Obituary of Bruce Frederick Weekes

The Honorable Bruce F. Weekes, 70, of Atlantic City, passed away on Friday, August 19, 2016, after a long illness. Judge Weekes was the oldest of five children born in Atlantic City, to George N. Weekes and Mildred Fountain Weekes. Bruce graduated from Atlantic City High School in 1964. While at Atlantic High School Bruce excelled in basketball and baseball. Bruce graduated from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey in New Brunswick, NJ in 1968. Following graduation he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserves. Bruce graduated from Howard University School of Law in 1971, and was admitted to the practice of law in New Jersey that same year. As a Reginald Heber Smith Fellow, Bruce practiced and specialized in housing and consumer law, having been assigned to Newark Legal Services in Newark, NJ. Following that two year appointment, he joined the New Jersey Office of the Public Defender of Essex County in Newark, later transferring to the Atlantic County Division in Mays Landing. In 1976, Bruce opened a law office in Atlantic City, subsequently he was the first African-American appointed as assistant Solicitor for the City of Atlantic City. A few years later, Atlantic City Commissioner Horace Bryant initiated a full time court system for Atlantic City, and Bruce was appointed the first full-time Chief Municipal Public Defender in the State of New Jersey. In 1985, Bruce became the first African American to be appointed as Chief Judge of Atlantic City Municipal Court, serving in that capacity until retiring in 2012. Judge Weekes was a member of the National Bar Association and its Judicial Council. It was his honor to be inducted into the National Bar Association’s Hall of Fame at their annual convention this year. He is a charter member of the Garden State Bar Association and is a Past President of the Atlantic County Municipal Judges Association. He was a member of the American Bar Association, Essex County and Atlantic County Bar Associations. He was an active member of the National Howard University School of Law Alumni Association and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Judge Weekes served on the Board of Directors of the Atlantic City Boys and Girls Club in its early years, and was a Life Member of the NAACP. More than everything, Bruce was a humble and non-pretentious man of the people. He fiercely loved his family and was a devoted friend. Judge Weekes was predeceased by: his parents; and son, Devon Wilson Weekes. Left to cherish his memory are: his wife, Cherise Weekes; children, Sekaya and Bruce E. Weekes; granddaughter, Ali Weekes; siblings, George C. Weekes (Pat), Guy Weekes and Ursulla W. McLeod (Bobby) and Sala Damali (Nana), nieces; Imani, Nzinga, Layla, Tracy, Gingie and Raina; great nieces, Sia and Karma; and great nephews Beau, Koi, Khensu and Nazir – as well as a host of other beloved relatives, dear friends, respected colleagues, and associates. Funeral services will be Saturday, August 27, 2016, Saint Augustine’s Episcopal Church, 1709 Arctic Avenue, Atlantic City, where friends may call from 9AM until 10:45AM. There will be another viewing at the church on Friday, August 26, 2016 from 4PM until 6PM, Fraternal rites by Omega Psi Phi will begin at 6:15PM, also at the church.