Carl Franklin Merritt

On May 18, 1940, at the Cook County Hospital on the West Side of Chicago, Illinois, a child was born to Carl W. Merritt and Ruth Mae Lites, who named him Carl F. Merritt. Thus began the Earthly life of a man who often said, “I’ve been blessed!” He passed into the life of Heaven on Sunday, July 27, 2025 at 6:00 AM. His Early Years Carl F. Merritt, at two months old, found security in the arms of his grandparents, Ben and Beaulah Lites. T hey nurtured and raised him until he was eight years old. In their loving home Carl enjoyed a very close relationship with his Uncle Frank (six years old) and his Aunt Shirley (four years old). They were more like brother and sister to him, and became inseparable for the next ten years. In 1949, when Carl’s biological mother, Ruth Mae, remarried, she and her new husband, Jack Linear, raised their son into manhood. “Daddy” Jack became a much-needed blessing and positive turning point in Carl’s young life. He taught and demanded that the young man learn to shine shoes, take hot baths, and dress with a neat appearance. T he lessons of “Daddy” Jack stuck with Carl for his entire life. And they most likely laid the foundation that helped Carl to appreciate his biological father. Later in life, around 1987, Carl Franklin was blessed to establish a reconciled relationship with his biological father, Carl W. Healing takes wisdom and time. His Growth Carl Merritt received a good education in public schools. He attended Grant Elementary, Crane High School, and Crane College where he graduated in 1961 with a 2-year degree. He loved the sport of baseball especially. He rose to become captain or co-captain on every team that he joined. Carl was good at the game. He was a born leader, and his uncle gave Carl the nickname “Captain Shiggs,” a label that has stayed with him for over 70 years His Relationship to Christ Carl’s spiritual growth was marked by attending the neighborhood Church of his family: St. Stephen’s African Methodist Episcopal Church. He confessed Christ as his Savior and was baptized on May 11, 1952, by a pillar in the community, Pastor Frank Reid. It is a blessing that Brother Carl has continued to claim St. Stephen as his place of fellowship over these many years. His committed grandmother taught Carl the “Golden Rule” of Christ. “Do unto others what you would have them do unto you.” Carl received this spiritual message into his soul and always guided his life and relationships by these precious words of Jesus. He was blessed to treat others like he wanted them to treat him. T hose who listened closely to Brother Carl heard his personal testimony, “I’ve been blessed by God.” He was blessed to receive so much from God in this life. And he was blessed to be able to share his life and resources with others in need. He had a good heart. His Marriages/Blended Family Carl married Johnese Matlock and to this union an infant son, Carlton brought them much joy. Life happens to marriages, and this became Carl’s experience. The first marriage ended and left Carl to seek companionship in another. In 1993, he gave himself and his vows to a beautiful wife, Florence Blue. Their blessed relationship has lasted for over 31 years. The blended family of Carl and Florence joined four sons: Louis III, Iran, Travell, and Carlton. Those relationships have grown to four daughters-in-law, 11 grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren. His Work/Service Did You know?! Carl Merritt learned the ethic of good hard work at the early age of eight. He worked in the family business by taking phone orders, and by helping to deliver ice, coal, and wood to those in the neighborhood. In 1960, he worked for the Cook County treasurer’s office. In 1962 he became employed at the City of Chicago Department of Water. Notably, in the Water Department Carl initially was the sole African American on the job, and he worked there for 35 years until his retirement in 1995. We should note that Brother Carl was a U.S. veteran. He served in the military by joining the Marine Corps intelligence specialist and instructor. His Civic Contributions Carl Merritt served his community in the political arena. He was the precinct captain of Chicago’s 27th Ward. This was during a time when “plantation politics” was the rule of the day. However, Carl was known as someone who did not easily bend to the racist politics of the system. As best he could, Carl stood his ground. T his stance brought him great respect among the people, and he was always welcomed into any home in the community. As an avid baseball fan, Carl came to manage a girl’s baseball team known as the “Feminiques” while he lived for a time on Chicago’s South side. The great coaching of Carl led to a tremendous record: the Feminiques won every baseball park tournament that they entered. Carl, along with five other brothers, formed a social club known as the “Tom Cats.” He was chosen president of the group, an office he maintained until the present. His main responsibility was to be the club’s disk jockey and promoter for weekly affairs that were held at Barbara’s Peppermint Lounge, the 2-Below, and the Davinci Manor. Over the years, Carl was able to book such notables as: Walter Jackson, the Spaniels, Roberta Flack, the Emotions, Mary Wells, the Drifters, and the Jackson Five. Carl was a good friend of WVON’s “Herb Kent the Cool Gent.” History tells us that the Tom Cats started the Crane-Marshall High School Reunions in 1974. The group set up a student scholarship for $1,000. Over the years they have given over $50,000 to these schools. The last reunion was held in 2014. His Music, Music, Music! As a Disk Jockey, Carl knew his music. He seemed to love every genre, such as R&B, Jazz, Gospel, Blues, and the like. His favorite tunes include 1,000’s of songs in his personal collections of records and CDs. Lou Rawls was one of his favorite artists. Carl has been able to trade and swap original recordings and has held notable conversations about Black music in his unique possessions. Both local persons and international European travelers to the U.S. have come to admire the cultural contributions of Carl to the Black music experience. His Determination to the End Carl was a fighter; determined to be a winner. He knew that “Winners never quit, and quitters never win.” His determination showed itself in the later years of his extended illnesses. Carl courageously fought against his health-threatening issues. Many witnessed his endurance of going back and forth to the hospitals and clinics, seeing teams of doctors time and time again. He was always questioning whether there was something else that could be done to heal and improve his body and mind. T he extended sicknesses of Carl gave him ample time to prepare himself to meet His Lord. His personal conversations with one of his ministers helped him to draw closer to the Lord, and to make himself ready to spend eternity in the blessed presence and peace of his Savior. Eventually after a long struggle and knowing that he was at peace with the Lord, His Creator and Redeemer, Brother Carl let it go and breathed his last. He was blessed to spend his last days of hospice at home in the presence of Florence, his loving and committed wife, and with other family members and friends nearby. He succumbed, as we do, to heart failure. His Memories/Legacy We gather here with heavy hearts, To honor you as your journey starts. A father’s love, a guiding hand, A grandfather’s warmth across the land. T he chair is empty, the voice is still, Yet love remains-it always will, Your stories live, your work is done, Your light lives on in everyone. Love, Travell & Solina, Quavell, Trinity, Treyvion Many are left to cherish Carl’s blessed memories: his precious wife, Florence, who testifies that “God brought him through everything”; special son, Carlton; other sons; all his grandchildren and great-grandchildren; kind sisters-in-law; close Puckette family, Carl and Kim, his cousin, but more like a little sister; and a multitude of family and friends from all over. Carl has blessed our lives with one of his favorite sayings: “Just keep living, but don’t get old. And tell me the secret!” Because of his faith in the Lord, we can tell Brother Carl the secret of living but not getting old: the salvation of God through Jesus is the secret! Jesus said, “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.” (John 11:25, 26). “And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth. Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.” (Revelation 14:13).

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