Febuary 5, 2003

FEBRUARY 5, 2003

Obituary - Stokes E. Hendrix Sr., 89
(Feb 2, 1914 - Feb. 5, 2003)

Stokes E. Hendrix Sr. was known for his contributions as a pitcher in Negro League Baseball. He played for several teams in the 1930s, including the Nashville Elite Giants, Baltimore Elite Giants and Detroit Stars.

Mr. Hendrix, 89, died Wednesday in Baptist Hospital (Tenn.) of congestive heart failure.

Born Feb. 2, 1914, in Brentwood, he was the oldest of 10 children born to the late John and Carrie Hendrix. In 1944, he was married to Clara Lucile McEwen (deceased).

His passion for sports drove him to form the Orioles Little League Club in south Nashville, where he was a head coach for almost 20 years.

''He was a fine and decent man with high standards of achievement for himself, which he infused into his family,'' said state Supreme Court Justice Adolpho A. Birch, a longtime friend.

Services for Mr. Hendrix will be at noon Tuesday (2/11/2003) at Greater St. John Missionary Baptist Church, 2200 26th Ave. N., Nashville, with the Rev. Herbert T. Brown officiating. Visitation will be at 11 a.m. William Gunter and Sons Funeral Directors Inc. are in charge of arrangements.