Freddie Gavin, Sr., 85, entered into rest Monday, December 21, at his residence with his wife and eldest son by his side. He was married to his lovely wife of thirty years, Luvenia Gavin. He was born in Jacksonville, Florida, to Marshall and Maggie Gavin. Freddie was the youngest of nine children.
Freddie joined the Army at an early age and trained as an Airborne Ranger, eventually becoming Jump Master Instructor. He made African-American history, by being selected along with his best friend Joe Jackson and several other Black soldiers to teach at West Point, during the high point of the Jim Crow era in the 1950’s. He retired from the Army after 20 years of service and was hired by the Medical College of Georgia (MCG) as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and Human Resource (HR) Director, where he worked and retired after 25 years of service.
Freddie started from humble beginnings and rose to accomplish much in his lifetime to also include becoming a well known and loved radio personality in the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA). Freddie’s love and ear for music would gain him a position as one of the first African-American DJs spinning records at WRDW. This station was one of the only radio stations in the area that played black music. It was James Brown, the owner of WRDW who gave Freddie his on-air radio personality.
Freddie explained how he got his on-air personality name this way,
“I was still in the military at Fort Gordon when I started working the night shift at the radio station. One night as I was spinning records, the God Father of Soul, Mr. James Brown made a visit. He walked into the booth and introduced himself. I explained to him that I was an instructor at Fort Gordon. I told him I also, spent many years as an Airborne Ranger and Jump master Instructor. We chatted for a few more minutes. He thanked me for my service and asked if he could do a radio demo for my show. I said sure. Mr. Brown got up, walked into the adjacent booth and on the spot, my radio name, The Master Blaster was born.”
The Master Blaster name would stick with Freddie throughout his life. Freddie would continue to work radio well into his 60s, eventually working at WFXA (Foxie103) on Sundays from 7:00pm to Midnight. His show would be called, “The Smooth Jazz Show with Freddie Gavin.” He would call his jazz show, “A Labor of Love!” He would finally hang up his DJ duties for good in 1995.
In the last years of his life, Freddie was a dedicated member of Beulah Grove Baptist Church, enjoyed spending time with his wife Luvenia, eating her cooking and going to the movies with is son, Freddie, Jr.
Freddie leaves to cherish his memories: His wife, Luvenia Gavin; sons, Freddie Gavin, Jr. (Olivia), Martinez, GA; Col. Steven D. Gavin, Romulus, MI; Sedric D. Gavin, Lithonia, GA; Barry L. Stokes, Evans, GA; daughters, Marcia Irvin (James), Augusta, GA; Honorable, Debra Daniels, Garnbrills, MD; MSGT Dawn Daniels (Retired). Woodbridge, VA; Stephanie Williams, Goldsboro, NC; mother-in-law, (devoted) Viola Henderson; sister-in-law, Deloris Bentley; brother-in-law, Henry L. Henderson; grandchildren, (6); great-grans, (3); nieces, (4) (special) Lula Lindsey, (special) Brandy Mitchell, (devoted) Lakisha Henderson, Shannon Patterson; nephews, (5) and a host of relatives and friends.
A Memorial Service will be held at 1:oopm, Tuesday afternoon, December 29, 2020 at Elliott Sons Funeral Home Chapel, 4255 Columbia Road, Martinez, With pastor Darrell Blocker officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the funeral service.
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