Arthur Dillard was a source of wisdom for family, pride of Hamtramck police
By Brian Harmon / The Detroit News
Hamtramck says farewell today to its first African-American police detective.
Services for Arthur Dillard, 101, who died Saturday, Dec. 21, 1996, in Grace Hospital were to be at 11 a.m. in Corinthian Baptist Church, 1725 Caniff, Hamtramck.
Mr. Dillard worked 23 years for the Hamtramck Police Department before retiring in 1943. As a detective in the 1930s, he became known as one of "The Big Four," the nickname given to the city's most highly regarded officers at the time.
After his retirement from the department, Mr. Dillard worked for 17 years at Ford Motor Co.
Mr. Dillard was a source of pride and wisdom to his family.
His niece, Alfreda Rucker, remembers how her "Uncle Pap" encouraged her to live a clean-cut life.
"He would tell you how to grow up and do for yourself," said Rucker, 62. "'Go to school and get your college education,' he would say. Even when I was a little girl, I'd be trying to get in the bars, and he'd catch me and say, 'Hey, get out of here.'"
Mr. Dillard married Charlie Mae Jefferson and moved to Hamtramck 58 years ago. Mr. Dillard moved to a nursing home about three months ago.
Rucker recalled how much Mr. Dillard loved her cooking, including his last Thanksgiving Day meal.
"He said: 'I know you cooked this, Freda. This isn't hospital food,'" Rucker said. "He really enjoyed his Thanksgiving dinner."
Mr. Dillard was an active member of the Corinthian Baptist Church and an avid reader.
"He'd read anything he could get his hands on," Rucker said.
Mr. Dillard was born in Walker County, Ga., in 1895 and came to Michigan in 1920 after graduating from high school to find a job as a police officer.
Besides his wife and Rucker, survivors include numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Interment in Evergreen Cemetery in Detroit will follow the funeral services.
By Brian Harmon / The Detroit News
Hamtramck says farewell today to its first African-American police detective.
Services for Arthur Dillard, 101, who died Saturday, Dec. 21, 1996, in Grace Hospital were to be at 11 a.m. in Corinthian Baptist Church, 1725 Caniff, Hamtramck.
Mr. Dillard worked 23 years for the Hamtramck Police Department before retiring in 1943. As a detective in the 1930s, he became known as one of "The Big Four," the nickname given to the city's most highly regarded officers at the time.
After his retirement from the department, Mr. Dillard worked for 17 years at Ford Motor Co.
Mr. Dillard was a source of pride and wisdom to his family.
His niece, Alfreda Rucker, remembers how her "Uncle Pap" encouraged her to live a clean-cut life.
"He would tell you how to grow up and do for yourself," said Rucker, 62. "'Go to school and get your college education,' he would say. Even when I was a little girl, I'd be trying to get in the bars, and he'd catch me and say, 'Hey, get out of here.'"
Mr. Dillard married Charlie Mae Jefferson and moved to Hamtramck 58 years ago. Mr. Dillard moved to a nursing home about three months ago.
Rucker recalled how much Mr. Dillard loved her cooking, including his last Thanksgiving Day meal.
"He said: 'I know you cooked this, Freda. This isn't hospital food,'" Rucker said. "He really enjoyed his Thanksgiving dinner."
Mr. Dillard was an active member of the Corinthian Baptist Church and an avid reader.
"He'd read anything he could get his hands on," Rucker said.
Mr. Dillard was born in Walker County, Ga., in 1895 and came to Michigan in 1920 after graduating from high school to find a job as a police officer.
Besides his wife and Rucker, survivors include numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Interment in Evergreen Cemetery in Detroit will follow the funeral services.
Arthur Dillard was a source of wisdom for family, pride of Hamtramck police
By Brian Harmon / The Detroit News
Hamtramck says farewell today to its first African-American police detective.
Services for Arthur Dillard, 101, who died Saturday, Dec. 21, 1996, in Grace Hospital were to be at 11 a.m. in Corinthian Baptist Church, 1725 Caniff, Hamtramck.
Mr. Dillard worked 23 years for the Hamtramck Police Department before retiring in 1943. As a detective in the 1930s, he became known as one of "The Big Four," the nickname given to the city's most highly regarded officers at the time.
After his retirement from the department, Mr. Dillard worked for 17 years at Ford Motor Co.
Mr. Dillard was a source of pride and wisdom to his family.
His niece, Alfreda Rucker, remembers how her "Uncle Pap" encouraged her to live a clean-cut life.
"He would tell you how to grow up and do for yourself," said Rucker, 62. "'Go to school and get your college education,' he would say. Even when I was a little girl, I'd be trying to get in the bars, and he'd catch me and say, 'Hey, get out of here.'"
Mr. Dillard married Charlie Mae Jefferson and moved to Hamtramck 58 years ago. Mr. Dillard moved to a nursing home about three months ago.
Rucker recalled how much Mr. Dillard loved her cooking, including his last Thanksgiving Day meal.
"He said: 'I know you cooked this, Freda. This isn't hospital food,'" Rucker said. "He really enjoyed his Thanksgiving dinner."
Mr. Dillard was an active member of the Corinthian Baptist Church and an avid reader.
"He'd read anything he could get his hands on," Rucker said.
Mr. Dillard was born in Walker County, Ga., in 1895 and came to Michigan in 1920 after graduating from high school to find a job as a police officer.
Besides his wife and Rucker, survivors include numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Interment in Evergreen Cemetery in Detroit will follow the funeral services.
By Brian Harmon / The Detroit News
Hamtramck says farewell today to its first African-American police detective.
Services for Arthur Dillard, 101, who died Saturday, Dec. 21, 1996, in Grace Hospital were to be at 11 a.m. in Corinthian Baptist Church, 1725 Caniff, Hamtramck.
Mr. Dillard worked 23 years for the Hamtramck Police Department before retiring in 1943. As a detective in the 1930s, he became known as one of "The Big Four," the nickname given to the city's most highly regarded officers at the time.
After his retirement from the department, Mr. Dillard worked for 17 years at Ford Motor Co.
Mr. Dillard was a source of pride and wisdom to his family.
His niece, Alfreda Rucker, remembers how her "Uncle Pap" encouraged her to live a clean-cut life.
"He would tell you how to grow up and do for yourself," said Rucker, 62. "'Go to school and get your college education,' he would say. Even when I was a little girl, I'd be trying to get in the bars, and he'd catch me and say, 'Hey, get out of here.'"
Mr. Dillard married Charlie Mae Jefferson and moved to Hamtramck 58 years ago. Mr. Dillard moved to a nursing home about three months ago.
Rucker recalled how much Mr. Dillard loved her cooking, including his last Thanksgiving Day meal.
"He said: 'I know you cooked this, Freda. This isn't hospital food,'" Rucker said. "He really enjoyed his Thanksgiving dinner."
Mr. Dillard was an active member of the Corinthian Baptist Church and an avid reader.
"He'd read anything he could get his hands on," Rucker said.
Mr. Dillard was born in Walker County, Ga., in 1895 and came to Michigan in 1920 after graduating from high school to find a job as a police officer.
Besides his wife and Rucker, survivors include numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Interment in Evergreen Cemetery in Detroit will follow the funeral services.
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