Carl J Toney, Sr.

Honoring the Life of Carl Jenkins Toney November 15, 1924 - November 16, 2020 Our beloved Father, Grandfather, Uncle, and Friend went home to be with the Lord on November 16, 2020, at the age of 96 years and one day, in Bakersfield, California. He was a sharecropper's son born in Omaha, Texas, on November 15, 1924, to William and Nellie Mae Toney. At an early age, Carl accepted Jesus Christ into his life and attended church with his family at Evergreen Baptist Church in Texarkana, Texas. In 1944, Carl was drafted into the United States Army. During WWII he served in the European (Naples, Italy) and Pacific (The Philippines) Theatres. He was honorably discharged in 1946. After his tour of duty, Carl married Doretha Bunn on August 9, 1947, in Texarkana, Texas. They migrated to California and began their new lives together. To this union of 55 years and one day, they had five children: Bertha, Nellie, Carl Jr., Sabrina and Terri. For many years, Carl was a self-employed gardener. In 1971, he was hired by Cal-State Bakersfield, now California State University, Bakersfield, as a grounds man. He retired from this department in 1990, as a Supervisor. Our Father was a car and truck enthusiast, who enjoyed restoring, tinkering with, and keeping his cars and trucks immaculately clean. He also enjoyed having coffee with his Burger Hut buddies, daily, for over 16 years. He enjoyed going to the basketball games of his grandchildren. His favorite baseball team was the Los Angeles Dodgers; however, all of his other teams (NFL and/or NBA) had to be from the lone star state of Texas. Our Father joined Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church in 1948 under the leadership of Reverend H. A. Green. His service at Mt. Zion included being an usher and a choir member. Under the leadership of Pastor Hiawatha Calhoun, he served as a trustee and the Church Treasurer. He loved to sing. He enjoyed singing in the Senior Choir and he was affiliated with the Bakersfield Singer's Association. In the prime of his life, he sang tenor with the Sons of Zion quartet group. One of the many highlights in his life was being chosen in 2014 to be a Kern County Honor Flight Veteran, travelling to Washington, D.C. He was accompanied by his late son, Carl Jenkins Toney, Jr. He was chosen and given the honor of placing a wreath on the WWII Memorial. Carl was predeceased in death by his wife, Doretha; son, Carl Jr.; granddaughter, Tia Gay; parents, William and Nellie Mae Toney; and all of his siblings: Husten, Forrest, Cattie, Aileen, Marshall, Elmer and QT. Carl leaves to cherish his memory, four daughters, Bertha Thompson of Litchfield, Arizona, Nellie (Dwight) Wright, Sabrina Hunter, and Terri (Frank) Marantos, all of Bakersfield, California; one daughter-in-law, Brenda Toney, of Bakersfield, California; one sister-in-law, Mattie Toney of Sacramento, California; 15 grandchildren, 26 great grandchildren, and 8 great-great grandchildren, and a host of other family and friends. A special thank you is extended to Hoffman Hospice (Nurses Dolce and Elizabeth); daughter and grandson, Sabrina and Andre Hunter; great granddaughter, Sundae Worthy-Hill; son-in-law, Dwight Wright, medical professionals, and many family members assisting in his care. Our father lived a good, long life and maintained many wonderful friendships. In fact, he was named "Carl Jenkins" after his Father's best friend. Proverbs 18:24 says "A man that has friends must show himself friendly." Carl also showed himself to be a father to many who were fatherless because he was our patriarch. We love you Daddy and will one day, meet you on the other side. . .to be absent from the body, is to be present with the Lord. Visitation will take place on Monday, November 23, 2020 from 5:00pm - 7:00pm at Basham Funeral Care, 3312 Niles Street. Graveside Services will take place on Tuesday, November 22, 2020, at 10:00am at Union Cemetery, 730 E. Potomac Avenue, Bakersfield, California.