John Arthur Wilkes, II

John Wilkes, II Obituary John A. Wilkes, II, passed away on October 26, 2022 in Cleveland, Ohio. John was born youngest of three on August 12, 1947 to John A. Wilkes, Sr. and Dardanella D. Wilkes in Cleveland, Ohio. As a child John loved to play baseball. He played throughout elementary and high school. John graduated from John Adams High School in 1966 and went on to study communications and obtained his bachelor’s degree at Cleveland State University. He worked proudly and diligently at Cuyahoga Community College as Evening and Weekend Supervisor and worked his way up to the Manager of the Learning Resources Center. While in the Learning Resource center, he setup The Hospitality Management Center, helped with Jazz Fest and helped to start the Black Male Summit, which he continued even after his retirement. In 1980, John met Jerri Strong at a party that he was throwing, and the two really hit it off. John and Jerri married on 8/21/1982 at Central Christian Church in Cleveland, Ohio. On March 20, 1984, they welcomed their son, John Wilkes the 3rd. They named him to honor his father, who had died the month before. In 2012, John retired from Cuyahoga Community College after 37 years of service, but not from engaging in many other interests and activities. During his retirement he served as Board Chair for The Foluke Cultural Arts Center from 2012 until the time of his passing. John was active in the community by recruiting students for Francis Franklin scholarship program, to help people pay for college and he actively went door to do to help register people to vote. John also never missed an opportunity to make it to community events especially at the CLE Urban Winery. If you knew him, you knew you would see him dressed business casual unless he decided the occasion called for an upgrade to a classic suit look. While he faced health challenges, he never lost his sense of humor, quick and sharp wit, or desire to be involved with family whether it was a tending a hockey game of his great nephew, a family dinner, family reunion or just a gathering of family he was going to be there. As a grandfather he found great joy in being “Grandpa Wilkes” to his grandsons, Aidan and Seth. Watching them learn to skate, participate in golf, start school, go to museums and plays, play flag football, or simply be at home it was his joy to be there for and with them. John was preceded in death by his parents, John A. Wilkes, Sr. and Dardanella D. Wilkes (Gilstrap); sister, Carol Wilkes; and brother-in-law, James Newton. He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Jerri A. Wilkes; son, John, and his wife, Tia; grandchildren, Aidan and Seth; sister, Anita D, Newton; nephew, Jerrald Gaskins (Bridget); nieces, Andrea Prinkleton (Dwayne), Andrea Orr (Sean), Yolanda Johnson (Chris), Jamila Gaskins, Sidney Gaskins; and great nieces and nephews. Services will be held at E.F. Boyd and Sons funeral home on November 19, 2022 at 1pm. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Foluke Cultural Art Center, P.O. Box 93046, Cleveland, Ohio, 44101-5046 To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of John Arthur Wilkes, II, please visit our floral store. Read More

John Arthur Wilkes, II

August 12, 1947 - October 26, 2022