Last
Name |
|
TRUSS |
Given Names |
|
Cornelius Lee, Jr. |
AKA's |
|
|
Better known as |
|
|
Date of
Birth |
|
9/20/1960 |
Age at Death |
|
18 |
Place
of Birth |
|
San Francisco, California |
Race |
|
Black |
Gender |
|
Male |
Religion |
|
|
Family Tree |
|
| ;
Birth
Mother |
|
Barbra Hickson |
Birth Father |
|
|
Siblings |
|
Marilyn Truss; Dana Truss (cousin) |
Partner |
|
|
Children |
|
|
Non-Temple Relatives |
|
|
Body Identification Number |
|
|
Burial Location |
|
Remains claimed by next of kin; burial location unknown |
Source
of Death Information |
|
House Foreign Affairs Committee report; FBI document 89-4286-1302 (prepared 12/78) |
Entry
into Guyana |
|
4/5/1977 |
Residence (US) |
|
Oakland, California 94619 |
Residence (JT) |
|
SawM |
Occupation in U.S./Skills, Talents & Interests |
|
Wood work, navigation (RYMUR 89-4286-E-2-A-1LLLLL); student (RYMUR 89-4286-X-5-a-28c) |
Occupation in Jonestown (Temple Records) |
|
Alaskan Saw Mill (RYMUR 89-4286-E-2-A-1LLLLL) |
Jonestown Roles (FBI Records) |
|
|
Government Income |
|
|
Discrepancies |
|
|
Remembrances |
|
“Cornelius was in my English class at Opportunity High. He and a boy named Vance Smith, also in the Temple, were best friends. They asked me if they could read the same book for a book report, and write a letter to the author, which was one of the choices for writing.
They read "The Cay" by Theodore Taylor, a book about a black man who befriends a young white boy, victim of a shipwreck. The boy has been blinded, in more ways than one, as he has been taught prejudice. Phillip, the boy, learns to love Timothy, the man. I still have a copy of the letter from Mr. Taylor, who said in response to Vance and Cornelius' question, "Yes, I do think that everyone on earth, of al colors, could be helped by a tiny bit of color blindness. The ayes are responsible for a lot of racial prejudice. Touch someone with your eyes closed, and you don't know if they're black, white or polka-dot. I feel that we older people have failed and it is up to younger people like yourselves to turn the world around. I also feel confident you will do it."
I can still see Vance, who was white, and Cornelius, black, sitting side by side, reading together and writing together. They did try. I'm so sorry that Cornelius died so young. I don't know what happened to Vance. If he's still alive, and reads this some day, I'd love to hear from him.
Judy Bebelaar teacher at Opportunity High ” - Judy Bebelaar |
;)
;)
