Obituary of Kermit Lee Sherod Jr

KERMIT LEE SHEROD, JR. was born on March 17, 1935 in Columbia, South Carolina. He departed this life and went on to rest on February 11, 2018. He was the second oldest of three children born to Annie Mae Milton and Kermit Lee Sherod, Sr.

Kermit’s family relocated to Brownsville, Brooklyn, New York after the death of his father in 1943, where he attended NYC public elementary and junior high schools. He attended Automotive High School and graduated with honors in 1953. Kermit was an academic scholar who was always in ESP advanced classes and received many academic awards throughout his educational career. Kermit also enjoyed and excelled in sports, especially basketball, and was a member of the varsity basketball team while attending Automotive. Throughout his life, Kermit continued to enjoy the sport of basketball by watching collegiate and professional basketball games on television. He especially enjoyed watching the New York Knicks as he was a die-hard fan!

As a resident of Brownsville, Brooklyn, Kermit was a founding member of The Seven Crowns, an athletic group that specialized in basketball and competed with other teams in the neighborhood. Kermit was also an original Brownsville Old Timer, who helped start what is now know as “Old Timers Week”, a traditional family celebration held annually in Brownsville, Brooklyn.

Kermit enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1953, where he served honorably for four years. As stated by his best friends, and fellow marines Bill Green, Titus Haynes and Lee Jones, he was a “gun hoe” marine, with a “spit and polished” style of dress. He was known for having the “best uniform creases” and "exquisitely polished shoes”. While training at Marine Corps Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Kermit achieved the highest accuracy score firing with a 45-caliber firearm. Kermit took his athletic skills to the service and continued to participate in sports as a serviceman. He would often boast about the time when he competed in a triathlon against a lieutenant and won. He was so proud of this accomplishment and it resulted in being welcomed to fraternize with the lieutenants. Kermit earned the rank of Sergeant, a rank that gave him a lifetime of pride, dignity, and honor.

In June 1959, Kermit met and married Kaye Norma Sherod, and from that union four sons were born, Craig, Guy, Kermit and Rodney. Kermit was a hard-working family man and diligently provided for his family through the various service jobs he held during his career. As a New York City Housing Police Officer, he solved many cases and earned an outstanding number of collars. He also worked as a taxi driver at night to supplement his income. Kermit went on to work for the New York City Sanitation Department for 4 years, before landing a job with Interfaith Medical Center (IMC) as a security guard. In 2007, Kermit retired from IMC after serving 25 years.

Kermit was a hardworking and dedicated father to his sons and family sometimes holding down three jobs to provide the best for them. Kermit was a stern parent who instilled a stringent work ethic in his sons as well as family members of younger generations. He could often be found giving firm instructions concerning the importance of education; working hard; being on time; and giving 100% to get any job done. Kermit told his son, “if you’re gonna be a porter, be the best at it!”.  

Kermit was affectionately known as Tip, a nickname bestowed upon him by his father, Kermit Lee Sherod, Sr. Tip is a name derived from Tiptop, Inc., a company that his father worked for when Kermit was a child. This name has been and will forever live in the hearts and minds of those who knew and loved him.

He is preceded in death by his beloved mother, Annie Mae Sherod, father, Kermit Lee Sherod, Sr., sisters, Helen Bradshaw, Catherine Johnson, son, Craig Zachery Sherod. He leaves to cherish his memories three sons, Guy Michael Sherod, Kermit Lee Sherod, III (Angie Sullivan), Rodney Tyrone Sherod, aunt, Louella Faust, two brothers-in-law, James O. Johnson, James Jennings, two sisters-in-law, Marilyn Mosely (Walter Mosely, Sr.) , Audrey Bernard, a granddaughter, Nicole Shanel Sherod Boone (mother, Carolee Hopkins), a great grandson, Neville Boone Jr., a niece, Yvette Wilds, 5 nephews, Garvey Bradshaw, Alex Johnson, Walter Mosely, Jr., Tommy Mosely, James Jennings, Jr., 5 cousins, Mary Murphy, Valerie Darden (Norman Darden), Gwen Robinson (Herthy Robinson), grand-nieces, Nailah Wilds, Asha Wilds, three lifelong brothers, Dr. Titus Haynes, William F. Green, Lee Jones, and Leroy Smalls, a special friend, Suzy Beckett, and a host of cousins, nieces, and dear friends.