Born in 1936 on April 8th
In himself he always had immense faith
He grew up in North Carolina on a farm
Picking tobacco all day really tired out his arms
He lived with his two younger sisters and a brother
His granddaddy, father and his mother
His mom and dad didn't even finish high school
But, my grandfather always thought school was cool
His grandfather encouraged him to be good at everything he did in life
That's why my grandfather continued to fight despite all of the hardships and strife
His family was poor and had no money for college
So my grandfather got scholarships to obtain his knowledge
On campus he was only one of four with colored skin
Amongst a sea of 4,000 white Virginians
He was not allowed to eat or live on campus
And was forbidden from attending social functions, like school dances
On June 8, 1958
My grandfather became the first black from Virginia Tech to graduate
My granddad worked hard to achieve his career
He graduated an honor student as a mechanical engineer
On this same day Christina he wed
"I will love you forever," is what they said.
They had three children, Michelle, Tracy and Chris
Never a beauty pageant or basketball game did he miss
He went to Cal Tech for a master's and Johns Hopkins to earn his Ph.D
Then a college professor for 21 years he soon would be
Unfortunately, after his kids were college grads and grown
His marriage ended and for a while he lived alone
He remarried Priscilla his new wife
And a battle with leukemia gave him strife
At VTech he had a dormitory named after him
And the school gives out a scholarship in his recognition
As of now he hasn't missed a Christmas yet
He was the one that bought me my first swing set
He helps with homework and praises good grades
He is young at heart despite his age
No longer in life does he scramble
Retired, he likes to play cards, bowl, travel and gamble
The grandfather of 10 and the great grand of six
He is always spending time with us and taking pics
I always tell him, "I love you"
He inspires me to "always do my best at whatever I do"
I believe he is the best grandfather ever
Our family will love and remember him forever