George G. Heastie, Jr.

December 25,1932, in the sunny, warm, magic city of Miami, Florida, George and Leatha Heastie were gifted with the birth of their first male child: George Goshen Heastie Jr. His birth followed that of his two sisters, Eunice and Geneva (Betty), with two brothers, James Henry (Jimmy) and Samuel Donald (Donnie) following him in birth.

George was fondly known as Georgie. However, to his mother, he was always her, Georgie Boy! During his formative years, George was nurtured by his faithful Mother in the Davidian Seventh Day Adventist Church.

As a teen, George began to travel “Overtown” to attend services at Bethany S.D.A. with his cousin, Helen who had been baptized there. Subsequently, George was baptized at Bethany by Pastor Calvin Rock. As a teen, George loved sports and he loved the Brooklyn Dodgers Baseball team. He considered himself an authority on the team’s success. George enjoyed following the exploits of center fielder, Duke Snider, who he called “Big Duke”, pitcher, Don Newcombe, who he called, “Big Newk” and catcher, Roy Campanella who he called, “Big Camp”. Most of all, he loved to see second baseman Jackie Robinson steal the bases! It was an amazing time to grow up and see the integration of Major League Baseball.

George excelled in his High School studies, graduating from Miami Dorsey High School in 1952 at the top of his class receiving Highest Honors and being the Valedictorian. George then attended both Morehouse and Morris Brown Colleges in Atlanta, Georgia as his greatest desire was to be a medical doctor.

Alas, it was the time of the Korean Conflict and George was drafted into the United States Army where his father was a career serviceman. After serving his country, George worked as a US Postal Service Worker, and as a Fraud Investigator for the USDA. He completed his years of serving his community as a Corrections Officer for the county of Miami-Dade in Florida.

George again showed his love for sports as he became a dedicated fan of the Miami Dolphins Football Team. He was a #1 Dolfan spending years upon years as a season ticket holder attending games in both The Orange Bowl and Joe Robbie Stadium, now known as Hard Rock Stadium. When George was not able to attend a game in person, he would watch the game on TV hushing anyone who would dare utter a word other than during a commercial break. He also made it his mission to spend every year attending the super bowl during the late 1970s, 80s, and early 90s.

Music was George’s great passion from singing his first hymns at his mother’s knee in their daily morning worships to singing with family, church, friends and professional groups such as his performances with “The Count” Samuel Adolphus. Throughout the years George participated in many choirs both singing and directing, most recently assisting Daniel Foulkes with the South Florida Cantata Choir. George just loved to sing! At times he would simply begin to sing, in his melodic bass voice “Jesus Paid it Alllllll !”

Many of us who knew him well, can look back into our memory and recall an intimate conversation with him. At times like these, it would appear that George and you were the only persons existing in the universe; and did not our hearts thrill, to be called his “Sugar, Sugar!” or to have him end a conversation with: “I love you baby!” That was how we will always remember him...with love.

He leaves to mourn: His wife Maselina; His children Vicki Gibbs (Greg), Beverly Kirby (Tom), Stephen White, Melanie Levros (Wecley), Catherine Heastie and Tracy Heastie; His grandchildren Wave "Poppy" Robinson (Octavia), his "Brandywine" Brandis Robinson, Justin Demps (Brie) and Wecley E Levros; and a host of family, and friends.

We look forward to that great day when our Lord Jesus returns. We will be reunited with our loved ones and go home to live with our Saviour for eternity. What a glorious day that will be! 

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