John Cossie Bivins, 81 of Washington, D.C.

Obituary

On Thursday, August 20, 2020, John Cossie Bivins, Sr. was called home to be with the Lord.

John, affectionately known as Johnny Boy, was born to the late Sara Bivins and John Cossie Green on August 6, 1939 in LaPlata, Maryland. John was educated in the Charles County Public Schools. In his early years he worked several jobs before moving to Washington, District of Columbia.

In August 1977, John married Grace Gray and out of their union came four children; sons, John Bivins, Jr. and George Gray; daughters, Karen Gray and Denise Gray. They also, raised five nieces: Shirley Ann Douglas, Terri Shorter, Sandra Burns, Joyce Puckett and Carolyn Dudley who he also considered his daughters.

His favorite hobbies were, watching football especially his favorite team, the Dallas Cowboys, listening to oldies music from his favorite musicians like, Fats Domino, Otis Redding and Chuck Berry. He also enjoyed attending family events, dancing, drinking his favorite VO drink, watching Western movies, playing cards, especially Spades and Tunk, sometimes when playing cards with the ladies, once a red card was played he would say "Red like Grace, Debbie and Needy" and when a black card was played he would say "Black like Gloria and LaVerne". He loved playing "Spades" with his sons and if his partner caused him to lose, he had no problem with calling them a dummy.  He also had a passion for working on cars and loved hanging out at "Blue Haven Bar" socializing and shooting pool with the men.

In addition to his parents, John was preceded in death by his sisters, Martha Thomas and Sally Bivins; grandson, Dont'e Gray; nephews, Joseph Bivins, Wayne and Irvin Lee.

John leaves to cherish his memory, his devoted wife, Grace; his children: John Jr. (Sonja), George, Karen, Denise, Shirley Ann, Terri, Sandra, Joyce and Carolyn; two goddaughters, Shirley Douglas and Shakira Day; two godsons, Richard Lee and Andre Boyce; nine grandchildren, eighteen great grandchildren; sister, Mary Delores Brawner; sisters-in-law, Tillie Lee (Roger), Jo Ann Jamieson, Ruth Gross (Chester) and Catherine Gray; brothers-in-law, John Gray (Irma), Leonard Gray (Octavia), Leon Boyce and Robert Johnson and a host of nephews, nieces, great nephews, great nieces, other relatives and many friends.

Viewing, 10:00 a.m. until time of Service, 11:00 a.m., Saturday, September 5, 2020 in the Chapel of Thornton Funeral Home, P.A., 3439 Livingston Road, Indian Head, Maryland 20640.

On Saturday, September 5, 2020 at 11:00 am please click on the link below to live stream the service.

Please make sure when viewing the services that the volume located in the right lower corner (where it says "live") on the viewing screen is turned up (the bars should be blue).

The streaming will begin after the final family viewing.  Therefore, there may be a delay before the service appears on the screen. Thank you.

https://www.thorntonfuneralhomepa.com/live-stream