Raymond McAllister, Sr.

The Celebration of Life Service for Mr. McAllister, Sr., will be live streamed on the Facebook Page of Fisher Memorial Funeral Parlor.

FACE MASKS ARE REQUIRED!!!

The Beginning

MR. RAYMOND MCALLISTER SR., 93, affectionately known in the community as “Mack” was a longtime resident of Durham. He was the fifth child born to the late Ben S. and Flonnie Morrison McAllister on March 12, 1930 in Durham, North Carolina. He entered into eternal rest on Wednesday, May 24, 2023 at home. Raymond was preceded in death by his wife of 56 years, Mrs. Pearl Jenkins McAllister, in 2015, and his sister, Mrs. Dorothy McAllister Mewborn, in 2013.

Educational Path

In 1946 at age 16, he graduated from Hillside High School and was accepted to West Virginia State University with a four-year scholarship in the fall. He joined the Scroller Club and on December 17, 1947 at age 17, became a member of Tau Chapter, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. Also, during this time, he entered the ROTC Program. Lifelong friend and fraternity brother, Major General Harvey D. Williams, was his college roommate for the 4 years he was at State. Raymond graduated from West Virginia State in 1950 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Arts and a minor in secondary education. He later earned a Master of Arts degree in secondary education from North Carolina Central University.

His Career and Service Path

After graduating from West Virginia State University, Raymond was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Army. President Harry Truman signed documents for him to accept his commission at the age of 20. He served four years in the 98th Field Artillery

All-American Battalion (where he became the youngest Master Paratrooper at Fort Bragg, NC); the 598th Field Artillery Battalion at Camp Polk, LA and the 780th Field Artillery Battalion in Korea of the Far East Command. After military service, he worked for the United States VA and the United States Postal Service. His journey with the Federal government logged 36 years, 10 months, and 7 days. On October 4, 2019, on the campus of West Virginia State University, he was inducted into the ROTC Hall of Fame.

Service to Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. and The Community

As intentionally as he served his country, he did no less for Kappa Alpha Psi. It was at West Virginia State University that he was introduced to the Crimson and Créme. A young upstart freshman, at the age of 16, he had not yet accumulated a grade point average, so he enjoyed the wiles of the Scrollers Club for a year. Then at the age of 17, on December 17, 1947, he officially became a member of the Tau Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. He has been a stalwart Kappa Man ever since, serving the fraternity with distinction. He served as a mentor for three undergraduate Kappa Chapters in Durham. Offices he was elected to in the Durham Alumni Chapter have been: Lt. Strategus (1959 – 1963), Strategus (1964 – 1971), Keeper of the Exchequer (1971 – 1983), and Assistant Keeper of Records (1998 – 2003). Committees where he served as Chairman were: Registration Committee for the 47th Middle Eastern Provincial Council (April 21 – 24, 1988), The Christmas Party (1990 – 1995), and The Auditing Committee (1997 – 2003).He became a Life Member December 3, 1979 and was selected Kappa Man of the Year in January 2003.

Raymond later served as the Hillside High School Class of 1946 Class President from 1971-1991.

He was also a member of the Doric Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons since 1958, Consistory #218 and Zafa Temple #176 Shriners since 1999.

His Spiritual Path

On the advice of his late mother and at the age of seven Raymond was baptized, and officially became a member of White Rock Baptist Church, September 12, 1937. He has been a faithful member of White Rock Baptist Church for 85+ years. Ministries he joined and served in at White Rock Baptist Church are: Assistant Treasurer for the Church, Board of the Child Development Center (CDC), Secretary of the Trustee Board, Treasurer of the Senior Choir, Secretary of the Male Chorus from 1997-2007, President of the Moore-Kennedy Bible Class from 1973-1983 and Secretary from 1984-1999, and Chairperson of the Friends Committee from 2003-2007. One of his proudest honors was to serve on the Search Committee that voted current pastor, Dr. Reginald Van Stephens to become the 15th Pastor of White Rock Baptist Church. His personal favorite sermon was “The Command to be Courageous”.

His Family and Legacy Memory

In 1959, Raymond was married in the old White Rock Baptist Church building by the late Dr. Miles Mark Fisher on October 3. Raymond McAllister Sr. Leaves to cherish his memory children and caregivers Raymond McAllister Jr. and Glenda McAllister Ochman; son-in-law, Tadeus Ochman; two granddaughters, Gabriella and Daniella Ochman; sister-in-law, Dora Alice Jenkins Green; nephews, Paul Burroughs (Marian) of Trenton, NJ, and Michael Green of Durham; niece, Andrea Green of Durham; great-nephews, Justin and Paul Burroughs Jr. (Karen) of Trenton, NJ, Julius Price III (Shauna), Andrew Linton Price, and Malachi Price, all of Durham; and a host of other relatives and friends.

GOD is GOOD all the Time…

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