Calvin Little

Calvin L. Little

Calvin Little’s story told by Calvin would begin with his birth in the back of a pickup truck somewhere between Okahumpka and Leesburg Florida on January 20, 1953. Whether or not that story is true is up to the reader to decide. In any case Calvin would tell you he grew up in the “hump” picking oranges and watermelons. After migrating to Albion, NY he graduated from Albion High School and went on to start his higher education at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy NY. Calvin made his home in Troy after marrying Tanya Harrell in 1976 where his 2 children were born. Finishing his education remotely at Utica College, Utica , NY. Calvin began his work career at Bendix in Green Island NY. He worked his way up from quality control analyst to become the first black plant manager. Calvin was transferred to the Cleveland, TN plant that eventually became Honeywell. He left Honeywell and went on to open a casual dining restaurant called the “The Spot” with his wife Tanya. After realizing owning a restaurant was not nearly as rewarding as expected he sold “The Spot” and moved to Illinois as the plant manager of Brake Parts in McHenry IL. When Brake Parts decided to shut their production plant in McHenry, IL. he went on to become Operations Manager of Mathews Company in Crystal Lake, IL until he retired.

In his spare time Calvin loved to garden and had quite a green thumb. He was a wiz at remodeling and repairing things around the house. It seemed there was nothing that he could not do or at least try to do, and he did them well. He enjoyed golfing and even shot a hole in one at Frear Park Golf Course in Troy, NY. No one was more of a sports enthusiast. He played football at Albion High School and HVCC. He was a huge fan watching both his son Lenier and his nephew Charles play multiple sports at Cleveland High School. He had a love/hate relationship with his NY Yankees and his Dallas Cowboys. How ‘bout them Cowboys.

Calvin was preceded in death by his mother Micque Paxton Little, father George Little, 2 brothers George Little Jr. and Charles Marvin Little. He leaves behind his loving wife of 46 years, Tanya Harrell Little, daughter Tiffany H. Little, son Lenier H. Little, as well as granddaughters Alexis R. Cooper and Miah C. Little and 3 grandsons Kenyon Ja’rell Marsh, Justus W. Little and Jacoby D. Little. Also leaving behind his sisters Lavenia Knight (Joe), Rosetta McKenzie, Barbara Ann Wilson(William) and Phyllis Little, brother-in-law, William Harrell (Lil) of Las Vegas, NV, sisters-in-law, Christine Harewood (Les) of Las Vegas, NV, Diane Pompey (Ken) of Albany, NY, and Phyllis Tarver Little of Cleveland, TN, not to mention a host of nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins. The list of friends and relatives that had a special loving relationship with Calvin is tremendously long, even if you haven’t been named, you know who you are and so did he. He will be sorely missed by all of us.

The family will receive friends in a walk through visitation on Monday, September 26, 2022 in the chapel of M.D. Dotson and Sons Funeral Home – Cleveland, Tn. from 3:00 p-.m. until 5:00 p.m.

Funeral service will be conducted on Saturday October 1, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. at Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church 3720 N Quarters Rd Okahumpka, Florida with Pastor, Rev. Dennis Adams officiating. The family will receive friends one hour before the service at the church on Saturday, and from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Eastside Funeral Home 210 Knott Street, Leesburg, Florida on Friday evening.