(Photo Source: FedEx)
Carroll Waters died at 78-years-old. His ashes will be sent to his final resting place in Virginia.
FedEx says Waters was known for his personal motto, "the sky isn't the limit."
Waters first took to the skies as a combat pilot and original member of the famed Tuskegee Airmen.
He became a FedEx pilot in 1973, after earning a Bronze Star, Air, and National Defense Service medals.
On January 1 of that year, Waters told FedEx founder Fred Smith by phone, "I'm a black pilot and I'm looking for a job."
Smith's response was, "When can you get here?"
Waters became employee number 373, the third of the fledgling company's three pilots.
Shortly before Waters' death, he spoke at an event and remembered a time when he carried only 20 packages on his first flight.
After 23 years at FedEx, Waters retired in 1996.
A memorial service will be held Saturday at Mount Olive Baptist Church in Wilcomico, Virginia where all attending pilots will wear
uniforms.
FedEx says, at this time, 129 of its' 4,200 pilots are African-American.
WMC Action News 5's Kontji Anthony attended Thursday's ceremony and will bring you reaction from his contemporaries and proteges.
Original article can be found here: http://www.wmcactionnews5.com
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