Obituary for Elvin Keyes, Jr.
Elvin Clarence Keyes, Jr. was born on July 26, 1950, in Washington, D.C., and went home to be with the Lord on May 5, 2023. He was affectionately known as “Buddy”. Elvin graduated from Lawrence Dunbar High School in 1969.
He was employed with Grace Chemical Company for many years, Holiday Inn Express, and Sam’s Club. He retired from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Elvin C. Keyes, and Geneva B. Keyes; his siblings, Marie Ann Keyes Robinson Davis Littlejohn, and Gerald Sidney Edwards, Elvin served in the Elks in Washington D.C. He came to Chattanooga and joined the Elks Armistice Lodge #440 where he received the Grand Exalted Ruler in 1997. He was a former member of the Greater Brainerd Jaycees, in Chattanooga.
Elvin leaves to cherish his memory, daughter, Teena Marie Keyes of Chattanooga, TN, sisters, Naomi K. Martin and Michelle Theresa Martin; niece, Michaela Edwards, of Washington, D.C,; nephews, Demetrius Antonio Keyes and Sidney Marquette Martin, Jr., both of D.C., Eric Ramon Stith, Alvin Robinson, Jr. and Brian Robinson of Arkansas; 7 great nieces, 3 great nephews and 1 great-great niece, and one great niece on the way; a host of other relatives and friends in Washington, D.C. California, and Arkansas.
Public viewing will be held 2:00 pm - 6:00 pm Wednesday, May 31, 2023, at the funeral home. A funeral service will begin at 11:00 am Thursday, June 1, 2023 at John P. Franklin Funeral Home. Interment: Chattanooga National Cemetery.
He was employed with Grace Chemical Company for many years, Holiday Inn Express, and Sam’s Club. He retired from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Elvin C. Keyes, and Geneva B. Keyes; his siblings, Marie Ann Keyes Robinson Davis Littlejohn, and Gerald Sidney Edwards, Elvin served in the Elks in Washington D.C. He came to Chattanooga and joined the Elks Armistice Lodge #440 where he received the Grand Exalted Ruler in 1997. He was a former member of the Greater Brainerd Jaycees, in Chattanooga.
Elvin leaves to cherish his memory, daughter, Teena Marie Keyes of Chattanooga, TN, sisters, Naomi K. Martin and Michelle Theresa Martin; niece, Michaela Edwards, of Washington, D.C,; nephews, Demetrius Antonio Keyes and Sidney Marquette Martin, Jr., both of D.C., Eric Ramon Stith, Alvin Robinson, Jr. and Brian Robinson of Arkansas; 7 great nieces, 3 great nephews and 1 great-great niece, and one great niece on the way; a host of other relatives and friends in Washington, D.C. California, and Arkansas.
Public viewing will be held 2:00 pm - 6:00 pm Wednesday, May 31, 2023, at the funeral home. A funeral service will begin at 11:00 am Thursday, June 1, 2023 at John P. Franklin Funeral Home. Interment: Chattanooga National Cemetery.