Curtis Massey

Curtis Massey was born the youngest child to Frank and Flossie Nelson Massey on July 12, 1926. Flossie and Frank also had two stillborn sons. Curtis would always say he was the seventh son of seven sons. At a young age, he met and married, Nellie Vernell Paulk and then joined the military. After serving in the military as a World War II Veteran, he returned to civilian life and settled in Tildenville. Shortly after returning home, he went back and finished his high school diploma by attending night school. While there, he met his agriculture teacher, Mr. Johnson, with whom he developed and maintained a friendship. For many years, he assisted Mr. Johnson by providing citrus for Charles R. Drew High School’s display at the county fair. He started work picking oranges. He went from harvesting and picking citrus to driving trucks, and then as a foreman. After learning all he could about the agriculture business, he got a $20,000 loan, which he paid back in one year, and started his own business. He grew that business from one truck and one man to 270 plus employees, three tractor-trailers, and seven plus foremen. Later, Curtis moved to Oakland, Florida. There, he met and married Edna Steplight Massey. In 1975, at the age of 49, he decided to run for Mayor of Oakland and won, making history by becoming the first black man to serve as Mayor of Oakland for three years, from 1975-1978. Curtis had a fundamental love and care for mankind. His generosity and passion for helping others knew no bounds. Well after his tenure as Mayor, he was still looking after the needs of the people of his community. He was a person who always helped others when he could, however he could. Having an innate drive and desire to see others prosper, he worked tirelessly to ensure that the people of his community did not succumb to the poverty that plagued the African American community in Oakland but had their stake in the “American Dream” of home ownership. To be certain of such, he held mortgages for Black residents when the banks would not loan them money, following in the footsteps of his Dad, Frank Massey. Many of his relatives and friends have been recipients of his generosity and kindness. In retirement, shing became his love and favorite pastime. He loved the peace and serenity of shing in the local lakes. Even more, he enjoyed catching them and giving them away to family, friends, and members of the community. After becoming frail and unable to go to the lake, not going shing became the thing he missed most. Two days before his passing, he expressed to his grandson Brandon, that he wanted to go fishing. Curtis was preceded in death by his Parents, Frank and Flossie Nelson Massey; Son, Ricky Johnson; and Brothers: David Massey, Lenwood Massey, Grant Massey, and K. C. Massey. Left to cherish his memories: Daughters: Rhonda Massey Hall Steib (Joseph) and Gladys Rodgers Coates; Stepdaughter, Rosalyn Jones; Grandsons: Will Curtis Hall (Michelle), Vance Hall (Maria), Wendell Coates, and DeAndre Coates; Granddaughters: Elenora Vernell Hall, Jasmine Coates, and Renee Bowman; Step-Grandchildren: Kenya Holmes and Jade Holmes; 10 Great-Great-Grandchildren: Brandon Joseph Hall, James Carlies III, Jordan Carlies, Brittany Ortiz, Ashley Reid, Joshua Robinson, Amon Hall, Jazz’men Hall, Amaya Hall, and Ayumi Hall; numerous other grands, great-great-great-grands; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other loving relatives, and friends

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Curtis Massey

July 12, 1926 - January 29, 2025