Sherman Leroy Newton, born Oct. 12, 1929, in Brookhaven, went to be in the arms of our Lord June 13, 2012. Sherman attended Brookhaven schools, graduated from Brookhaven High where he played football and was a member of the Theatrical club. He was awarded a scholarship to Moterno Technical College, but declined to enlist in the Navy like his brothers before him.

     Sherman served as an electrician and movie projectionist on the U.S.S. Mansfield during the Korean War. His training in the Navy took him to California. He met Opal J. Reasoner in Pleasanton, Calif. while attending a shipmate’s wedding. Sherman and Opal married and they settled in Pleasanton after Sherman’s honorable discharge in 1952. He took many electrician positions until he found a full time position with the University of California’s Lawrence Livermore Nuclear Laboratory in 1953. At the laboratory, Sherman was promoted over the years, retiring in 1987 as an Assistant Deputy Director in Plant Engineering.

     Sherman and Opal had four children, Michael Leroy, who now resides in Modesto, Calif., Richard Elwin, resides in Livermore, Calif., Randall, who died nine months after birth, and Juanita Ruth, who resides in Issaquah, Wash.

     Over the years, Sherman was always tugged back home to Brookhaven, traveling back two to three times a year to visit his family and friends.

     In 2001, Opal passed away. Sherman pulled back home wishing to be with his remaining brother and sisters. He sold his home in Livermore and moved back to Brookhaven. He looked up an old schoolmate and after a brief courtship married Exie Jackson, his soul mate.

     Sherman loved gardening, woodworking, and painting. He and Exie frequently drove across the country to visit his children and see parts of the country neither had experienced. Sherman and Exie would get up every morning and enjoyed the word jumble found in the paper. He had volunteered at the Veterans Memorial.

     Sherman had survived the passing of his parents, who were members of the founding families of Mississippi, Richard Elias and Ruth Allgood-Newton; his siblings, Richard Elias Jr., Kathleen Driskill, Roscoe P. Marshall Grover, Nora Bell West, Elsie Bowman, Ella Sandage, two sets of twins, a sister that died at birth, Robert Higdon and Annie Ruth. Sherman is survived by Exie, Michael and Katherine, Richard and Catherine, Juanita and Matt Hickey, seven grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, stepdaughters Shreete Hall, Sally Maddox, and Rebecca Smith; his beloved niece, Pam Newton-Norton, along with more nieces, nephews, and cousins than one can count.

     Sherman attended Friendship, First Baptist, and Macedonia Baptist churches. He was also a member of the Pleasanton Presbyterian Church and a member of the Livermore Presbyterian Church where he served in a committee responsible for building the church where it stands today.

     A visitation will be held at Riverwood Family Funeral Service on Sunday, June 17, 2012, in Brookhaven, between 3 and 5 pm. On Saturday, June 23, 2012, he will receive military honors at Memorial Gardens in Livermore, Calif., at 10 a.m. A celebration of life will follow at his son Richard’s home at 4888 Cindy Circle in Livermore, Calif. from 1 to 3 p.m.

     To express your thoughts to the family, you may visit riverwoodfamily.com and click on his name to leave a comment.