PORTRAITS OF A MAN

COVER STORY A BUSINESS LEADER

AND

COMMUNITY ACTIVIST

A LOVING FATHER

BIG BROTHER TO ALL

COMMUNITY LEADER

VISIONARY

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ENTREPRENUER

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HISTORIAN

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GENTLEMAN

HAROLD EUGENE HAMBRICK, JR. FEBRUARY 17, 1943 - OCTOBER 8, 2014

O n the early evening of Wednesday, October 8, 2014, Harold walked into the light and into the arms of his mother and father. After 71

years of traversing the hills and valleys of life, he reached his final destination where he is resting peacefully in his new home. Harold Hambrick, Jr. was born on a Wednesday, February 17, 1943 in New Orleans, Louisiana. In the Akan culture of West Africa, it is said that, “Wednesday’s child is fully in control of every situation and does not want to be told what to do”. Ironically, Harold’s childhood nickname was “Bull,” a name affectionately used throughout his life. He grew up in the small water-town of Slidell, Louisiana on the north shore of Lake Pontcha-train. He was the eldest son of the late Harold Hambrick, Sr. and Mary Ellen Clark Hambrick. He was an excellent student; Saluta-torian and President of the senior class and star

quarterback for the Wildcats at St. Tammany High School in 1961. He won second place in Physics in Louisiana and was a Boys State representative for St. Tammany Parish.

He had an account at Neuheuser Men’s Store at the age of fifteen. According to his cousin Annesther, he was always trying to organize something. Harold and his brothers worked with their father to build Slidell’s first eight unit apartment building in the 1950’s. Harold arrived in Los Angeles in the summer of 1961, where he enrolled at the Woodbury Institute. He matriculated to Los Angeles City College; attended UCLA and later received his baccalaureate degree from Pepper-dine University. Harold reached the door to the “promised land,” as many other African Americans from the south who moved west seeking better opportunities. It was not long before he found his place as an advocate for the poor and soldier on the battlefield for equal opportunities for the less fortunate. The family believes that Harold Jr.’s interest in community service came from his exposure to the civil rights movement at Victory Baptist Church where his uncle the Rev. Arthur Atlas Peters was the founding minister. Victory was Harold’s first church home in Los Angeles and Harold Sr. made sure that the family had front row seats when Dr. Martin Luther King, Sr. and Jr. came to town. He was a founding mem-ber of the Greater Liberty Baptist Church,

pastored by the late Scholastic T. Peters. Harold joined Ward A.M.E. Church under the leadership of Dr. Frank M. Reid, III, where he was a founding member of the Band of Men. This was the era of affirmative action and Harold took advantage of every employment opportunity that came his way. His first job was at the Hall of Patriots working on voter registration with the County of Los Angeles. He became the Controller for Jefferson High School before receiving an administrative internship at IBM. In 1967, he joined the South Central Multi Purpose Health Service Center, which later became Watts Health Foundation (WHF). He served in several capacities, including Vice President of Public Affairs. While Hambrick is widely known for his role with BBX, he was very influential in the field of healthcare for more than 40 years. He championed the cause of access to health care for residents of low income communi-ties. While serving as V.P., under the leader-ship of Dr. Clyde W. Oden, Jr., President and CEO of WHF/WHS, Hambrick traveled throughout California and across the coun-try to ensure that the plight of the underserved was heard by governmental agencies and legisla-tive bodies. Active in the California Black Health Network, he also served on the Com-munity Advisory Council at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science. Addition-ally, according to Dr. Oden, in the 1970s and 80s, Hambrick founded the Western Associa-tion of Community Health Centers and the California Community Health Institute (CCHI). He was co-founder of the Health Care Coalition for the Truly Needy and a member of the National Association of HMOs.

Along with his work at WHF, he was immersed in all things Watts. Arriving in Los Angeles when community-based organizations flourished and Watts was the center of activism and cultural pride, Hambrick became a part of the community’s energy, spirit and in later years, its revitalization. He was a strong promoter of the Watts Summer Festival and increased the profile of the Watts Christmas Parade and the Watts Martin Luther King Breakfast. Hambrick previously served as President of the Watts United Credit Union and was instrumental in the rebirth of the Watts Neighborhood Center (Mfundi Insti-

tute). The week before his quietus, he danced a “second line” at the Watts Tower’s Arts Festi-val. One of his proudest achievements was his involvement in the re-birth of the Watts Coffee House. With a vision to provide a sit-down restaurant for the residents, Hambrick, through WHF, was instrumental in reopening the

