Dr. Haile Selassie
Dr. Haile Selassie, beloved husband, father, and grandfather passed away on Sunday, February 4, 2018 in his sleep. He lived in Morrisville, Pa.
Dr. Selassie was born January 4, 1934 in Cleveland, Ohio. In his younger years, Dr. Selassie was the Ohio AAU Wrestling Champion in his weight class.
Dr. Selassie served in the United States Navy as a Boatswain Mate, where he joined the Navy Boxing Team, and was the Island Champion of Puerto Rico in welterweight class. After leaving the Navy, Dr. Selassie served in the United States Air Force for a short period until medically discharged as a result of a disabling knee injury.
Dr. Selassie worked as a Corrections Officer for a brief time in Mt. Holly, NJ, while attending college. After receiving a Bachelors degree in Political Science, he also began to envision one of his callings as a civil rights champion. He became the President of the NAACP (South Jersey), where one of his key accomplishments was the helping the NAACP pass equaling housing legislation for all the residents of New Jersey in the seventies. He would enlist the help of many elites, Black and White, in his journey for equal rights through NAACP Fundraisers and marches. Dr. Selassie would feed the hungry, and would find housing for displaced families in his journey. He also formed an NAACP Legal Defense Team in South Jersey for the wrongfully accused.
Dr. Selassie went on to receive his Masters and Doctorate in Divinity as he found his true calling as a Pastor, and initially became a Pastor in the AME Church where he continued helping people within his community. He would later become a Presiding Bishop, after forming the Ethiopian Coptic Church in New York City where he helped guide three Bishops where can be found one the United States Congressional Record.
Dr. Selassie would go on to contribute nationally, where he continued promoted God, unity, civil rights where he met many notable celebrities. His ability to unite people for great and noble causes, and to help individuals realize their full potential will be truly missed.
Dr. Selassie is survived by 3 sons and daughtersin-law Menyelek & Lashuna Selassie of Baltimore, Florentino & Rene Selassie of Culpepper, VA., and Jose Farmerio of San Antonio, Texas; 2 daughters Emma Selassie of Alexandria, VA., and Manna Selassie of Morrisville, PA.; 16 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren
Predeceased by his wife Rigat Zereachristos Selassie.
Funeral home services will be conducted Wednesday morning February 14 at 11:00 a.m. at the Winowicz Funeral Home 308 Adeline Street at Beatty, Trenton NJ. Burial will be in the internment pavilion at Washington Crossing National Cemetery in Newtown PA at 1:00 p.m.
Friends and relatives can pay their respects from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. (time of service) at the funeral home.