Brother HOSEA MEDLEY PROFFITT, beloved son of Aria Wright Proffitt a n d Moses Proffitt, was born on July 1, 1900 in H e l e n a , Arkansas. He passed away Sunday, September 29, 1985 at 9:30 P.M. at his home. Hosea attended the Peabody Elementary School a n d received his high school diploma from Arkansas Baptist College in Little Rock, Arkansas. He then graduated from Howard University and Howard University School of Dentistry in Washington, DC. He practiced in Helena for 56 continuous years, and would attend seminars each year to keep abreast of new techniques. He was past president of the Arkansas Medical, Dental, and Pharmaceutical Association, past President of the National Dental Association, a member of the Chicago Dental Society, a member of the Board of Trustees of Phillips County Community College, and the Helena Recreation Commission. Presently, he was a member of the Theta Tau Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha (Life Member), a member of Centennial Baptist Church having served in various capacities for sixty-five years. He was also a 33rd Degree Mason, a Shriner, and a member of Pi Boule Fraternity. He is survived by his devoted wife, Vernell; two step-children - Sharon Richardson of Akron, Ohio and Gail Hamilton of Cincinnati, Ohio. Immediate family members are: Mrs. Sarah Proffitt, Thomas and Sadie Mayo, Morris and Maryann Proffitt and Howard Medley all of Chicago. Exel Evans, Rose Wright Thomas, Moses Medley, Arcenia Clark, and Maxine Scales all of Helena, Jerry Reese of Dalla, TX, and Lew Montaque of San Francisco, CA; one brother-in-law, Jessie Tolerson, Kokomo, IN; four sisters-in-law - Vivian Scott, Fordyce, AR, Floy Nelson, Berkeley, CA, Doris Borders, Newport, AR, and Deloris Blackwell, Cincinnati, OH; two grandchildren, and numerous relatives and friends.
ip Brother CLIFTON JULE SMITH, SR. entered Omega chapter on November 13, 1985. He was 52 years of age. Brother Smith was a native of St. Gabriel, Louisiana and a resident of Baton Rouge. He was pastor of Plymouth Rock Baptist Church in Plaquemine, Louisiana and counselor at Capital Middle School. He was a United States Army veteran. Brother Smith is survived by his wife, Mrs. Lillie B. Smith, three daughters, Gail Lamb, Escalmond Lee Smith and Lydia Ann Smith, all of Baton Rouge and a son, Clifton Jule Smith, Jr., also of Baton Rouge; seven sisters; a brother, a sister-in-law, a brother-in-law, a grandchild, nieces and nephews. He was a member of the Fourth District Baptist Association. Brother Smith was initiated in Alpha Phi Alpha through its Beta Sigma Chapter at Southern University and was a member of Beta Iota Lambda Chapter of Baton Rouge prior to his death. Brother Smith was a solid citizen of this community, a revered pastor, a devoted father and husband. He will be missed by all who knew him.
Brother FRANK E. SMITH, 67, entered Omega Chapter on Friday, November 29, 1985, at his residence after a very brief illness. Born in Charlotte County, Virginia, he moved from Moorestown, New Jersey, to St. Petersburg, Florida, in 1979. He was a mechanical engineer for the Navy Department and retired in 1978 after 33 years of service. He was with the Aerial Photographic Experimental Lab (APEL) in Philadelphia, then moved to the Naval Air Development Center with APEL in 1953. He was a retired lieutenant colonel with the army reserves
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and a veteran of World War II. Brother Smith was an active member of the St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church and a member of Theta Eta Lambda Chapter (St. Petersburg, FL). The Omega service for Brother Smith was held on Monday evening, December 2, at the McGriff Funeral Home. Funeral services were held on Tuesday, December 3, at St. Barthowlomew's. Burial with full military honors was held at Bay Pines Veterans Cemetary, St. Petersburg. Survivors include his wife, Bernice; daughters Beverly Miller, M o o r e s t o w n , NJ; Francis G a r d u l e s c u , A n n Arbor, MI; and Valerie Smith, Clearwater, FL; a half-brother, Dorrand Allesbury, Harrisburg, PA; and a sister, Hilda Holmes, Compton, CA. * Brother BENNIE THOMAS, JR. entered Omega Chapter on December 7, 1985 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana after a brief illness. Bennie Thomas, Jr., or "B. T." as he was affectionately called, was born in Natchitoches, Louisiana to Mr. Bennie Thomas, Sr. and Mrs. Sarah Polk. He was educated in the Natchitoches Parish Elementary and Secondary Schools. He served in the United States navy for three years. Brother Thomas was married to Mrs. Ruth Antee Thomas. To this union, one child was born—Bronwyn Thomas. The former newspaperman and Sports Information Director of Southern University and Alcorn State University was graduated from Southern University and did graduate work at Tuskegee Institute. He was a reporter for the Baton Rouge News Leader and an elementary school principal in Natchitoches Parish. He served on the Board of Directors of College Sports Information Directors of America. He was a member of Beta Iota Lambda Chapter and had participated in the chapter's Founder's Day Observance several days before his death. As a member of the Jordon United Methodist Church, he was a member of its male chorus, its senior choir and the United Methodist Men's Club. Funeral services were conducted at the Winnfield Funeral Chapel in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on Wednesday, December 11, 1985 and again at the Asbury United Methodist Church in Natchitoches, Louisiana on Thursday, December 12, 1985. The Omega Chapter ceremony was held during the services in Baton Rouge. Brother Thomas is survived by one daughter, Ms. Bronwyn Thomas; one granddaughter, Ms. Selisha Thomas of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; three sisters, Mrs. Florence Jackson and Mrs. Grace Baptist of Natchitoches, Louisiana, and Mrs. Doretha Quinn of Houston, Texas; a beloved friend, Mrs. Audrey LeBlanc, and her daughter Jelynne; nieces, nephews, and a host of other relatives and friends. "B. T." was a very personable young man and will be missed greatly by the Southern University community, the sports information corps and the brothers of Beta Iota Lambda chapter. Brother ELTON TONEY, 57, entered Omega Chapter on August 9, 1985 at the Veterans Administration Hospital, Little Rock, Arkansas. Brother Toney was associated with Pi Lambda Chapter. Brother Toney was born in Springfield, Arkansas, where he completed his early education. He finished high school at Conway County Training School, Menifee, Arkansas and went on to earn a bachelor of arts degree at Philander Smith College in 1949. Brother Toney completed a master's degree at Lincoln University, Jefferson City, Missouri in 1956. Brother Toney taught school until 1961 when he joined ARVAC, Inc. for several years. At the time of his death he was a salesman for the Modern American and Globe Life Insurance Company. He was chairman of Special Education Supervisor Teachers; Chairman, Conway County Steering Committee; past president of the Conway County Teachers Association and the Classroom Teachers Association; past president and board member of DisThe S p h i n x / S p r i n g 1986