Charles Embry, "Black Jesus"
Charles W. Embry, Black Jesus and Army Veteran
October 3, 1973
Charles W. Embry, a thirty year old Ecorse man, died September 25, 1973 in Oakwood Hospital from injuries suffered when he apparently lost control of his motorcycle.
A witness told police that Embry swerved to avoid hitting the rear of a tanker-trailer truck and skidded off the I 94 freeway near the Rotunda Drive exit in Dearborn.
A witness said that Embry was thrown from his motorcycle but was not struck by another vehicle. The accident happened shortly before midnight. Police said that Embry was rushed to Oakwood Hospital where he died at 1 a.m.
Embry moved to Ecorse when he was two years old. He attended Ecorse High School and graduated with the class of June 1961. He entered the Armed Forces where he served from November 1962 through November 1966. He was then employed by the Ford Motor Company after his honorable discharge.
His funeral took place on September 29, 1973 at Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, Ecorse, with Reverend Joseph B. Barlow officiating. Funeral arrangements were handled by the Diggs Funeral Home. The funeral was shown on nationwide television, including Channel 7 in Detroit.
There was an overflow crowd of people who attended and it is believed to be one of the largest funerals in the Downriver area. There were more than 200 cards and 300 motorcycles in the procession. There were motorcycle clubs from the Downriver and Detroit areas and they also came from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Better known to his friends as “Black Jesus,” Embry had belonged to the Outcast Motorcycle club of Detroit for more than for years. In the bylaws of the club it is said that the motorcycle of a member killed on his motorcycle must be destroyed. The motorcycle was burned at Westlawn Cemetery.
October 3, 1973
Charles W. Embry, a thirty year old Ecorse man, died September 25, 1973 in Oakwood Hospital from injuries suffered when he apparently lost control of his motorcycle.
A witness told police that Embry swerved to avoid hitting the rear of a tanker-trailer truck and skidded off the I 94 freeway near the Rotunda Drive exit in Dearborn.
A witness said that Embry was thrown from his motorcycle but was not struck by another vehicle. The accident happened shortly before midnight. Police said that Embry was rushed to Oakwood Hospital where he died at 1 a.m.
Embry moved to Ecorse when he was two years old. He attended Ecorse High School and graduated with the class of June 1961. He entered the Armed Forces where he served from November 1962 through November 1966. He was then employed by the Ford Motor Company after his honorable discharge.
His funeral took place on September 29, 1973 at Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, Ecorse, with Reverend Joseph B. Barlow officiating. Funeral arrangements were handled by the Diggs Funeral Home. The funeral was shown on nationwide television, including Channel 7 in Detroit.
There was an overflow crowd of people who attended and it is believed to be one of the largest funerals in the Downriver area. There were more than 200 cards and 300 motorcycles in the procession. There were motorcycle clubs from the Downriver and Detroit areas and they also came from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Better known to his friends as “Black Jesus,” Embry had belonged to the Outcast Motorcycle club of Detroit for more than for years. In the bylaws of the club it is said that the motorcycle of a member killed on his motorcycle must be destroyed. The motorcycle was burned at Westlawn Cemetery.