restaurant across the street from the original one that burned down in the 1965 rebellion. Located at 103rd and Wilmington (the previous site of The Relish House), the restaurant, since reopening in 1997, is a hub of activity with meals prepared by Chef and Manager Desiree E. Edwards. Hambrick’s vision appealed to Edwards; using the restau-rant as a way to provide a service to the com-munity, but more importantly, a training site as a stepping stone to better jobs in the restaurant industry. According to Edwards, Hambrick said, “we’re not putting you here to become a millionaire. These jobs will provide skills and independence for community residents.” Harold Hambrick Jr.’s next venture began when he became the President of the Los Angeles Black Business Expo (BBX), the second largest African American-focused consumer show in the country. As president of BBX, Hambrick took pride in showing off the history, services and accomplishments of Black businesses in the community. He promoted the show as a way to introduce young people to entrepreneurship. The first Black consumer show to run in the Tom Bradley Hall of the

Los Angeles Convention Center was a massive effort. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the

show included up to 400 vendors. “We allow folk to use their God-given talents to help us pull off one of the largest events held in celebration of the Black family,” he said. Harold viewed this project as a big family reunion. He enjoyed talking to young people and encouraged them to follow their dream. He gave dozens of young people an opportunity to market their businesses. Hambrick’s work was driven by the word “family” for the past 45 years. From biological family to the entire African American family, his conversations revolved around the power of “connectedness.” He wanted young people to understand the history of Black business, before integration, when Blacks owned hotels, gas stations and restaurants. He provided a network for future exchanges. He promoted each business with his team of experts in tech-nology, economic development, tourism and culture. He wanted young people to benefit from the exposure offered at the BBX and offered workshops at signature events such as the Tom Bradley Business Institute and the

Youth Summit. Hambrick knew who to call to get things done and did not hesitate to pull together a meeting with the then Governor Schwarzenegger and publishers of African American newspapers in California to discuss issues concerning the Black Press. Harold’s father introduced him to the world of business and entrepreneurship. Harold Jr. was vice president of the Board for Hambrick’s Family Mortuary, started by Harold Sr. in 1975. The business remains in full operation with the younger brother, Darryl as the CEO. His closest companion and brother, George, owns two technical services companies in Southern California. Brother Donald serves as legal counsel for the family’s businesses. Harold owned an income tax service in the Crenshaw district for more than 30 years. Harold is a business partner with his other siblings in Hambonz Piano Room, a nightclub in the historic business district of Donaldsonville, Louisiana and the co-founder of the nationally recognized River Road African American Museum, with his sister, Kathe. Always one to celebrate his Louisiana history and culture, Hambrick was one of the founders of LALA (Louisiana to Los Angeles Organizing Committee Inc.) in 1988. In addi-tion to being on its Board of Directors, he often served as the Master of Ceremony for the annual Mardi Gras Scholarship Ball. In 2005,

he was selected as the LALA King. Hambrick would sport the appropriate regalia and partici-pate with the Second Line dancers at selected events. His collection of New Orleans memorabilia included Mardi Gras Indian

costumes and a Zulu headdress. Hambrick set his sights on a new venture. In his spare time, between golfing and hanging out with the boys in Leimert Park, he developed a National Black Heritage Trail. He saw the Trail as a way to bring families together on educational field trips across America. Harold was a genuine soul…no doubt, put on this Earth to serve humanity. He loved the LORD, his family and his community. Los Angeles will not be the same. He will be missed. He leaves to cherish his memory, his wife, Marguerett Lymuel Hambrick, three children: Jeffrey Hambrick, Sharon Acker and Tyra Hambrick; two grandchildren, Dominique Acker and Denzel Acker, one great-grandchild, Mariah Sylvas: six siblings: George Hambrick (Jacqueline) Donald Hambrick, Kathe Hambrick Jackson (Johnny), Darryl Hambrick, Dora Hambrick and Dexter Hambrick and a host of other relatives and friends.

Harold was a genuine soul…no doubt, put on

this Earth to serve humanity. He loved the

LORD, his family and his community.

Your sister, Kathe

I Love You, Dearly!

Your wife, Marguerett

“Love Is Forever”, Daddy!

Your daughter, Tyra

Harold was someone you could

look up with and at the same

time, look up to!

Your brother, Donald

I’m happy when you are here.

Your great granddaughter,

Mariah

A Celebration of Life

PROCESSIONAL “Take Me To The King”

OPENING REMARKS

Reverend Theodore W. Peters, Officiating Pastor, Greater Liberty B.C.

SCRIPTURE READING

OLD TESTAMENT Reverend Perry Jones, Pastor, Messiah Missionary B.C.

