In Loving Memory of Thurman Story Sr. December 09, 1944 – January 15, 2026

Thurman (Johnny) Story, age 81, passed away at his home in Cleveland, Ohio surrounded by his family on January 15, 2026.

Thurman was born on December 09, 1944, in Magnolia, Ark, to Johnny Story and Rotean Sherman, both of whom proceeded him in death.

For the first 18 years of his life, he was known as “Johnny”. He graduated from Columbia High School in May 1962 and attended one year of college at AM&N College in Pine Bluff AR. Upon entering the military in 1963, the official Birth Record revealed that his first name was Thurman. Hence, he became known as Thurman Story.

Thurman spent the next 21 years in the U.S. Army. The highlights of his Military career carried him to many locations in the world. To mention a few; he started his service on July 31, 1963 in Ft Polk, LA for Basic Training and Advanced Infantry Training (AIT). He was in AIT when President John F Kennedy was assassinated. His overseas service started in Giessen, Germany, then he returned to the states and was stations in San Antonio Texas and Sierra Vista AZ.  From there he went on to Cam Rahn Bay and Saigon, Vietnam for 18 months.

When he returned to the U.S., he was assigned to Washington D.C. and for the next 12 years he was a U.S. Army Recruiter and assigned to the U.S. Army Recruiting Command in Cleveland, Ohio. Once completing his military service, he began working for the U.S. Veterans Administration at the VA Medical Center in Cleveland and Brecksville, Ohio. He served 10 years as the Deputy Chief of Environmental Services and 11 years as Senior Investigator of the Office of Human Resources, Department of EEO.

On April 09, 1979, Thurman married Beatrice Gageham. Together, they had one daughter, Michelle and one son, Thurman Jr. Thurman and Beatrice enjoyed traveling together, especially Casinos around the Midwest to PA, MI, IL, IA and MN, as well as spending time with family and friends.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 46 years, Beatrice, his stepdaughter Michelle Boclear-Foster, son, Thurman Jr., grandchildren, Tirel Anthony Story-Greathouse Sr., Montorie Lamourn Foster Jr., and Macheyla Story, great-grandchildren; Tirel Anthony Story-Greathouse Jr, and Tamare Exum, brother J’Mei Walker, Aunt, Dorthy Jordan and many nieces, nephews and cousins