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Off the beat, police officer Herman B. Jefferies also looked out for people's souls
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Hermon B. Jefferies helped people walk the path of righteousness in church and on the streets.
Mr. Jefferies, who turned 100 years old on Oct. 10, served as a deacon at Jerusalem Baptist Church in Duquesne for more than 50 years and as a Duquesne police officer for 26 years.
He was born on Oct. 10, 1912, in Salisberry, N.C., one of six children of Mr. and Mrs. Harold B. Jefferies Sr. As a young man, he moved to Glenwood and joined Morningstar Baptist Church, where he was baptized on Nov. 10, 1929. He later moved to Duquesne and joined Jerusalem Baptist, where he served as church treasurer for 25 years and was a member of the junior choir and secretary of the deacon board and joint board.
He became a Duquesne policeman in 1948 and was a patrolman, juvenile officer, captain and chief. He was chairman of the police wages committee in December 1967 when he led the first recorded "blue flu" police strike in Pennsylvania. Twenty-three of 26 officers called in sick for a day and won a raise of $50-$75 a month. Mr. Jefferies, who was also president of the police pension fund, retired in 1974.
He married the former Louise Jordan, and they had three daughters: Jean Davis (deceased), Janice Harris of North Versailles and Loren Pulliam of Penn Hills. Mrs. Jefferies passed away in 1960 after 23 years of marriage. Mr. Jefferies later married Elizabeth Tate. He has four grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.
He is an active member of the Duquesne Crime Watch, Duquesne Business Advisory Corp., Pennsylvania Police Chief Association and Fraternal Order of Police No. 91.
His favorite song is "I Won't Complain" by the Rev. Paul Jones:
"I've had some good days
I've had some hills to climb
I've had some weary days
And some sleepless nights
But when I look around
And I think things over
All of my good days
Out-weigh my bad days
I won't complain."
He celebrated with a birthday dinner Oct. 7 after services at Jerusalem Baptist Church.
First Published November 6, 2012 12:00 am
