Obituaries
Obituary for James H. Black
The Legacy of James H. Black
On Friday, February 26, 2021, James Howard Black, a loving husband and father of two children, transitioned after being blessed with 91 years on earth.
James Howard was born on June 12, 1929 in Memphis, TN to Maurice and Lucy Stephens Black. He attended Manassas School from grades 1 thru 12. As a teen, during the summer, he worked on the the Canadian railroad coast to coast from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. He received his Bachelors degree from LeMoyne College, Memphis, TN and his Masters degree from Memphis State University.
On January 10, 1950, he married Erma Robinson, a marriage that lasted 71 years. They were blessed with one son, Jerome, and one daughter, Michelle. Together, James Howard and Erma traveled the world: from Alaska and Hawaii, to the Panama Canal and the Caribbean, to Rome, Italy and the Mediterranean.
As an educator, he served as a teacher at Riverview Elementary and Carver High, an Assistant Principal at Southside High, and Principal at Florida Elementary and Messick Junior High. With the Memphis Park Commission James Howard influenced the lives of many young Memphians, starting at Beale Street’s noted Church Park Community Center, where he mastered the ping pong table, and Lincoln Park. He subsequently worked more years as supervisor of parks across the city and county.
James Howard had a passion for serving others. He initiated an annual brunch for his alma mater Manassas High in Memphis. He also started a service called Shoes For Haiti, donating shoes and clothing to Haitians. He was a Sr. Elder at Parkway Village Church of Christ, a finance committee member, and Sunday school teacher. He was appreciated for his diligence with delivering MIFA Meals, distributing Thanksgiving baskets to those in need, and his caring for the sick. He was known for his kind and compassionate spirit.
James Howard was preceded in death by his father, Maurice, and his mother Lucy. He is survived by his wife Erma, his two children: Jerome Black (Shirley) of Memphis, TN and Michelle Ogletree (Kenneth) of Tallahassee, FL; his sister Lula Levett of St. Louis, MO, his brother Eugene Black (Charlene) of Memphis, TN; three grandchildren: Jerome Black II of Canyon Country, California, Winston Ogletree of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma , and Alexandria Preston (Rakim) of Denver, Colorado; and several cousins, nieces, nephews, friends and neighbors.
Viewing
Tuesday, March 9, 2021 from 5pm to 7pm
Serenity Funeral Home 1632 Sycamore View Rd. Memphis, TN 38134
Funeral service
For family attendance only due to COVID-19 considerations
Live streaming broadcast from parkwayvillagecoc.com
Wednesday, March 10, 2021 at 11am
Serenity Funeral Home, Tel. (901)379-0861.
Read More
On Friday, February 26, 2021, James Howard Black, a loving husband and father of two children, transitioned after being blessed with 91 years on earth.
James Howard was born on June 12, 1929 in Memphis, TN to Maurice and Lucy Stephens Black. He attended Manassas School from grades 1 thru 12. As a teen, during the summer, he worked on the the Canadian railroad coast to coast from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. He received his Bachelors degree from LeMoyne College, Memphis, TN and his Masters degree from Memphis State University.
On January 10, 1950, he married Erma Robinson, a marriage that lasted 71 years. They were blessed with one son, Jerome, and one daughter, Michelle. Together, James Howard and Erma traveled the world: from Alaska and Hawaii, to the Panama Canal and the Caribbean, to Rome, Italy and the Mediterranean.
As an educator, he served as a teacher at Riverview Elementary and Carver High, an Assistant Principal at Southside High, and Principal at Florida Elementary and Messick Junior High. With the Memphis Park Commission James Howard influenced the lives of many young Memphians, starting at Beale Street’s noted Church Park Community Center, where he mastered the ping pong table, and Lincoln Park. He subsequently worked more years as supervisor of parks across the city and county.
James Howard had a passion for serving others. He initiated an annual brunch for his alma mater Manassas High in Memphis. He also started a service called Shoes For Haiti, donating shoes and clothing to Haitians. He was a Sr. Elder at Parkway Village Church of Christ, a finance committee member, and Sunday school teacher. He was appreciated for his diligence with delivering MIFA Meals, distributing Thanksgiving baskets to those in need, and his caring for the sick. He was known for his kind and compassionate spirit.
James Howard was preceded in death by his father, Maurice, and his mother Lucy. He is survived by his wife Erma, his two children: Jerome Black (Shirley) of Memphis, TN and Michelle Ogletree (Kenneth) of Tallahassee, FL; his sister Lula Levett of St. Louis, MO, his brother Eugene Black (Charlene) of Memphis, TN; three grandchildren: Jerome Black II of Canyon Country, California, Winston Ogletree of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma , and Alexandria Preston (Rakim) of Denver, Colorado; and several cousins, nieces, nephews, friends and neighbors.
Viewing
Tuesday, March 9, 2021 from 5pm to 7pm
Serenity Funeral Home 1632 Sycamore View Rd. Memphis, TN 38134
Funeral service
For family attendance only due to COVID-19 considerations
Live streaming broadcast from parkwayvillagecoc.com
Wednesday, March 10, 2021 at 11am
Serenity Funeral Home, Tel. (901)379-0861.
Previous Events
Visitation
Tuesday
9
Mar
5:00 PM
- 7:00 PM
Serenity Funeral Home
1638 Sycamore View Road
Memphis, TN 38134
Service
Wednesday
10
Mar
11:00 AM
Parkway Village Church of Christ
4400 Knight Arnold Rd
Memphis, TN 38118
Cemetery Details
Location
New Park Cemetery
4536 Horn Lake Rd.
Memphis, TN 38109
Loading...