The Obituary Story

Eugene Pullins, was born to the Bryant and Cherrie M. Pullins in Appling, Georgia on May 3, 1938. In this small rural town, he attended the local school until forth grade, when he had to go to work in the cotton fields to help support and feed himself and his family. During this time he also attended and was baptized at Solid Rock Baptist Church.

He was jokingly called "Huckleberry Finn", because of his clothes and the fact that at times he had to catch sparrows to eat. He recalled sometimes climbing to the roof of his home, listening to the train whistles, and thinking, "There's got to be a better place than this," and made up his mind to work hard because he never wanted to be hungry again.

His mother Cherrie, took four of the family's children to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to seek a better way of life. Gene remained in Appling with his brother Willie and his father and later moved to Philadelphia in his early teens. He would get up an hour earlier than his family (who went to work in the fields) to find another type of work. "I worked in the fields in Georgia. I've got to do something else here." He started helping his stepfather, Charles Tate, with his truck. With his first six wheeler that his stepfather had given him, he was motivated to start the Pullins Trucking Company in 1956 with his brothers Willie and Kiemp.

He met and married the late Elaine Bates. They had seven children together. Towana (Tiny), Eugene Jr. (Squeaky), Tyrone, Robert, Anthony Harold and Elaine. After becoming a widower, he married Rita Harris Mann and to this union, Bryan and Shane were born. He was also a loving father to his stepdaughter Shannon Mann.

Eugene Pullins started with a truck, a dream and a desire to succeed. In 1969, he branched out on his own as the owner/operator of the Eugene Pullins Trucking Company and built it to include a number of employees, a fleet of trucks, containers, demolition equipment and real estate properties. In 1999, he expanded his business to do demolition work for the City of Philadelphia and has removed approximately 10,000 blighted properties from the region. Over the years, he received a number of awards, including the 2001 Medweek Award, by the City of Philadelphia for outstanding minority business enterprise. While Gene appreciated and shared the fruits of his labor--he enjoyed nice cars, good clothes and great food--he also understood and applied a key factor of success, to save and build rather than to spend as fast as he made it. Instead, he took his profits and invested them in ways so that he could better provide for his family. Finding an opportunity or a dollar, Gene would find ways to make it prosper.

Everyone knew Gene as a hard worker. He rarely used foreman, preferring to be on the job making sure it was done and done right. Even in his free time, while not often, he liked to fish, dance, eat out or go to Atlantic City; Although his favorite hobby was his work. He could usually be found in his office going over paperwork. Always setting high standards for himself and others, and expressing frustration when others didn't measure up, "if you can't be to work on time, don't come".

He also cared for his family and friends and enjoyed hosting or cooking for big family gatherings. Dedicated to his business and willing to help anyone in need. He never wanted to see anyone go hungry. In one of America's true rags to riches stories, Gene will always be an outstanding example of the rewards of hard work, perseverance and service to others.

After a long illness, Gene was determined to remain alert to the end. Surrounded by family, Eugene Pullins died on Thursday, July 20, 2006 at Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia. Everyone who knew and loved him will dearly miss him. He left behind his wife, Rita Harris Pullins; his three daughters, Towana Pullins and Elaine (Kelton) Norris of Dover, Delaware and Joyce Elliott of Hopkins, South Carolina; his step-daughter, Shannon Mann of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; his nine sons, Eugene Pullins Jr. of Felton, Delaware, Tyrone (Louise) Pullins, Robert (Michelle) Pullins, Anthony Pullins, Harold (Zella) Pullins, Anthony Moore, Bryan Pullins, Shane Pullins and David of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; two sisters, Eunice (Henry) Hankerson and Susie (James) Hankerson of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; two brothers, Willie (Wynola) Pullins and Kiemp (Marie)Pullins of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; his mother-in-law, Agnes Harris of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; his sister-in-law, Lisa Harris of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; his brothers-in-law, Henderson (Wilhelmina) Bates of Laurens, South Carolina; James Bourknight, Jeffrey W. Harris, Michael Harris, Keith Harris and Kevin Harris of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; twenty grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; one god-daughter, Shana Cohen, and a special long-time best friend, Isaac "Johnny" McLoyd, as well as a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, and many other long standing friendships.