Warren Columbus Butler

Warren Columbus Butler, better known as “Captain Butler”, son of the late Grace Demby and Warren Butler, Sr., was born May 15, 1929, in Queen Anne’s County, Maryland. He departed this life on Friday, July 2, 2021, at his residence in Grasonville, Maryland. He was 92 years old. Warren was a 1946 graduate of the old Kennard High School. After graduating from high school, he served three years in the United States Army, from 1950 to 1953. He served in Japan and Korea as a Staff Sergeant and received an honorable discharge in July 1953. Warren was united in holy matrimony to Nettie E. Green, on August 14, 1955. From this union, they had one daughter, Nina Kaye. Warren had a lifetime passion as a waterman. He started working on the Chesapeake Bay as a young boy with his father and brothers to support their family. From 1954 to 1983 he worked in the oyster and crab industry in Maryland, Delaware, and New Jersey on boats. Throughout his life, he owned and operated seventeen vessels and carried numerous parties out for a day of fishing, oyster diving and sightseeing. He even took Nina on an oyster dredge boat when she was nine years old. In 1966, Warren worked for the State of Maryland, for a short time, as a Correctional Officer II at the Patuxent Institution, in Jessup Maryland. From 1965 to 1967, he served as President of the Queen Anne’s County, Maryland, Waterman’s Protective Association. From 1967 to 1987, he was the Quartermaster of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #10079, District #4 in Maryland and was instrumental in organizing the V.F.W. Post for Black Veterans of Queen Anne’s and Talbot Counties. During his life, Warren was involved with and active in his community. In 1966, he purchased a half acre of property on Cemetery Road in Grasonville, Maryland, and constructed a sixty-foot building for teenagers in the community. For the next three years, the building was rented on weekends to various organizations for youth recreation. In 1970, Warren was appointed by the Governor of Maryland to the Queen Anne’s County Board of Education. He was a member of the Board of Education for twelve years and served as the first African American President of the Board of Education from 1973 to 1975. From 1982 to 1984, Warren was a member of the Queen Anne’s County Board of Ethics and Health Planning Council. Warren worked for the U.S. Army’s Department of Defense in Aberdeen, Maryland, from 1989 to 1996, as a Patrol Boat Operator. Warren enjoyed this job and worked with a great group of men. He actually caught a few fish while working. He was 67 years old when he left Aberdeen. Captain Butler is one of the featured captains in the Documentary Black Captains of the Chesapeake Bay. He is also featured as one of the seven African American Trailblazers at the Kennard Cultural Heritage Center in Centreville, Maryland and part of the exhibits at the Chesapeake Heritage and Visitor Center located in Chester, Maryland. Over the years, he has received several honors for his involvement and dedication to family, friends, and business partnerships in Queen Anne’s County, all made possible through his faith and trust in God. Warren knew a lot of people and developed relationships that give us wonderful memories. He will always be remembered for his sense of humor, bright smile and easy-going character. He had a special and funny way to tell stories. He always had a kind word for everyone and a helping hand. Captain Butler has traveled abroad and within the United States. He visited many of the country’s landmarks. During his travels, he became fascinated with bridges, including Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay Bridge, the San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge and the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge located in New York. Warren was a member of New United Methodist Church, formerly Union Wesley United Methodist Church in Chester, Maryland. In the church, he has served as member of the United Methodist Men and Tri-County Male Choir. Warren was preceded in death by his parents, Warren Butler, Sr., and Grace Demby; brothers, Robert L. Butler and Richard Marcell Butler; foster brother, Roy Williams; and wife, Nettie E. Butler. Warren leaves to cherish his memory, a loving and devoted daughter, Nina K. Butler-Wright; son-in-law, Craig T. Wright; grandson, Craig Warren Wright; one brother, Joseph E. Butler (wife: Rosalee) of Burlington, NJ; four sisters-in-law, Ruth E. Butler of Grasonville, MD, Louise “Vera” Butler of Centreville, MD, Vernetta Murray of Wye Mills, MD and Mary Lee Williams of Fort Washington, MD; special nephew, James “Jimmy” Butler of Grasonville, MD; special friends Clarence Graham of Centreville, MD, Thelma Gould of Philadelphia, PA and Charlie Manley of Fort Washington, MD; and a host of nieces and nephews, cousins, extended family and friends. Warren will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

Warren Columbus Butler

May 15, 1929 - July 2, 2021