Freddie Nunn, Sr.

On August 23, 1939, Freddie (Fred) Nunn, Sr. was born in East St. Louis, IL. On December 21, 2018 at 6:11 a.m., Freddie passed away at Memorial Medical Center, Springfield, IL at 79 years of age. Fred was the ninth of fourteen children born to the late Jasper Joshua Nunn, Sr. and Bessie Mae Nunn. He was raised by his loving parents in Lebanon, IL. On July 15, 1977, in Springfield, IL., he married Mary Elizabeth Dixon. Freddie attended Lebanon Public Schools and graduated from Lebanon Community High School. There he excelled as a student athlete and was an outstanding baseball player. After high school graduation, Fred attended Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. Later, Fred served four years in the United States Air Force as a communications expert and was privileged to continue his passion of playing baseball throughout England, Germany and the Pacific Island of Guam. After receiving an honorable discharge from the U.S. Air Force, Fred attended and graduated from McKendree College in Lebanon, IL, with a bachelors degree in Elementary Education. He later attended the University of Illinois at Springfield, IL earning a masters degree in Educational Administration. Freddie held an Illinois Teaching Certificate and taught at public schools in both East St. Louis and Lebanon, IL. Freddie held the distinction of being the first African American teacher in the Lebanon Public School system. During his 36 years as a career educator, he spent 29 years employed at the Illinois State Board of Education. During that time, he traveled extensively throughout Illinois, administering programs to assist in desegregating Illinois Public Schools. Fred also served as the Illinois State Board of Educations State Coordinator for the National Blue-Ribbon Schools Program. For several years, he was the president of the Professional Educators Union at ISBE and was highly successful in contract negotiations and settling labor disputes. Fred retired from the Illinois State Board of Education in 2004. Fred was an avid fisherman and an expert in catching "Crappie" and "Channel Catfish". He had a passion for vegetable and flower gardening and generously shared his produce with friends and family. Fred was skilled in shooting pool, pitching horseshoes and playing "bid whist". Later in life he developed the love of bowling and could be seen bowling a "580" series during his weekly outings. Freddie leaves to cherish his memory, his wife, Mary Dixon Nunn; one daughter, Michelle Leigh McNeal of Phoenix, AZ; three sons, Freddie (Reshanda) Nunn, Jr. of Springfield, Marc A. (Jordann) Nunn of Chicago, and Matthew A. (Chiymelle) Nunn of Chicago; step-children, Tami (Micah) Smith of GA, Lisa (Mason) Roy of AZ, and Timothy (Valarie) Grady of AZ; seventeen grandchildren, Adora, Alexander, Alan, Madden, Parker, Maxwell, and Reagan Nunn, Joshua McNeal, Jade Gilchrist, Jeffrey and Destini Perez, Damian Rockett, Xach McCormick, Shon, Justin, Keisha, and Marques Grady; and a host of great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins. He also is survived by four brothers, Jasper J. Nunn, Jr. of Centreville, IL, Harry (Betty) Nunn, Sr. of Ogden, UT, Stanley (Cynthia) Nunn of Chicago, IL and Terry (Agnes) Nunn of Springfield, IL; one sister, Margaret (Calvin) Mandley of Lebanon, IL,; several sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law; and two mothers-in-law, Mrs. Gladys Mae Smith of Hillsboro, IL and Rev. Peggy Senor of Springfield, IL. Freddie was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, McKinley, Alexander, and Nathaniel Nunn; and five sisters, Julia D. Phillips, Phyllis J. Smith, Juanita Nunn, Earnestine Nunn, and Sheralyn O. Colvin. Freddie Nunn, Sr. will be remembered as a loyal and trusted husband, father and friend. He always placed the welfare and security of his wife and children as his priority. Fred dearly loved his precious wife of 41 years, Mary. He admired her for her intelligence, her compassionate spirit and her unwavering loyalty. He was very proud of each of his children and their accomplishments in life. Freds clear thinking and wise counsel have guided his family and friends to make effective life- saving decisions. Freds profound leadership and insight will be missed by all. Many people have achieved accomplishments equal to those of Fred Nunn, but there are truly "Nunn Better" than Freddie Nunn, Sr. Cremation will be accorded by Butler Cremation Tribute Center prior to ceremonies. A Memorial Ceremony will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, December 28, 2018 at Kirlin-Egan & Butler Funeral Home, 900 S. 6th St., Springfield with Terry Nunn officiating. Family will receive friends following the ceremony until 5:00 p.m. Burial will be held at a later date at Oak Ridge Cemetery. Graveside Ceremony: 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 5, 2019 at Oak Ridge Cemetery with military honors provided by the Department of Defense. Memorial contributions may be made to Project Midstate Student Support for Teachers, (Prairie Area Teaching Initiative), c/o Aaron Stewart, University of Illinois Springfield, College of Education and Human Services, 1 University Plaza, MS BRK 363, Springfield, IL 62703, the Anthony L. Smith Scholarship Fund, c/o Eta Psi Sigma Alumni Chapter, P.O. Box 2651, Springfield, IL 62708-2651, checks made payable to the Eta Psi Sigma Foundation, or the Anthony L. Smith Scholarship Fund, c/o Grace Lutheran Church, 714 East Capitol Avenue, Springfield, IL 62701.