Joseph E. Alston

Joseph Earl Rome Alston was born on July 19, 1936 in Baltimore, Maryland, to the late Obiedell Watson Alston and Hilliard Alston.  Earl, as he was affectionately known, was the fifth of six siblings.  During the wee hours of June 17, 2024, Earl moved peacefully along “in a quiet way” to his eternal home.

Earl grew up in East Baltimore and attended school in Baltimore City. From the time he was born until the time God called him home, he lived a purposeful and impactful life.  Although he was a quiet man, he made a loud impact with those he knew and loved.  There were no blanks between the time he was born and the time he departed.

Earl was a devoted member of Faith Baptist Church for over 78 years.  He was brought to Sunday School by his parents who were also dedicated and faithful workers in the church.  After growing and being nurtured by his family and spiritual leaders, at an early age, Earl made his decision to accept Christ as his personal Savior and was baptized March 15, 1946, by the late Rev. Simon Williamson.  As he grew in the knowledge of Christ, he was more eager to get to know God and grow closer to him.

On June 30, 1962, Earl married the love of his life, Virtie L. Jordan.  From this union four beautiful daughters were born: Karol, Sheila, Charlotte, and “Baby” Jamie.  Oh, how he loved that little girl, Jamie!  Earl and Virtie were very devoted and dutiful parents, raising their girls to be God-fearing, educated, upstanding, and productive ladies.

As he matured in Christ and understood the benefits of the abundant life in Christ, he wanted to share this eternal love with his family. Therefore, he made sure that he introduced his family to Jesus Christ.  He developed a love for Sunday School and raised and brought his daughters to Sunday School as well as Church constantly and consistently.  There were “NO” options regarding whether his children attended church! No excuse or obstacle kept Earl from worshipping or leading his family to worship.   Even if no one else was in church, Earl Alston and his family were there.  Today his surviving children continue to love the Lord and are actively involved in ministries at their various places of worship.  He upheld the mandate of Christ to “Train up a child in the way they should go, and, in the end, they will not depart from their teachings.”

Earl knew and honored God’s word—that a man was supposed to be the head of the household and the provider, and he satisfied God’s requirement.  He was a great provider, a loving and dutiful father, a teacher and most noteworthy a man of God.  Not only was Earl a great father to his children, but multitudes of other children also respected, admired, and loved him—and still do today. Many of his surrogate children call him “Daddy Earl” or “Father Alston.”  Earl was proud of his daughters’ accomplishments and was elated that all of them were college graduates.  He recognized and identified his children’s strengths and weaknesses.  He always relied on Sheila to take care of his business matters and she did just that in a stellar manner, Karol was his mainstay and Charlotte was his listening ear and helpmate—making sure he was taken care of and getting everything that he wanted. Jamie was his everyday fusser, telephone partner and shopping buddy.

Earl also enjoyed planning summer vacations with Virtie for their children.  Earl and Virtie took pleasure in taking their family on vacations every year in a brown Station Wagon which was affectionately nicknamed “HEAVY.” Over the course of 25 years, “Heavy” transported “his” family on a variety of trips all over the U.S.  Earl enjoyed family time and he really loved the Christmas holiday when he could purchase everything on his children’s Christmas lists.  Earl assigned each one of his children a chair in the family room loaded with gifts, clothes and toys for Christmas.  Earl did not give gifts to his children often, but when Christmas came there were no limits in providing everything that his four daughters requested.  Because his wife, Virtie never drove a car, Earl’s sister, Adele always had the list—running from store to store to ensure that Earl and Virtie had everything that they requested for the girls.  Virtie was the quality assurance checker to see if the list was satisfied.

The most poignant event in Earl’s life was when he was blessed with his one and only grandchild, Alston Jamie Rogers (also known as “AJ”), who was the apple of his eye.  Earl’s life was never the same after AJ graced his world.  As a legacy carrier of the Alston name and as a memorial to his late aunt Jamie, AJ was named Alston Jamie Rogers.  Second only to AJ’s number one fans (his parents), Earl was next in line as he happily supported AJ in all his endeavors including sports, musical performances, church events and school activities.  The day before Earl transitioned to his final home, he said to AJ “come here, Boy and take my hand.”  Earl looked straight into AJ’s eyes and said, “I expect for you to be an upstanding young man, listen to your parents because they know what is best for you, do the right thing, because at times we all must do things that we don’t like.” Earl loved, adored and admired AJ.  While he was able to, Earl called him every day until his declining health made it impossible.  He would start each daily conversation with: “Hey boy,” how was school today, what are you doing and what did you eat for dinner?”  Earl also adored his son-in-love, LaFonza, who affectionately named and called him “Gray.”  LaFonza always ensured that Earl’s hair was trimmed, intact and clean cut.  Their admiration was mutual and LaFonza and “Gray” shared in many, many, engaging and fun conversations.

