AC Phoenix, December 1991, Page 9
In Memoriam
A Present For Uncle Raleigh's Christmas Stocking
By Rodney Sumler
Phoenix Publisher
He didn't make it ‘til Christmas.
Only God knows why, although we
prayed extremely hard that he
would. Now he’s in God’s hands.
He bravely battled the cancer that
had attacked his body, and God’s
will has been done. I didn’t get a
chance to say a final goodbye, but
he knew just how important he had
been in my life. So, this is my
tribute to a Black man who was a
strong role model for me.
Raleigh Johnson - Uncle Raleigh
- was one of the last three surviving
children of thirteen - he, my mom
Hazel, and Aunt Ruby. A lot of the
choices I’ve made have been
because of the admiration 1 have for
him. He graduated from Howard
University, so when I made my
decision to attend college, I enrolled
in Howard, also, for my initial
years.
My love and respect for the land
probably come from my Uncle
Raleigh. He did his share of
farming, raising vegetables, chic
kens, and hogs for the family and
for market. While he. and his wife,
Innis, never had any children of
their own, his nieces, greatnieces,
and nephews were his children - his
extended family, as were the
offspring of others he called
friends.
As a former school teacher. Uncle
Raleigh touched the lives of many
children in his zeal to share the
wonders of science, his specialty,
with them. Even after his retire
ment, he never tired of sharing his
God-given talents with others,
especially the young.
Always avidly interested in
scientific advances, he knew the
limitations of modern medical
science in curing the ills of his
condition. But, he also knew that
v!
Raleigh and Innis Johnson shared their love with many over
their years together.
God’s plan always supersedes
man’s. The prayers and caring of
his family and friends and his own
deep, abiding faith in God kept him
clinging tenaciously to life and
comforted him until his death.
All through my life, he was like a
father to me, a role model, taking
the place of the one who left me at
an early age. Christmas is a time of
giving gifts, sharing love, and
commemorating the spirit of God’s
ultimate gift to the world - his only
begotten Son. So, it is most
appropriate that I give to Uncle
Raleigh the best gift of all - the
acknowledgment of my love.
Beulahland.’”
The Reverend Carlton Eversly
referred to my uncle in his eulogy
as a “Black man coming on strong.’’
Uncle Raleigh was a strong Black
man. During all my college years
and other academic pursuits, he was
my standard for achievement. Fc"
the balance of my life, my uncle
will be my standard of strength for
a Black man, as I ask God to allow
me to grow with ever-increasing
knowledge and wisdom.
Uncle Raleigh knew the effect he
had on my life and the lives of
others. So, his passing will not go
unnoticed. Thank you. Uncle
Raleigh, for all you have meant to
me. I only hope I can be as ex
emplary for my family and for the
others I meet in my lifetime.
gratitude, and prayers for his new
life in a far better place and for my
family to thank God for letting us
share his life here.
“Give me my flowers while I can
still smell the scent,” a friend of
mine once said to me. And that is
significant. If you have done all you
can for those you love, then death
holds no sting or sorrow. It
becomes, in fact, a celebration of
life - a life that is far better than
anything that can be imagined on
earth. Or as grandmother, “Aunt
Gerti,” his mother would say,
taking a cue from her favorite
gospel hymn, “He’ll be ‘Dwellin’ in
tlifi
(»./ tkf'
AG
from
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Bishop F. D. Patterson,
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Dorothy Patterson,
Church Mother
The Church of Love,
Faith, Beauty and Hope
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