PHELPS, Joseph Alfred

Crystal Rose Funeral Home, Tolleson, Arizona Joseph A. Phelps (aka) J. Alfred Phelps) was born to Alfred Henry Phelps, a part-time minister and Laura Flynn-Phelps, elementary school teacher in Detroit, Michigan on May 4, 1927. Because of the Great Depression, his father was forced to seek employment at the Ford Motor Company, only to be let go as the Depression waxed deeper. Food and milk became scarce as well. His mother took him to Charlotte, North Carolina, where her brother, a thriving evangelist, the Reverend Doctor Dallas Joseph Flynn, resided with his wife. Except for rare visits to his Father's home in Detroit over the years, he was reared in Charlotte, North Carolina, graduating from now defunct Second Ward High School in that city in 1944 or his visit to his Uncle's home to see him. Caught in the on-going government draft into the military, he entered the Army Air Forces in 1945, determined never again to live in the South unless it changed somehow, remaining in that service as it transitioned into the regular United States Air Force at several installations in the United States, Alaska, and the Federal Republic of Germany for a four-year period before retirement. No matter how hard he worked or applied himself, it took him several years to reach the grade of Master Sergeant. While in the air force, he edited a military magazine while stationed in Germany and also supervised publication of the base newspaper in now-defunct George Air Force Base in California. He began honing his skills as a writer and researcher as he served as an Administrative Services Specialist, completing 22 years of service, retiring in 1967. He found employment at the County of Marin California Welfare Department as a clerical and quickly found himself promoted to that of an Eligibility Worker, transitioning eventually to the position of Administrative Assistant. During the passing years of employment in the County of Marin, he returned to college part-time, obtaining the Associate in Arts Degree from Solano Community College in 1969; the Batchelor of Arts Degree from California State College Sonoma in 1974. In 1978 he graduated from San Francisco State University with the Master of Arts Degree in Drama and hired on as a Drama Instructor at Solano College, California. Unfortunately, this position had been established by the College in response to the complaints by African American students complaining because they were never included in any of the plays mounted by the Drama Department. His course was entitled "Black Drama" and for the first semester black students flocked to enroll - until they discovered it was not easy to learn one's part in a script, help construct the sets and be present at myriad rehearsals. Beyond that, certain majority instructors blocking what he had installed during rehearsals and beyond that, students who claimed interest in drama began to lose interest when it was apparent that it wasn't as easy as they thought it would be. Further, the Department made certain that the lion's share of funds for sets, costumes, etc., went to the drama classes peopled primarily by majority students, leaving the crumbs for the "Black Drama" class. He did two shows. It was evident that some students were not particularly fond of the idea since for the students, in lieu of learning their lines, pasted their lines on furniture on the stage in some shows that they did, hoping to be able to read, rather than learn their lines, disregarding their directed blocking on stage. Their first show was "A Medal for Willie", a down to earth drama by William B. Branch which laid the issue of racism squarely on the line. The parents of some of the white students involved in the play stormed in outrage from the theatre in mid-performance. Unfortunately, he could not continue teaching under those circumstances. Interference with the productions by other staff members and students (white) changing lighting they had established behind their backs, was experienced in the latter part of 1978, as he bagan his transition to full-time author, focusing on self-help books aimed at racism in America. In that year, his first book, "On Being Black in America" was published. Six years later, in 1984, a self-published, self-help book, "Breaking Out: On Becoming More Than I Was", was released. In 1991, his first major book, "Chappie: America's First Black Four Star General - The Life and Times of Daniel James Jr.", was published in both hard and soft-cover versions by Presidio Press. Three years later, in 1994, "They Had A Dream: The Story of African American Astronauts" was released. Four years later, in 1998, "Into the Tiger's Jaw, The Autobiography of Lt. Gen. Frank E. Petersen, America's First Black Marine Aviator", was published. In 2003, a first novel, "Counterpoint". a story of life after death, was published and still can be found on the internet. Recently, J. Alfred Phelps had been colaborating with the former Commander of Air Force Training Command and combat veteran, four-star General Lloyd W. "Fig" Newton, leading to the writing and ultimate release of his life story. Between all of the above, there had been three marriages. The first two wives are deceased. His third wife, Shirley June, is still alive and well and was with him in all his pursuits. J. Alfred Phelps had begun to be published within the arena of Poetry, receiving Honorable Mention in Writer's Digest's 73rd Annual Writing Competition for his poem, "And I Remember", commemorating the life and death of a long-lost love. Married three times, three sons, two daughters from prior marriages walked the earth, plus step sons and one step daughter also exist: their names are; David Phelps, Wanda Phelps, Linda Phelps, Shawn Phelps, Michael Shreve, Brad Shreve, Gene Shreve and Tina Shreve-Walton. He was preceded in death by his son Joey Phelps. He also leaves behind his special friends that had touched his life; Hal & Deb Anders. A service will be held at a later date in California. When tomorrow starts without me and I'm not there to see. If the sun should rise and find your eyes all filled with tears for me. I wish so much you wouldn't cry the way you did today. And each time that you think of me, I know you'll miss me too. But when tomorrow starts without me, please try to understand. That an Angel came and called my name, and took me by the hand. And said that I'd have to leave behind all those I dearly love. But as I turned to walk away a tear fell from my eye. For all my life I'd always thought I didn't want to die. I had so much to live for, so much yet to do. It seemed almost impossible that I was leaving you. I thought of all the yesterdays, the good ones and the bad. I thought of all the love we shared and all the fun we had. If I could relive yesterday just for a little while. I'd say goodbye and kiss you and maybe see you smile. But then I fully realized that this could never be. For emptiness and memories would now take the place of me. So when tomorrow starts without me. Don't think we're far apart. For every time you think of me. I'm right here - in your heart!