As he observed the spiritual values instilled in him by his parents, he faithfully and diligently worked in several ministries at Faith Baptist Church—including the Sunday School, Men’s Ministry, Bible Study, Baptist Training Union, Revival Committee, Drama Ministry, Vacation Bible School, C&K Camp, Churchwide Picnics, the Simon Williamson Memorial Choir, Sanctuary Choir, Men’s Choir, and Mass Choir.   Because Earl was eager to serve in various capacities of the church, he participated and completed a myriad of Christian Education and Administration courses including the National Baptist Sunday School Convention, Baptist Training Union, Annual Church-Wide Institute, the National Congress on Christian Education, Billy Graham Crusade Seminars etc. After receiving his mandatory certification in Christian Education, Earl was asked to serve as the Treasurer of the Sunday School.  He served in this capacity for over fifty years.  He served the Sunday School with fervor, excitement and passion as he voluntarily fulfilled his spiritual assignment.  He enjoyed his Sunday School chatting time with the former Ivy Butler, Maudestine Godsey and other congregants of the Sunday School.  Earl was a dedicated worker and enjoyed collecting, counting, adjusting, settling and being a truthful steward over God’s finances.  Earl selflessly gave of his time and resources and funded many of the “Special/Annual” Days and Holidays events bulletin boards in the Multi-Purpose Center. Upon being acknowledged as a trustworthy Christian steward, Earl became a Trustee in 1977 under the leadership of the late Dr. Walter E. Paige—a position in which he served faithfully until God called him home. He spearheaded several projects which included the church’s Cemetery Plot project, Props Manager of the Drama Guild, the upkeep of the edifice as well as beautifully adorning the sanctuary with Christmas decorations and as many other duties as requested.

Earl began working as a young man at a store on Gay Street called “Robert Hall.”  His nephew, Edgar, always affectionately called Earl “Robert Hall” because of his precise, meticulous dressing style.  Earl was always neat, clean; and he stayed sharp! Napolean Jordan (Uncle Bunk), who affectionately called him “Brother-Law,” found Earl gainful employment at the Harry T. Campbell Cement Company which is now called GENSTAR in Timonium, Maryland.  GENSTAR is where he met his long-time friends, Mr. Earl Harris and Mr. Eugene.  His employment at GENSTAR allowed Earl to take care of his family while his wife, Virtie, stayed home and managed the girls and the household.  Earl was a loyal employee at GENSTAR for over fifty years until he retired on December 1, 1995.

Earl was a jack of all trades and enjoyed a variety of hobbies that included; string art, wood crafting, playing the piano and organ; decorating for the Christmas season; manicuring his lawns; spending a lot of time with his children and siblings; talking on the phone with his faithful niece, Angie; attending to the needs of his neighbors, steaming and eating crabs, enjoying overnight fishing excursions with the former church sexton, Mr. George Jenkins, being a handyman for everyone who knew him and fellowshipping with other churches during concert events with his brother, Lloyd.  He also enjoyed sharing special times with his brother Lloyd and living “down the church 24/7”  with his beloved nephew, the late Edgar C. Green Jr., visiting the sick and shut-in, transporting the elderly to and from church, decorating the church for every season, cooking breakfast at the church for the Easter Sunrise Programs as well as the Mother’s Day Breakfasts and performed many other tasks that were beyond the scope of being a Trustee.

Earl will forever be remembered and cherished by his three faithful and loving daughters, Karol, Sheila and Charlotte; his favorite son-in-love, LaFonza Rogers; the joy of his life, his grandson, Alston Jamie Rogers; his only surviving sister, Adele Alston Israel; two sisters-in-love, Josephine L. Alston and Shirley Jordan; his nephews, Lamont Green, Lloyd M. Alston Jr. (Priscilla), Michael D. Alston (Christine), Kenneth Alston Sr., Robert Beauford, Daniel Beauford (Karen), Joseph Jordan & Keith Cunningham; nieces: Pamela Powell, Nancy Green, Cheryl Tucker (James), Angela V. Saunders,  Dale P. Alston, Margaret L. Alston, Dianne Alston Moore, Dawn and Jennifer Israel; many great nieces, great nephews; a granddaughter-in-love, Gena Sinkler-Smith and great granddaughter- in- love, A’lonna Gulliver; a special friend and caregiver, Gregory P. Dean; and his best friend, Mr. Earl Harris. Earl’s wife Virtie and his youngest daughter, Jamie Iris Alston preceded him in death.  Other family members who also passed away before Earl are his older brothers, Rudolph Alston and Lloyd Alston Sr., his sisters Claretta Green and Gertrude Lewis; his brothers-in-love, Edgar C. Green (Booker) Sr., Rev. Paul Lewis, Robert Beauford and Calvin Israel; nephews, Edgar C. Green, Jr. and Ronald Alston, Nathan Jordan, Alvin Jordan; and niece Sheila Jordan.

Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.  Psalm 116:15