Isaac Washington

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“We are of good courage, I say, and are willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be at home with the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 5:8 ASV)

Isaac (“Isaiah/Junior”) Washington became present with the Lord on February 5, 2026. He was born in Charleston, South Carolina (S.C.) on July 29, 1939, to the late Reverend Isaiah Washington and the late Emma Hamilton Washington, as the youngest of four siblings.

Isaac was educated in the Charleston Public School System graduating from Burke High School in 1957. He furthered his education at Benedict College in Columbia, S.C. taking courses in physical therapy before joining the United States (U.S.) Army.

In U.S. Army, he was stationed in New Jersey and later moved to Philadelphia to be near his older sister, the late Dorothy Fuller. He served as a member of a special unit that safeguarded critical infrastructure along the U.S. East Coast, mitigating foreign threats and ensuring regional security. This work required discretion and a deep understanding of geopolitical dynamics; all managed under the authority of a high-level security clearance. Isaac was honorably discharged in 1965.

Isaac chose to remain in Philadelphia and made it his home with his wife, Doris, choosing to live in the historically black neighborhood, Yorktown, home to the country’s first black-owned mall. Two children were born to the marriage, Gwen and Marc.

He was employed by several printing companies. The last of which was Container Corporation of America (CCA). He was proud of becoming the Union Representative at CCA. Isaac traveled to Chicago, Dallas, Houston and Jacksonville, FL negotiating contracts that would benefit thousands of employees. He would stay at the negotiating table until he obtained the best for the employees and their families. After an injury on the job, Isaac retired in 1993.

Isaac’s religious journey began in his dad’s church, Ebenezer AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina. Later in life, he joined Thankful Baptist Church, and he was baptized by the late Reverend Ivan B. Hewitt. He enjoyed sharing and helping others and often joined his wife in many mission activities. He enjoyed visiting Thankful members in various nursing homes, and often remembered his time spent with the late Reverend Frank Hall. He selected the Allegheny Community Council and The Georgia E. Gregory Interdenominational School of Music (GEGISOM) as his ministry and supported them for years. At GEGISOM, he took his duties of maintenance and repairs seriously.

He spent his retirement years traveling with Doris. He enjoyed attending the Progressive National Baptist Annual Convention which took him to Los Angeles, Detroit, Kansas City,

Memphis, Orlando, Louisville and many other cities. He also experienced traveling outside of the U.S. to places such as London, Paris, Barcelona, Rome, Lima and most recently Florence, Italy to see his granddaughter, Jazmine, graduate from Polimoda. Traveling through the Panama Canal was his favorite. He often said, “I don’t know where we are going next. I’m just carrying the suitcases.”

Another one of his favorite pastimes was cooking and experimenting in the kitchen making potato chips, perfecting his BBQ and creating his secret recipe for BBQ sauce. For many years, he prepared the food for the Church School Picnic – BBQ ribs, hot dogs, hamburgers, corn on the cob, baked beans - all on the grill!

He also loved talking about his grandchildren to everyone. He was very proud of their accomplishments and wanted to be present for their major events – graduations, sporting events, and proms. He also enjoyed playing poker with family and friends and passed the tradition of poker to his children and grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters, Thelma Washington and Dorothy H. Fuller and brother, Herbert Washington. He leaves to mourn and cherish his precious memories his forever love of over 60 years Doris, daughter Gwen, son Marc (Pauline), special son, James, special daughters Greta, Shirley, Denise, Debra and Kelly, grandchildren, Jazmine, Justin, Isaiah, Lena and Samuel, brother, Franklin, brother in-laws, George (Patricia), Charles (Miriam), nieces and nephews, cousins and, other family and friends.

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