Camden People - Jesthroe Hunt

JESTHROE HUNT was born in Conway, South Carolina on August 3, 1920 to Benjamin and Ella Hunt. His family moved to Camden in the late 1920s. The 1927 City Directory lists them at 1007 Francis Street. The 1929 Directory and the 1930 Census shows the Hunt family at 1003 South 2nd Street. Benjamin Hunt was working as a laborer at the RCA-Victor factory. Besides Jesthroe, the family included three younger sisters, Mary, Sarah, and Elizabeth. Another son, Joseph, was born later.

After attending Cooper B. Hatch Junior High School, Jesthroe Hunt graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in January of 1939. The Hunt family was then living at 827 South 5th Street. Known to his classmates as Jay, his yearbook states that in his day he was a bit of a class clown. An interesting feature of the yearbook was a page where the students were characterized by popular songs of the era. Jesthroe Hunt's song title was "I'm Nuts About Mutts". Among those in his graduating class were Warren H. Patterson, who was killed in action during World War II, and Howard Unruh, who developed schizophrenia after the war and shot 13 people in Cramer Hill in 1949.

The 1947 Camden City Directory shows the Hunt family residing at 753 Walnut Street. As Jesthroe Hunt's occupation was listed as student, it is possible that he was attending college on the G.I. Bill.

Jesthroe Hunt was appointed to the Camden Fire Department on on September 1, 1950 and reported for duty with Engine Company 1 at 409 Pine Street, a stone's throw from his home at 340 Pine Street. Jesthroe Hunt retired from the Fire Department on September 1, 1981 after completing 31 years of service to the City of Camden.

A deeply religious man, Jesthroe Hunt was a Deacon in the Fire Baptized Holiness Church. The denomination for many years had a church at 335 Liberty Street known as the Gist Liberty Fire Baptized Holiness Church. In recent times the church relocated to 923 South 8th Street, near the corner of South 8th and Cherry Streets.

Jesthroe Hunt was still living at 340 Pine Street as late as 2002. He passed away on October 9, 2005, at the age of 85.

September 1954- Roll Call at the housewatch desk of Engine Company 1 's old quarters, South 4th & Pine Streets, South Camden on the occasion of Fireman Charlie Cook's retirement following his last tour of duty. From left: Firemen Andrew Robinson, Eugene Alston, Theodore Primas, Charles Davis, Captain Jesse Jones presenting wrist watch, Firemen Jesthroe Hunt, Samuel Fisher, Charles Cooke, Orville Goldsboro, Captain Raymond Amos, Fireman Alfred Greene.

Camden Courier-Post - October 14, 2005

HUNT SR., JESTHROE
Of Camden, NJ passed away on October 9, 2005. He was 85 years old. Jesthroe Hunt was one of the first black firemen of the Camden City Fire Department stationed at Company #1, 4th & Pine St. He joined the fire department Sept. 1, 1950, serving for 31 years until his retirement on Sept. 1, 1981. He served his country on the battlefield in World War II in the US Army and he was promoted to the rank of sergeant. He was a director of the South Camden Recreation Department. He served as coach and board member of the South Camden Little League for many years. He was the co-founder of the Home Sanitation Services. He served as a deacon of the Fire Baptized Holiness Church of God of the Americas.
He was the precious husband of Jeanette L. M. Hunt, father of Jesse Hunt Jr., Jeanette Hunt, Darlene Hunt Johnson, and Shirley Hunt, one daughter-in-law Jacqueline Hunt, one son-in-law Arnet Johnson, 8 grandchildren, and 3 great grandchildren.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend the viewing on Sunday October 16, 2-8 p.m. at the CARL MILLER FUNERAL HOME, 831 Carl Miller Blvd., Camden, NJ 08104. Funeral services will be held Monday, October 17, at St. Peters FBH Church, 5701 Vine St., Phila, PA. Viewing will be held from 9-11 a.m. and services will begin at 11 a.m. Interment, Harleigh Cemetery, Camden, New Jersey.