, 1928 to the union of Alvin W Cage Sr. and Renzy Lee Richardson Cage. He was their only child. Both of his parents preceded him in death.

Even though both parents were members of a Missionary Baptist Church, his mother strongly believed that he would receive a better education in a parochial school, so Alvin was baptized in the Catholic church. He attended St. Elizabeth Elementary and High School. He gradated from St. Elizabeth High School in 1947. He also briefly attended Roosevelt University He was incredibly involved with the St. Elizabeth Alumni Association in support of the Nuns.

Alvin met his beautiful wife, Annie L. Clark, while they were both on blind dates with other people. Cupid apparently had other plans as Alvin and Annie become a couple. On February 25, 1950, he was united in Holy Matrimony to Annie L. Clark. To this union, 5 children were born, Brenda, Sharon, Marvin (deceased), Norman & Donna. Alvin and Annie had an open-door policy where people were always welcomed to their home for a good meal, music, spirits, and lively game of bid whist.

Alvin was an employee of GTE in Northlake, IL for thirty-eight years. Although he never drove, he never missed a day at work due to his strong work ethics. After retiring, he had a host of other jobs to keep him moving.

Alvin was a family man. Although he was a mild-mannered man, he was no push-over. He was encouraging and welcoming to all.

Alvin once gave a speech where he described life as a stage play and we were all actors.

At the final curtain call, Alvin took his final bow to a standing ovation for a job well done.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 55 years, Annie; his son, Marvin (1955) and his grandson, Matthew (2020).

Alvin is survived by his four loving children, Brenda, Sharon, Norman & Donna (Bennie); ten grandchildren, DeAndrea (Steven, deceased), Mona (Donald), Carmen, Amber, Genelle, Tyshea (Eric), Marvin (Carmelita), Donleta, Shadae, Jasmine; twenty-eight greatgrandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.

O F

From Brenda,

LIFE LESSONS FROM MY FATHER 1.You live until you die. So make sure that you work, play and love hard while you can.

2. Keep your opinions to yourself unless you are asked. Everyone needs to pull his own wagon so that they are in charge of their own destiny.

3. Always leave a place better than you found it.

4. Avoid drama These are the lesson from my father From Adrienne, Yesterday our family’s patriarch closed his eyes and took his eternal rest. My mom called me to tell me what I already knew. I knew that he had finished his journey and reunited with my mom’s oldest sister and the love of his life.

So many stories that I can tell about this remarkable man. I have never met any man who had the capacity to see and love so many people.

When I was a little girl, I loved basketball. This was before the WNBA and there were few opportunities for me to watch women playing basketball on TV. However, it seems like the championship college women’s game was always played on TV on Easter and we were always having dinner at my uncle’s home. He and I would watch the women play and he would always encourage me to play. When I got to high school I made the girls basketball team. My dad never came to see me play until one day my uncle came to visit and promised me that he would see my next game. Well that must have shamed my daddy because at my next home game I look up and see my uncle and my dad at my game!!! When I got older, whenever I would get tickets to see the Sky I made sure that I invited my uncle to come. He really enjoyed seeing the women play live. We both never thought we would see women play at the professional level. Another memory I have is when I asked my uncle to do a workshop with me for a teen parenting program I was running. The name of the workshop was Teen Parents across the generations. I wanted people who were parents at a young age to come and tell their stories with the hope of encouraging the participants. When I pitched the idea to my uncle, I didn’t think he would say yes, but he did immediately. Let me tell you, he was the star of the workshop!!! He took us on a journey of his parenting experience and his fears and hopes for his young family. I remember after the workshop, how the participants each came to talk to my uncle and thanked him for sharing his story with them. He was so humble but I knew that he was so happy to be able to help.

My uncle was a very smart man, he was always reading something. He was the one who taught me about Nina Simone and Mississippi Goddamn!!! He told me that he use to have all of her albums but somehow lost them. The next Christmas I brought him a Nina Simone greatest hits CD and made sure that Mississippi Goddamn was on it!!

I loved listening to his stories. My uncle didn’t judge, he accepted us all and more importantly he “saw” and loved us all!!! When I tell you, they don’t make men like my uncle Alvin anymore!!! Rest well uncle!!

