Albert Sylvester “Vess” June, 75 of Waldorf, MD, slipped peacefully away to be with our Lord and Savior on November 16, 2020. He was born on May 15, 1945, in Hollywood, Maryland to the late Leroy and Mary L. June. He was one of 12 siblings. His early years were spent in the Hollywood area and he attended local St. Mary’s county schools. He graduated from Banneker High School in Loveville, Maryland in 1962.
After graduation he moved to Baltimore Maryland and began working for Harding Trucking Company, and was also employed by C.W. Wright Company as a truck driver. After returning to St. Mary’s County, he began driving dump trucks for his friend, Vincent Curtis of J&J Trucking; he later moved to Cullins Trucking Company. He loved driving for Cullins because they had big noisy Peterbuilt’s which he felt was the best built truck. One day out of the blue, he decided to start his own business, June Trucking Company. On a hot Tuesday in June, Vess June, AKA Fish, bought his first Ford cab over truck. It was more than frightening to look at but, he insisted it had a good motor. Within a week Medley’s Body Shop had it painted bright red with his name and DOT numbers printed in black on the sides. It had new shinning wheels, silver exhaust pipes and a shiny new bumper. Vess June had a million dollar grin on his face to match his truck. He drove it for three years and then bought an International Cab Over when he began hauling for B.K. Miller Co. He insisted that he needed more power to climb the hills of Pennsylvania and West Virginia. He was in his element when he was in his truck with the music going and his CB Radio talking that trucker lingo..breaker one-nine good buddy. Driving big rigs was his passion and no one would ever know that he was legally blind in one eye. He drove a big rig like most people drive a car, it was second nature. Once his career as a truck driver ended, after two back surgeries and a hip replacement, he helped in the community, giving rides to the locals, hauling trash, and doing odd jobs.
He married Thyris M. Holt and from that union one son, Dennis June was born. From other previous relationships, he had two daughters that he adored, Cynthia Barber Thompson and Nichole June Williams. He later married Geraldine L. Medley in June, 1987. Although they didn’t have children together, he graciously stepped up to the plate as a father figure to her four children, Stephanie, Lynn, Gizelle and Wandell.
At home his pastime was watching loud shooting westerns or horror movies on TV, loudly listening to old school music, and eating everything in sight. He loved sweets and ice cream, fried fish and chicken and just food of any kind. During many gatherings he served as the “taster” of everything being cooked to make sure it was seasoned just right. He enjoyed family gatherings, singing, dancing, laughing, telling old school tales and hanging out with his friends. He was a loving and caring man that thought the world of his family. He would do anything for anybody at any time, night or day.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Ruth Weathers (George); brothers, Robert Lee and David Leroy June, and stepdaughter, Lynn Medley Bush (Wesley).
Sylvester leaves to cherish in his loving memory one son, Dennis June (Lisa) of Clinton Md.; two daughters, Cynthia Barber Thompson (Rodney) of California, MD, and Nichole June Williams (Troy) of Baltimore, MD; his former wife, caregiver, and best friend, Geraldine June, of Mechanicsville, MD, and stepchildren, Stephanie L. Medley (Tony); Gizelle C. Young (Greg), and Lewis W. Medley; grandchildren, Rodney Thompson, Jr. (Ebony), Keana Thompson, Avery, Denisha, Ashanti, Deijah, and Alexis June, and Brandon Nelson, Antone Taylor, Jr., Nicholas Taylor, Makayla Weaver, Patrick Medley (Candace), Michael Briscoe, Jessica Briscoe, LaTasha Briscoe; great grandchildren, Melanie Taylor, Alaya A. Thompson, Nya Medley, Lewis Medley Jr., Anijah Medley, MaKhi Sullivan, and Sadie Medley. He also leaves his brothers, James E. June (Gladys), Gary June (Debbie), Joe June (Gloria) and sisters, Thelma F. Holt (Leonard), Rose McNeal (Mack), Edith Hammond, Shirley Curtis (Francis), Elaine Young (James); sister-in-law, Ida June and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
Visitation will begin at 9:00 am until time of service at 11 am on Saturday, November 21, 2020 at Briscoe-Tonic Funeral Home, 38576 Brett Way, Mechanicsville, MD. Interment to follow at Charles Memorial Gardens, Leonardtown, MD 20650.