NEW TESTAMENT Dr. Reginald A. Pope, Pastor, Bethel Missionary B.C.

PRAYER

Reverend Charles Harris, Pastor, Village B.C.

MUSICAL SELECTION Trudy Dorsey

RESOLUTIONS

Greater Liberty B.C.

City of Los Angeles

MUSICAL SELECTION Sharon Hambrick

OBITUARY AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Vicki Phillips

MUSICAL SELECTION Elaine Norwood, Sharon Maree, Connie LeBlanc

EXPRESSIONS Hon. Maxine Waters, U.S. Congresswoman, 43rd District

Hon. Mark Ridley Thomas, Supervisor 2nd District, County of Los Angeles Hon. Bernard Parks, Councilmen, 8th District, City of Los Angeles

Hon. Mike Gipson, Councilmen, City of Carson Keweli Umoja, A Band of Men, Ward AME Church

Donald Hambrick, Hambrick Family

MUSICAL TRIBUTE TO THE FAMILY Jerry Peters and Annester Davis

EULOGY

Dr. Clyde W. Oden Pastor, Bryant Temple AME Church

BENEDICTION

RECESSIONAL “Three Little Birds”

Victory Baptist Church * 4802 McKinley Avenue * Los Angeles, California

Dr. W. Edwards Jenkins, Pastor

ORDER OF SERVICE FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2014

Sheldon Hambrick

George Washington

Larry Taplet

Emmett Lymuel, Jr.

Julius Dorsey

Kevin Davis

ACTIVE PALLBEARERS

George Hambrick

Donald Hambrick

Darryl Hambrick

Jeffre Hambrick

Denzel Acker

Ed “E.J.” Windsor

David Simmons

Mark Raymond, Sr.

Michael Sprowl

Stanley Morand

Preston Archie

Marvin Archie

Reverend Theodore Peters

Keller Clark

Clarence Clark

Yudell Jackson

Jerry Peters

Gaylord Raymond

Gregory Randolph

Robert Howard

Darryl Willis

Steven Randolph

Johnny Jackson

Rawn Gipson

HONORARY PALLBEARERS

SPECIAL THANKS

A heartfelt thank you to The Victory Baptist Church, The Greater Liberty Baptist Church , Vicki Phillips, June Hoxie, and Isidra Pearson,

Jessielynn Lowe and all of the friends who prayed for the family during this time of bereavement.

ARRANGEMENTS ENTRUSTED TO

Harrison Ross Mortuary 4601 Crenshaw Boulevard, Los Angeles, California

we will miss you very we will miss you very we will miss you very we will miss you very

much, the best father a much, the best father a much, the best father a much, the best father a

girl could have!girl could have!girl could have!girl could have!

love always,love always,love always,love always,

your daughter, sharonyour daughter, sharonyour daughter, sharonyour daughter, sharon

you are flying withyou are flying withyou are flying withyou are flying with

the angels!the angels!the angels!the angels!

i love you, daddyi love you, daddyi love you, daddyi love you, daddy

your son, jeffreyour son, jeffreyour son, jeffreyour son, jeffre

i wish heaven had a i wish heaven had a i wish heaven had a i wish heaven had a

phone, so i couldphone, so i couldphone, so i couldphone, so i could

hear your voice one hear your voice one hear your voice one hear your voice one

last time.last time.last time.last time.

your grandson, denzelyour grandson, denzelyour grandson, denzelyour grandson, denzel

if everybody if everybody if everybody if everybody

had a brother had a brother had a brother had a brother

like you, oh like you, oh like you, oh like you, oh

what a great what a great what a great what a great

world this world this world this world this

would be.would be.would be.would be.

your brother,your brother,your brother,your brother,

GeorgeGeorgeGeorgeGeorge

you are the

epitome of

strength, courage

and wisdom.

you are my hero.

your brother,

darryl

your nickname

was “Bull”, but

I think of you

as a Lion.

Your Sister,

Kathe

if tears could buildif tears could buildif tears could buildif tears could build

a stairway anda stairway anda stairway anda stairway and

memories a lane,memories a lane,memories a lane,memories a lane,

i’d walk right up to i’d walk right up to i’d walk right up to i’d walk right up to

heaven and bring you heaven and bring you heaven and bring you heaven and bring you

home again !home again !home again !home again !

your granddaughter,your granddaughter,your granddaughter,your granddaughter,

dominiquedominiquedominiquedominique

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Genesis 18:19 “For I know him, that he will command his children and his household

after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment…”

Interment Gonzales, Louisiana

Entrustment of Arrangements Hambrick’s Family Mortuary

225.644.3302