Please keep my family in your prayers!!

From DeAndrea, Heavenly Father, I would like to say thank you for blessing us with this wonderful angel that we (his grandkids after 12) lovingly called CUZ (my granddad, my young man). He was given 33,580 days on this earth and made the best of them. I am honored to have been able to spend 19,345 of those days as his first granddaughter. You have loved us, been our teacher, role model and advisor. I will love you always and forever.

From Suzi, The last time I saw my Uncle Alvin, he said to me, “I wonder what you are going to say about me at my funeral”. I said why wait let me give you my eulogy now. After stating here lies a man who is always hungry, not just for food but for life. Stop he said, “I’ll wait . Well Uncle, the day has arrived and there is no stopping me now except, I am reminded by a few family members that I only have two minutes. But how do you put into words the life of a Man who lived over 9 decades and a few additional years. Our Uncle Alvin has seen us through all of our family funerals, reunions, graduations and much much more.

I am so grateful that we all got to experience his jokes, laughter, compassion and love. He has left each of us with unforgettable memories and lessons that we will carry forward to celebrate his life. If anyone knows my Uncle Alvin they would agree he was pleading with the Most High God about his departure. I can hear him saying, please don’t take me on or before Turkey Day, and it would be nice if you could give me for a few extra days for the pies. Finally, his last request, must have been Lord please help my family stay close together and just don’t let me go to Heaven Hungry. What a Great God we serve. Our Uncle, Father, Brother, Cousin is now resting in the everlasting arms of the Great I Am. Rest in Peace King Uncle Alvin Cage we will all miss you dearly. We Love you Love your little Suzi From Donleta, God saw him getting tired.So he put his arms around him and whispered in his ear. Your work here is done. You have done all you needed to do. It’s time you come with me. With tearful eyes we watched the strongest man suffer. God said no more. As we watched him slowly fade away. We all loved him dearly but God loved him more. His g olden heart stopped beating, hard working hands put to rest. God broke our hearts to prove he only takes the best.

From Mona,

“Why I Won’t Look Back “ As I enter into my father’s bosom, my heart is slightly torn, For despite the fact that I am at ease, I leave you as you mourn.

You mourn a loss of having me, when you want to draw me near, The protection only I supplied, each time you faced your fear.

As I enter into my father’s bosom, I am challenged by my mind, For though I’m going to glory, I’m leaving you behind.

But I leave you all to live, to laugh, and to celebrate, For I am renewed, I am made whole, and I’m running to my fate.

As I enter into Our Father’s bosom, the weary old man is gone, And the new man awaiting to come out, will go where he belongs.

Into a place of utter bliss, a place where I will feast, Where love, peace and joy abound each day, and weariness will cease.

I am in Our Father’s bosom, I am safe and finally home, Surrounded by our loved ones, and blessedly adorn.

No longer am I feeling torn and my mind is well at ease, I leave you friends and family, with Our Father’s loving peace.

“...he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom,” Isaiah 40:11

ORDER O F

S E R V I C E

Tuesday, December 8, 2020 11:00AM

Saint Elizabeth Roman Catholic Church 4058 S. Michigan Avenue Chicago, IL 60653

Prelude Processional Family Mass Remarks Family Music Selection Eulogy Benediction Interment Mt. Hope Cemetery 11500 S. Fairfield Ave Chicago, IL 60643 Pallbearers Charles Clark, Jr. Mark Clark Devin Wilson Damarriay Cage Phillip Clark Derrick Robinson Marvin Cage Tim Tarver Acknowledgment The family wishes to acknowledge with deep appreciation the many comforting message, floral tributes, prayers and many other expressions of kindness and concern at this time. A more formal acknowledgement will be made at a later date.

“I’m Free” Don’t grieve for me, for now I’m free, I’m following the path God laid for me.

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, to play.

Tasks left undone must stay that way, I’ve found that peace at the close of the day.

If my parting has left a void, Then fill it with remembered joy.

A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss, Ah 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 savoured 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 share with me, God wanted me now, He set me free.