Ronald Woodrow English, Sr. (Bay Ron) was born November 21, 1955 in Monroeville, Alabama to the late Mrs. Augustine Knott English and Mr. Andrew English Sr. of Uriah, Alabama. He was the 8th of 12 children. He accepted Christ at an early age and was baptized by Reverend Perryman of the Grove Hill Missionary Baptist Church of Uriah, where he served faithfully. After a long bout with pancreatic cancer, God sent his angels into Ron’s room at his home in Lawrenceville, Georgia on January 14, 2014 and ushered him into his presence.
He received his education in Monroe County Public Schools and graduated Salutatorian in 1974 from J.U. Blacksher High School. A phenomenal basketball player, Ron was selected to the All County Boys High School Basketball team, after leading the J.U. Blacksher Boys Varsity Basketball team. It was always “String Music” when Ron shot the ball. He continued his education with a stint at Patrick Henry Junior College where he graduated Phi Theta Kappa. He then transferred to finish his college studies at The University of Alabama. It was here where he joined the ROTC and received a Regular Army Commission as a Signal Officer upon graduating with a B.S. in Mathematics in 1979. He also met his first wife, the late Patricia Ann Harris while attending the U of A.
A highly decorated officer in the United States Army, MAJ (Retired) English spent 17 years plus serving this nation in many different aspects including multiple war time deployments. His accomplishments and awards include: graduate of Signal Officer Basic & Advance Course; Telecommunications Systems Staff Officers Course; Command & General Staff College; Defense Meritorious Service Medal; Meritorious Service Medal x3; Army Commendation Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Southwest Asia Service Medal with Bronze Service Star; and Army Service Ribbon.
Upon taking early retirement from the United States Army in 1996, Ron dedicated the next decade and a half to molding young minds. His first teaching position came with the Atlanta Public School Systems as a JROTC instructor at Alonzo Crim High School. He later became a Mathematics teacher at Booker T. Washington High School and Therrell High School. Ron also spent many hours teaching after school and coaching girl’s volleyball, basketball, and soccer.
Patricia Ann (Harris) English was born September 3, 1959, in Hale County, Alabama, to Mr. Odis Harris and Mrs. Lucille Long Harris. She was the 9th of 11 children. She grew up in a Christian home and confessed Christ at an early age. She was baptized at Union Grove Baptist Church in Greensboro, Alabama. After a vicious bout with breast cancer, God called Patricia home to rest from earthly labors early on Sunday morning, August 10, 2008.
Patricia graduated from Greensboro Public Schools in 1977 and attended the University of Alabama for 2 years. She was united in Holy Matrimony to Ronald English on February 25, 1978 and to that union, four children were born. The family enjoyed many years of happiness together and traveled extensively in the United States and abroad. She, her husband and children were members of the U.S. Army for 17 years. They cherished military assignments in Texas, Mississippi, Georgia, Korea, North Carolina, Germany, France, Italy and Colorado. In 1996, the family retired in Lawrenceville, GA.
She enjoyed traveling and raising her children, but had a burning desire to complete her college education. In 1986, after the birth of their fourth child, Patricia returned to college and graduated Magna Cum Laude from Fayetteville State University in North Carolina in 1988, with a BS Degree in Elementary Education. It’s noteworthy to say that Pat was a Two-Time Member of “Who’s Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities”. Those accomplishments were milestones in her life, but they didn’t fill the void and a very strong determination that Pat had to help as many children as she could in the classroom. She had an undying love for children, a commitment to education and a zest for living.
Her teaching career pivoted from a dream and began while they were stationed in Germany. Once they moved to Lawrenceville, she devoted her life to becoming the best teacher anywhere! She endeavored throughout the fourteen years that she taught in the Fulton County School System to excel in every way possible. She truly overcame many obstacles and fiery darts that were meant to destroy her dreams and became more determined to succeed with God’s Grace and Mercy as her shield. Pat received numerous honors and awards throughout her 14-year career. Her efforts have not gone in vain because she shaped and inspired the lives of a vast number of little children at Esther Jackson Elementary, Finley Oaks Elementary and Abbott’s Hill Elementary Schools, located in Fulton County, GA.
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