Obituary for Amos Harrell Rawls Jr.
Mr. Amos Harrell Rawls, Jr. peacefully entered into eternal rest on Wednesday, August 19, 2020, at his home in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Amos Jr. was the second child born on December 31, 1945, to the late Mr. Amos H. Rawls, Sr. and Mrs. Annie Mae Hunt Rawls in Portsmouth, Virginia. After the death of his mother, Amos Jr. was raised by his paternal grandmother, Mrs. Pleasant Rawls. His grandmother avidly took him to church with her where he later accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. For decades he attended Zion Bethel United Church of Christ (Portsmouth, VA) before joining New Mt. Vernon Baptist Church (Portsmouth, VA) in 2017. Amos Jr. grew up with his sister, Saundra, brother, Ronnie and special cousins who affectionately called him their brother: Brenda, Denise, Letta, Jr., Donnie, Dion, and Duana.
Amos Jr. was a mighty greyhound at I.C. Norcom High School. Here he was in the ROTC, a member of the track team, but showed his special talents on the grid iron. His awesome performance as a lineman later led to his induction into the I. C. Norcom Hall of Fame. His “hands in the dirt” earned him a FULL scholarship to the Norfolk Division of Virginia State College (Norfolk State University). Many have stated that they felt well protected when running on his side of the line, especially quarterback, Ike Fuller. After his football career at Norfolk State College, he received professional letters of interest from the St. Louis Football Cardinals, New York Football Giants, and New Orleans Saints Football Club.
During his matriculation at Norfolk State College, Amos Jr. pledged the Pi Gamma Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated. He crossed the burning sands in April 1969 with eight other dynamic men; William Bagby, James Carver, Dwight Jones, Wendall McChellan, James Sharp, Arthur Willis III (deceased), Ronald Wilson, and Roland Wright (deceased). They were known as “The Nasty Nine of Sixty Nine.” Amos Jr. was a member of Gamma Xi Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated. Everybody knew “Lou the Que.” You could leave Virginia and meet people who knew him. He adored his beloved fraternity and even actively attended meetings during his battle with Parkinsons and dementia. Amos Jr. earned a Service Award for 50 years of Devotion and Service to the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated for exemplifying the Four Cardinal Principles of Manhood, Scholarship, Perseverance, and Uplift. He bled PURPLE and GOLD!
“Lou the Que” was loved by many of his sisters of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. They called him “Sweetheart” as he drove them around in his RED car. He caught the eye of one of his Delta sisters, Allena C. Rose. She had always heard about Amos Jr. even while she was in high school on the other side of the tunnel in Norfolk and had no idea that she would later be on his arm. Amos Jr. and Allena officially met while she was crabbing on the beach. Amos Jr’s eyes were attracted to her short shorts and asked his fraternity brother, Levi Jones, to introduce him. After a year of dating, Amos Jr. and Allena married on August 26, 1972. Their union was blessed to welcome their daughter, Crystal Pleasant, and son, Amos III.
Amos Jr. diligently provided for his family. He worked for 30 years with the City of Norfolk. His 30 years of service with the City of Norfolk placed him as a supervisor at the Norfolk City Arena Recreation Center and finally multiple experiences at the Norfolk Juvenile Detention Center. He retired from the City of Norfolk in 2007. Amos Jr. once mentioned that he always wanted to drive something BIG! This is most likely why he became a part-time tour bus driver. He drove for Gallop Bus Line that later became Venture Tours. Amos Jr. has driven as far north as Montreal, Canada, south to Orlando, Florida, and west into Michigan, Ohio, and Tennessee. His family benefited from his driving experience for he took them to numerous family reunions and even his daughter’s college commencement.
His favorite hobby was taking pictures, pictures, and more pictures. Amos Jr. traveled with his camera. There was not going to be a special moment that was not captivated on film. His specialties were weddings, dance recitals, and recreational events. However, his family was his favorite inspiration. There was never a family reunion, birthday party, awards program, graduation, or sporting event that wasn’t captured. Whenever he was on the sidelines, his grandsons called him “ESPN” because he got all of the action shots.
Amos Jr. was preceded in death by his sister, Saundra Johnson (Monroe), and brother, Ronnie Rawls (Verlette). He is survived by his loving and devoted wife of almost 48 years, Allena Rose Rawls; daughter, Crystal Rawls Pearson (Randal), and son, Amos H. Rawls III; five fabulous grandchildren: Mason Harrell, Madisyn Leigh, Randal Christopher, Deacon DeVaughn, and Camren Rhyan; sisters, Carolyn Vazquez, Belinda Smith, and Gwynette Silver; beloved special cousins, Edward Hunt, Jr. (Helen), Marvin Hunt, Dion Hunt, and Duana Hunt; and a host of nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.
