Joseph Bottom's Obituary
Joseph Bottom (Joe) was born on April 18, 1930 in Grambling, Louisiana to the late Frederick B. Bottom, Sr. and Minnie G. Felton Bottom. He was the third oldest of seven children. As a child, Joseph was baptized and a member of Home C.M.E. Church in Grambling, LA.
Joseph attended elementary school at Grambling College Demonstration School except for two years in Farmersville, LA, where the family moved because of his father’s work as a County Agricultural Agent.
Even as a child, Joe was very industrious and thrifty. He began working at the neighborhood ice house at the age of nine. He always saved some of his money, not in a bank, but in a special hiding place that his brother, Richmond, discovered under the house. When his mother ran short of money for food, she could always count on Joe for a loan. Joe even raised money with the bicycle his father bought for Christmas by charging his friends a nickel for a ride of about two blocks and back.
While at Grambling, Joe played the trombone in the school band along with his sister, Minnie. They traveled with the band to many cities and towns in Louisiana to play for dances.
The Bottom family moved to Oakland in 1946. Joseph completed his high school education at Oakland Technical High School in 1949. During his years, Joe continued to play the trombone with the ROTC, Swing and Jazz Band.
Joe began working for Lucky Stores in 1948 at the age of 16 and a student at Tech. He received the call to work for Lucky’s during the summer while he was working for his Uncle George in Selma, CA “bucking hay”. This was very strenuous work, and Joe lost no time getting money from his Aunt Everett and boarding a bus for Oakland. His first position was washing dishes. He was later promoted to the night crew at Lucky Store #50 in San Leandro.
At the age of 17, Joseph married Anna M. Bottom. From this union three daughters were born: Alfreida, Dorthea and Andrea. This marriage later ended in divorce.
At the age of 21, Joseph joined the Masonic Order, Model Lodge #29. He was Junior and Senior Warden, a Junior and Senior Deacon and an Inner Guard. He was also apart of Mecca Shrine Temple #20, Royal Arch Knights Templer, Lodge of Perfection, Consistory, and Hiram of Tyre Grand Lodge.
On December 20, 1991, Joseph married Zoe Irving. They were a very happy and blessed couple. They traveled and cruised several times a year to different states and exotic countries where they toured, dined and shopped at a variety of places. Every year, they attended Masonic conventions and Women’s Missionary conventions in the Bay Area as well as other states. Every two years, they attended the Bottom Family Reunions in various states. Their favorite trips were their honeymoon to Bermuda touring Tahiti’s islands, and Bottom Family Reunions.
Joe and Zoe really enjoyed attending First A.M.E. (FAME) Church and FAME noon bible study. Joseph became a member of FAME church right after his retirement from Lucky Stores; Zoe was already a member (1990) of FAME.
At the age of 81, Joe joined the Brother to Brother Organization. The members meet on Tuesday evenings for bible study.
Joe’s career at Lucky Stores included Stock Clerk, Night Crew Manager, and Department Head for the Deli Department. Joe worked for 47 years before he retired in 1994. Lucky Stores awarded Joe with a grandfather clock and an all-expense paid trip to Hawaii. The trip included two round trip tickets to Hawaii, a garden view condo and a rental car for one full week.
Joseph departed this life on January 23, 2016. He was preceded in death by his parents, Frederick and Minnie G. Bottom, a daughter, Alfreida, two brothers: Frederick & Richmond, one sister: Rose Kennedy, and many other family members and in-laws.
He leaves to mourn his passing and cherish his memory, his beloved wife, Zoe, two daughters: Dorthea & Andrea Bottom, four grandchildren: Tamara, Calvin, Kierra & Brianna, three sisters: Minnie West, Anita Gums, and Charli Simon; son-in-law Wilbur Blade, a brother-in-law, Percy Irving, Sr., two sisters-in-law: Priscilla & Louise Bottom, one God-son, Eathen Gums III, a special great nephew, Percy Irving III (Tre’), Aunts: Everett Bottom, Bernice Rainbow, and Lemmie Bailey, a childhood friend, Donald Meyers, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other family members, Masonic brothers, Brother to Brothers, and close friends.
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