George Freeman was born October 25, 1936, to parents Joseph Freeman, Sr., and Ruth Freeman in Birmingham, Alabama. He had an active childhood and attended Alabama Public Schools.

In 1952, he, along with his family, moved to Columbus, Ohio. He attended Champion Jr. High School and East High School, where he was an exceptional athlete who enjoyed playing

sports, particularly baseball and football. In 1954, George met the love of his life, Diantha Frazier.  Also, during this period, he established his relationship with the Lord, accepted Him as his Savior, and was baptized at Calvary Tremont Missionary Baptist Church in Columbus, Ohio, by Pastor W.J. Payden. The two happily wed on July 26, 1959. They were blessed with beautiful children, George Gregory and Staci Geneé, along with George’s oldest daughter, Katrina Ann.

George became active in the labor movement in 1958 when he became an employee of the American Zinc and American Smelting Company.  During this time, he joined the International Chemical Workers Union (ICWU) – Local 368, in Columbus, Ohio.  His leadership skills were realized by his peers when he was elected to serve as Chief Steward from 1963 to 1968. He was then elected to serve as Vice President and President between 1968 and 1974. George was chairman of the Ad Hoc Black Caucus Organizer from 1972 to 1975.

In 1977, George relocated his family to Akron, Ohio, where he accepted employment with the International Food and Commercial Workers Union as the Director of the Community Relations Department. After accepting his position, he received labor union training from Rutgers University in Brunswick, New Jersey, and the University of Illinois in Champaign, Illinois.  He also studied union organizing and civil rights at the prestigious George Meany Center for Labor Studies in Silver Springs, Maryland.  His impact spanned decades, as evidenced by his 1992 appointment to the Executive Board of the ICWU. Dynamically committed to community activism, George was an Executive Board Member of the Akron Branch of the National Association of the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).  Furthermore, he served as the Chairman of the National Council of Negro Women, was a member of the Board of Trustees of the Tri-County Employee Assistance Program, and a member of the Ad Hoc Labor Committees within both the NAACP and the National Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) organizations. In addition, George was President of the A. Philip Randolph Institute (APRI) for the State of Ohio, served proudly in this capacity for 25 years and received numerous awards and citations.

In 1978, George, along with his family, united with New Hope Baptist Church in Akron, Ohio. He became actively involved in the activities of his new church home. He served in multiplecapacities. His first ministry was the Senior Usher Ministry. George was ordained as a Deacon and served on the Trustee Ministry. Eventually, he became Chairman of the Trustee Ministry and served in this capacity for over 25 years. Deacon Freeman chaired many activities, programs, and projects and served at New Hope Baptist Church for over 40 years under the leadership of four pastors: Rev. Dr. T. D. Smith Jr., Pastor Benny Williams, Pastor Marty Henderson, and Rev. Dr. David Nelson.  In 2017, his son, Pastor G. Gregory Freeman, was called as pastor of Greater Peace Baptist Church, Akron, Ohio. Deacon George and Deaconess Diantha joined their son at Greater Peace Baptist Church in 2018 and served in the Deacon and Deaconess Ministries of that church. Deacon Freeman served in his role at Greater Peace until his health prevented him from doing so.

George is preceded in death by his parents, Joseph Freeman, Sr., and Ruth Porter Lowe; Siblings – Betty (Paul) Oates, Ramona (Joseph) Martin, Peggy Porter, and Carlotta Pierce, Linda Freeman, Harriet Freeman, Mike Freeman, and Diane Freeman; and Children – Katrina Coleman and Pastor G. Gregory Freeman.

Those who remain to cherish his memory are his loving and devoted wife of 64 years, Diantha Freeman, and his loyal and faithful daughter, Staci (Samuel III) Smith; daughter-in-law Sherice Freeman; granddaughter, Kasey Coleman; great-grandchildren KiAires Bushner, Tavaris Bushner, Jr., and Kyree Ramsey; great-great-grandchildren –  Rae-Lynn Busher, Karson Jackson, & Tavaris Bushner III; siblings, Joseph (Prisilla) Freeman Jr., Tyrone Freeman, Isaac Freeman, Jonathan Lowe, Suenetta (Julian) Osmond, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.