Virtual Omega Memorial Service
7pm to 8pm Friday, August 28, 2020
Zoom Link
https://rivhs.zoom.us/j/97681675273?pwd=NGFRYVh3QTh3ZWhicFJOQ0pGTWJZdz09
Zoom Meeting ID: 976 8167 5273
Passcode: Rawls69PG
One tap mobile
+16465588656,,97681675273# US (New York)
+13017158592,,97681675273# US (Germantown)
Amos Jr. was a mighty greyhound at I.C. Norcom High School. Here he was in the ROTC, a member of the track team, but showed his special talents on the grid iron. His awesome performance as a lineman later led to his induction into the I. C. Norcom Hall of Fame. His “hands in the dirt” earned him a FULL scholarship to the Norfolk Division of Virginia State College (Norfolk State University). Many have stated that they felt well protected when running on his side of the line, especially quarterback, Ike Fuller. After his football career at Norfolk State College, he received professional letters of interest from the St. Louis Football Cardinals, New York Football Giants, and New Orleans Saints Football Club.
During his matriculation at Norfolk State College, Amos Jr. pledged the Pi Gamma Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated. He crossed the burning sands in April 1969 with eight other dynamic men; William Bagby, James Carver, Dwight Jones, Wendall McChellan, James Sharp, Arthur Willis III (deceased), Ronald Wilson, and Roland Wright (deceased). They were known as “The Nasty Nine of Sixty Nine.” Amos Jr. was a member of Gamma Xi Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated. Everybody knew “Lou the Que.” You could leave Virginia and meet people who knew him. He adored his beloved fraternity and even actively attended meetings during his battle with Parkinsons and dementia. Amos Jr. earned a Service Award for 50 years of Devotion and Service to the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated for exemplifying the Four Cardinal Principles of Manhood, Scholarship, Perseverance, and Uplift. He bled PURPLE and GOLD!
“Lou the Que” was loved by many of his sisters of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. They called him “Sweetheart” as he drove them around in his RED car. He caught the eye of one of his Delta sisters, Allena C. Rose. She had always heard about Amos Jr. even while she was in high school on the other side of the tunnel in Norfolk and had no idea that she would later be on his arm. Amos Jr. and Allena officially met while she was crabbing on the beach. Amos Jr’s eyes were attracted to her short shorts and asked his fraternity brother, Levi Jones, to introduce him. After a year of dating, Amos Jr. and Allena married on August 26, 1972. Their union was blessed to welcome their daughter, Crystal Pleasant, and son, Amos III.
Amos Jr. diligently provided for his family. He worked for 30 years with the City of Norfolk. His 30 years of service with the City of Norfolk placed him as a supervisor at the Norfolk City Arena Recreation Center and finally multiple experiences at the Norfolk Juvenile Detention Center. He retired from the City of Norfolk in 2007. Amos Jr. once mentioned that he always wanted to drive something BIG! This is most likely why he became a part-time tour bus driver. He drove for Gallop Bus Line that later became Venture Tours. Amos Jr. has driven as far north as Montreal, Canada, south to Orlando, Florida, and west into Michigan, Ohio, and Tennessee. His family benefited from his driving experience for he took them to numerous family reunions and even his daughter’s college commencement.
His favorite hobby was taking pictures, pictures, and more pictures. Amos Jr. traveled with his camera. There was not going to be a special moment that was not captivated on film. His specialties were weddings, dance recitals, and recreational events. However, his family was his favorite inspiration. There was never a family reunion, birthday party, awards program, graduation, or sporting event that wasn’t captured. Whenever he was on the sidelines, his grandsons called him “ESPN” because he got all of the action shots.
Amos Jr. was preceded in death by his sister, Saundra Johnson (Monroe), and brother, Ronnie Rawls (Verlette). He is survived by his loving and devoted wife of almost 48 years, Allena Rose Rawls; daughter, Crystal Rawls Pearson (Randal), and son, Amos H. Rawls III; five fabulous grandchildren: Mason Harrell, Madisyn Leigh, Randal Christopher, Deacon DeVaughn, and Camren Rhyan; sisters, Carolyn Vazquez, Belinda Smith, and Gwynette Silver; beloved special cousins, Edward Hunt, Jr. (Helen), Marvin Hunt, Dion Hunt, and Duana Hunt; and a host of nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.
Virtual Omega Memorial Service
7pm to 8pm Friday, August 28, 2020
Zoom Link
https://rivhs.zoom.us/j/97681675273?pwd=NGFRYVh3QTh3ZWhicFJOQ0pGTWJZdz09
Zoom Meeting ID: 976 8167 5273
Passcode: Rawls69PG
One tap mobile
+16465588656,,97681675273# US (New York)
+13017158592,,97681675273# US (Germantown)