Cleo Athena Fitzgerald's Obituary
Ms. Cleo came into this world on June 22, 1948 at Naval Air Station Hospital in Bremerton, WA. She clocked in as the eighth of thirteen children, the fifth female of seven girls, with a total of six brothers. Her parents, Mrs. Flora B Johnson and father, Mr. Frank Bascomb, Sr., obviously loved each other a lot, therefore, they had their hands full. Of note, her mother was a dietician at the cadet mess hall of the Tuskegee Army Flying School, home to the Tuskegee Airmen. Her father was employed with the U.S. Government Naval Special Services Transportation Division, with his latest assignment being at the Bremerton Naval Shipyard.
As federal governmental employment often does, Mr. Bascomb and family were again uprooted when he received transfer orders assigning him to Seattle's Fort Lawton Army Base. Thereafter, everything in Cleo's life was viewed through the prism of Seattle. She was now 4 years of age, and the family was residing in the Yesler Terrace Transitional Housing where Little Ms. Cleo lived some of her most memorable, inspirational and precious days. At the age of 10, Cleo was so excited to move into the family’s new home their dad had purchased on 20th Avenue South.
Ms. Cleo attended neighborhood schools: Bailey Gatzert Elementary, Washington Jr. High, and Garfield High School. Her high school activities included serving on the student council, being a Pep Squad Team Member, and a participant in the overwhelmingly popular yearly Garfield Fun Fest Annual Talent Show. A True Bulldog, she graduated in the year of 1966.
Her parents were faithful believers in God and raised their children in their faith. Ms. Cleo attended New Hope Baptist Church for Sunday school and the 11 :00 service every Sunday. She was one of the church secretaries, charged with composing the Sunday Service church Bulletin and community news to be read during church service. Cleo took this job seriously as a volunteer.
Following in her older sisters' footsteps, Audrey, Camellia, and Winnie, Cleo was crowned a Mardi Gras Princess representing The Central Area Community Royalty for the yearly Seafair. Her duties included appearing in all Seafair parades as well as the special side activities.
Marriage to Eddie McFerrin introduced her to motherhood with the birth of their beautiful daughter Leah, although the union ended in divorce. Daughter Leah made her a grandmother and a great grandmother. The visits with her daughter and granddaughter, Blessing, while she was hospitalized, made her happy.
Ms. Cleo eventually met and fell in love with the love of her life, after her subsequent divorce from Gregory Fitzgerald. Cleo met Lieutenant Colonel Matthew Williams III; a “Green Beret,” combat veteran of the Vietnam War and a Military Intelligence Officer. Better known by his nickname, Sandy, and secure in his manhood, he had no problem with her affection for the Fitzgerald sir name. Sandy and Cleo were married for 34 years.
Ms. Cleo followed a lifelong passion and enrolled at Washington State University where she earned her degree in Human Development with a minor in Psychology; graduating in 2002.
Ms. Cleo conceived, owned and operated several businesses in Tacoma, WA. Emprise Temporary Employment Agency, CEO New Options for Women servicing women Welfare to Work, and Fitz-Williams Group providing mediation services in conjunction with Pierce County Center for Dispute Resolution. Later she became the Director of Testing at McChord Air Force Base overseeing testing for the Community College of the Air Force.
Ms. Cleo was a long-time member of Shiloh Baptist Church on Tacoma's Hilltop, participating in numerous projects, activities and organizations. She formed The Hospitality Committee; she served as First President with a group of volunteer ladies with the mission of welcoming members and visitors with a "smile"; she recruited youth to assist with The Audio Taping Ministry; she tutored and coached young people on proper grooming, etiquette and social graces; she was overseer for production of the 11 o'clock service CDs for the sick and shut-in; for the first women's half way house she introduced the name that was adopted First Lady Lily V Brazill, wife of Shiloh's first Shepard and Civil Rights icon Rev. Dr. Ernest Stonewall Brazill.
Both Cleo and Sandy were known for their deep love and passion for their "Fur Babies." The "Fur Babies" never had a bad day. It was one of Cleo's strong desires that she might be reunited with each of them in a life beyond the living.
Ms. Cleo was indeed a renaissance woman of intellectual acuity, strong will and with imagination. She is loved very much and will be missed, never forgotten, by family and so many friends. Family members resting with Cleo: mom and dad, Frank and Flora Bascomb; sisters: Audrey, Camellia, Deanna, Cynthia; brothers: Erdman and Paul. Siblings left behind to celebrate her life: Winnie, Frank, Gordy, Wayne, Stanley and Angela; daughter: Leah McFerrin; grandsons: Robert Earl Lewis, Dannairo Lykail Goodrich, Lawrence Shamaun Reddick, and Xylon King McFerrin; granddaughters: Blessing Divine Johnson and Nylia Kyra Rawls; great granddaughter Denahi Mayzon Frazier; great grandsons: Lawrence Reddick, Jr., and Righteous Reddick; a galaxy of nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, Lieutenant Colonel Matthew Williams, Ill, is requesting donations be made to animal shelters or The Humane Society
The Bascomb family and husband Lieutenant Colonel Matthew Williams, III, are extending our deepest appreciation and sincere thanks for all the beautiful cards and condolences to: all Doctors, Nurses and Clinicians at Allenmore and St. Joseph Hospital of Tacoma; Valley View Skilled Nursing Facility and Valley Medical Center, both of Renton, WA, for their care and love bestowed upon Ms. Cleo Fitzgerald as she went on to the next level in her journey.
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