January 30 2013: FIRMIN, John M.

JOHN MONROE FIRMIN (Age 100)

Peacefully departed this life on January 27, 2013. Beloved husband of Jean L. Firmin who passed away in June 2012. Father to John (Jack) Firmin of Greenbelt, MD, Joan Garcia (Arnald) of McCormick, SC, James Firmin (Linda) of Moss Point, MS, and Jeffrey Firmin (Frances) of Albany, NY. Grandad to 10 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. John graduated from McKinley Tech High School in 1931, where he was a long distance runner. He graduated in Civil Engineering from the University of Maryland in 1936, where he was a member of Sigma Chi Alpha fraternity. He served in the Army in 1936/37. He worked in the building construction and estimating field in the Washington D.C. area for 37 years. Notably, he worked on the building of the Pentagon and National Gallery of Art, and many private office buildings. He was active in the community as president of two different public school PTA’s. He attended Petworth, Northwest Washington, Bethany, and Montgomery Hills Baptist Churches. He was very active in those churches, and held a number of significant positions in the Church laity including Secretary and Treasurer of the D.C. Baptist Foundation where he was a member for 50 years, a member of the Board of Trustees of the Baptist Home from 1962-1992 including President for 8 years, and President of the DC Baptist Convention 1959-60. He was deeply involved in the establishment and construction of Thomas House Baptist Home on Thomas Circle and instrumental in the formation and construction of Bethany Baptist Church at 14th and Colorado Sts. He met his beloved wife Jean in the youth group at Petworth Church, and they were married for 75 years, and lived in a house in Takoma Park, MD for 71 years. As a devoted Christian, all his life he tended to and assisted people who needed comfort and help. A Memorial Service to celebrate his life will be held at Montgomery Hills Baptist Church, 9727 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910 on Saturday, February 2, at 2 p.m. Interment private. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Montgomery Hills Baptist Church.

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