Claude Awls

On Saturday February 1, 2020, God in His infinite wisdom called a faithful servant, Claude B. Awls, from labor to reward. Claude was the eldest child of the late Nellie and Loney Awls Jr. He was born October 5, 1943 in Hattiesburg, MS. At the young age of eight, the family moved to Toledo, OH.

Claude united with the First Church of God, where he was a faithful member for thirty plus years and was loved by many. He loved the Lord, which was evidenced by word and deed. Claude was very charismatic and exuded a very pleasing and contagious personality. He had a special love for people. To know him was to love him.

Claude was a graduate of Libbey high School in Toledo, OH. Following graduation, he was employed with the Libbey Owens Ford Glass Plant in Toledo, OH for thirty years. During the span of his employment, he also received training to serve as a volunteer firefighter if needed. After retiring, he began to pursue one of his passions in the culinary arts. He not only continued but created a legacy with Granny’s Louisiana Potato salad in which could not be duplicated. This tasty ‘masterpiece’ was distributed to seven elite food stores throughout the Toledo area. He was considered a ‘legend’ for the unique tasteful potato salad that everyone loved.

Claude united in holy matrimony to the love of his life, Roslyn Gibson, whom he absolutely loved and adored. Their union of forty-three years was one of the greatest highlights of his life. In recent years Claude and Roslyn relocated from Toledo Ohio to the MS Gulf Coast to enjoy their retirement. Upon moving to Gulfport, MS, they attended the Progressive M. B Church under the leadership of Rev. Kenyatta Braxton.

He was preceded in death by his father Loney Awls, mother Nellie Awls, and sister Linda Awls

Claude was a devoted husband, father, grandfather great-grandfather and friend whose loving memory will always remain in the hearts of his dedicated and loving wife, Roslyn Awls, his two daughters: Stacey (Michael) Igeleke, and Teisha Awls; two sons: Claude L. Awls, and Kareem Awls; two brothers: Lonnie (Gail) Awls, and Michael (Joy) Awls, one sister: Bobby Jean (Herbert) Higgins, sixteen grandchildren, eleven great-grandchildren and a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and  friends.

Friends are invited to join the Awls family for a time of visitation from 12 Noon to 2:00 p.m., Sunday, February 9, 2020 at Riemann Family Funeral Home, 11280 Three Rivers Road, Gulfport, MS.

His Homegoing Celebration Service will follow at 2:00 p.m. in the funeral home chapel.

Interment will be held at 1:00 p.m, Monday, February 10, 2020 at Highland Park Cemetery in Hattiesburg. The funeral procession will leave from the funeral home at 11:30 a.m.