Kenneth Earl Lockett

Kenneth Earl Lockett was born in Baltimore, Maryland on October 19, 1935 to the late Earl and Marguerite Lockett. He passed away peacefully at home on November 5, 2022. Kenneth lost his mother when he was 16. His grandparents, Frisby and Alice Lindsay, raised him with support from his beloved “Aunt Beatrice”. A tradition for men in the Lockett family was grocery shopping for the family. As a young boy, Kenneth would go shopping with his grandfather at the Lexington market in Baltimore, Maryland. As Ken grew older, he would venture to Lexington market on his own to shop for the family. Kenneth was educated in the Baltimore City School district. Kenneth graduated from Douglass High School in 1955. Following graduation, he attended Fisk University, a historically black university, located in Nashville, Tennessee where he majored in music. While at Fisk University he was a member of the world-renowned Fisk Jubilee Singers. In 1956, Kenneth became a member of the Eta Psi chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. In 1958, he transferred to Morgan State College in Baltimore, Maryland. While at Fisk University, Kenneth met the love of his life, June Radford. On a hot summer day, Kenneth and June married on June 27, 1959, in Chicago, Illinois. They settled in Baltimore, Maryland, and later relocated to New Jersey where they were married for 63 years. To this union, their daughter, Lynelle Marguerite Lockett was born on April 4, 1964. Kenneth worked for John Hopkins University Hospital in the late 1950s. In 1967, he went to work for Gulf Oil Company. Shortly after working for Gulf Oil, the family was relocated to New Jersey. Upon leaving Golf Oil, Ken began working with the City of East Orange in the finance department. The City needed a trusted individual to handle sensitive financial matters and tapped Kenneth for the job, sending him to the East Orange Court House and finally the East Orange Golf Course where he worked until he retired. Kenneth joined Bethel Presbyterian Church in 1970. During his time at Bethel, he was an Elder and a Deacon. He also held a position as church secretary. Kenneth prepared church bulletins and helped run the inner workings of the church. He participated in several church plays where he took on the role of “Scrooge” in The Christmas Carol. Kenneth, affectionately known as “Ken”, was known for his wit and sense of humor. He was always ready to tell a joke at a moment’s notice. Ken had the biggest heart. He was a dog and animal lover. He rescued a dog in the rain that was stranded on the side of the road. He brought him home naming the dog ‘Misty”. Misty stayed at the Lockett household until Misty passed away. Kenneth was always a well-dressed man. He had suits for every occasion and owned several tuxedos. His suit, shirt, tie, pocket square, shoes, and socks were all strategically coordinated. He kept a running subscription to GQ magazine until his death. Ken loved music. He was known for having perfect pitch, often giving the pitch for the Fisk Jubilee Singers when in concert. His love of music extended beyond college. He heard an all-male chorus sing and joined the North Jersey Philharmonic Glee club, where he sang baritone. The Lockett men were well-known chefs in Baltimore. As a boy, Ken would watch his grandfather and his uncles prepare meals in the kitchen. Ken picked up the art of cooking from his grandfather and began preparing meals to build his craft. He was known for making the best crab cakes around. Ken’s poundcake was a hit with everyone. The family was a very important thing to Ken. He cherished time with June and Lynelle. During holidays he enjoyed spending time with them and creating life-long memories. Kenneth is survived by his wife, June Lockett, his daughter, Lynelle Lockett, his sister, Hilda Council, nieces, nephews, and friends who are like family. Funeral Service will be livestream on Facebook Live on Van Tassel Funeral Home page. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100048174404855

Kenneth Earl Lockett

October 19, 1935 - November 5, 2022