Aquila McGrew

On May 10, 1928 Aquila McGrew, Jr. was born to Aquila McGrew, Sr. and Emma (Alley) McGrew in Columbus, Texas.

He attended public schools in Columbus and graduated in 1945 at the age of 16. He attended Prairie View A & M University until March 1946 when he joined the U. S. Navy and served until March 1949. He returned to Prairie View and attended until leaving to start a family and start a career in civil service. He served in the Army Map Service as a cartographer, finished his degree from Texas State University and became the EEOC officer and a college recruiter for the agency at Fort Sam Houston.

Aquila joined Mt. Zion 1st Baptist Church and immediately started working in church activities.  He met and married his wife of 52 years A. Sarah (White) McGrew and they both continued to attend and work faithfully in various church organizations. Aquila was a youth Sunday School teacher, Deacon, Trustee, Mission 1 supervisor and long-time chairman of the Finance Committee. He once, using his own equipment, started a ministry to record church services and deliver tapes to the sick and shut in of the church.

Aquila had a reputation as an “honest broker.” He once sold a home in San Antonio to two elderly sisters from Seguin. They came to trust him so much that they allowed him to be in charge of all of their affairs until they both passed away. Their relatives would not let him go until he settled their estate.  He also took care in a similar manor one of the elders of Mt. Zion (Sis. Brooks) and his ailing aunt in California.

He did all these things while being a committed husband to Sarah, dedicated father to Aquila III and Audran and a mentor to many young men of the community.

He and his wife were both proud and active Prairie View alumni and he also was an active member of the Alamo City Lions Club for many years.

Aquila, Jr. was preceded in death by both parents, one sister Thelma Lott (Henry) and three nephews.

Aquila, Jr leaves to cherish his memory his devoted wife of 52 years A. Sarah McGrew; two sons Aquila, III (Sherry) and Audran Kent; two grandsons Aquila, IV (Shayla) and Alexander; one great-grandson Aquila, V; Sister in laws Dorothy Gilbert (Willie, Jr.), Eddie Lee Pierre (Russell); brother in law Isaiah White and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins.

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