3 Omega Chapter Alerts From 1960s Alpha Rho: Brothers MARION FYE (Fall 1964), ALBERT DUNCAN (Fall 1
The 1960s were particularly fruitful years in producing good Brothers to build upon the rich legacy of Alpha Rho at Morehouse College. Altogether -- there were 19 separate initiation periods that produced the decade with this highest roster of members in the 96-year history of the chapter.
Today, we dive deep into the chapter archives to help tell the distinct stories of three of our beloved Brothers who have now entered the fraternity's Omega Chapter. We speak the names FYE, DUNCAN and DAVIS in their eternal earthly absence.
A native of Dublin, Georgia and the and son of the late Rev. Marion F. Fye, Sr. (Morehouse '27), Brother Fye is proudly recognized by the Alpha Rho Alumni Association for making the first general membership financial contribution to the innovative campaign to salute the 90th anniversary of the chapter's founding. The campaign resulted in the establishment of the first and only Alpha Rho Alumni Endowed Scholarship Fund at Morehouse College, and the installation of the iconic chapter obelisk on the campus green in Atlanta, Georgia.
Caption for image above: Brother Fye (standing, seventh from the right) alongside classmates at their 50th reunion in 2017.
Of historical note, the "Fye" legacy in the roster of Alpha Rho initiates is shared by his brother, Edward Mathis Fye, who followed his elder brother into the fraternity by way of the Heavy 19 (Fall 1967), the second largest intake group of the 1960s.
Caption for image above: Alpha Rho Brothers with homecoming court on the campus of Spelman College in 1966 (Brother Fye is pictured at rear right).
Following Morehouse College and his degree in Business Administration & Accounting (Centennial Class of 1967), Brother Fye earned his Master of Divinity degree from Emory University, and later on in life (2009), began his retirement once completing his career as a senior account with Alliant Health Solutions, Inc. A very accomplished lifelong musician (keys and guitar) and celebrant of everything "Alpha" and "Morehouse," he complimented his retirement years with active membership in his church's missionary activities throughout the metro-Atlanta area.
Caption for image above: Morehouse College graduation day in May 1967 (Brother Fye is pictured center right).
Memorial services will take place on Saturday, February 22, 2020 at St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church, 2870 Headland Drive, East Point, Georgia at 11 am. He will be interned alongside his family in Dublin, Georgia.
Caption for image above: Members of the Soulful 14 -- Fall 1964 initiates of Alpha Rho Chapter at Morehouse College.
Brother Albert Arlington Duncan, Sr. was born on July 18, 1944 in Cleveland, Ohio as the second of three children to Alexander and Addie Ruth Duncan, both of whom preceded him in death. He was baptized and joined Beulah Baptist Church in Longview, Texas at an early age. He attended Womack High School in Longview where he excelled in his schoolwork and in music -- playing the tympani and drums in the school band.
He graduated from Morehouse College in 1966 and served as Vice-President of the Alpha Rho Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Brother Duncan was responsible for the logistics of the mule-drawn carriage used to carry the body of Brother Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in the 1968 funeral procession to the campus of Morehouse College. He can be seen walking alongside the carriage (photo below) wearing an Alpha Phi Alpha blazer along with other chapter brothers.
Caption for image above: Brother Duncan pictured at rear right side of carriage containing the casket of Brother Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on April 9, 1968.
By way of his excellence in political science and public speaking he became the first black young Democrat in Georgia; the first black doorkeeper to the Georgia House of Representatives during Governor Lester Maddox’s administration, and was active with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). He later attended Columbia University and received a Masters' Degree from the School of Business.
Caption for image above: Brother Duncan at right with pledgees from the Heavy 19 in Fall 1967.
Throughout his adult life, Brother Duncan demonstrated great biblical knowledge and took great pride in leading Sunday school classes. While in New York he joined Canaan Baptist Church and answered the call to the ministry, was ordained by Dr. Wyatt Tee Walker, and ultimately was appointed Associate Pastor. He later joined Zion Hill Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia, and Riverview Christian Church in Memphis, Tennessee.
Rev. Albert Duncan is survived by his wife Charlotte, his two children, Albert A. Duncan, Jr. and Marjorie Duncan Childs (George); his siblings, Marjorie Jane Duncan, and Harold Duncan; one uncle, Bob Duncan (Cecilia) of Chicago, Illinois; one sister-in-law, Joyce Terry (Andrew), one brother-in-law, Alton Hendricks (Patricia); four grandchildren, Emma Duncan, George, Basil, and Thyme Childs; 3 step-children, 12 foster children, and a host of cousins, nephews
and nieces.
The Atlanta Memorial Service for Albert Duncan has been scheduled for Saturday March 28, 2020, from 11 am to 1 pm at Zion Hill Baptist Church 6175 Campbellton Road, Atlanta, Georgia.
Caption for image above: Members of the Fabulous 15 -- Fall 1963 initiates of Alpha Rho Chapter at Morehouse College.
Brother Arthur 'Art' C. Davis III died February 1, 2017. Funeral services for Mr. Davis were held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, February 16, 2017 at Wells Memorial Church of God in Christ, 1001 East Washington Street with burial following at Rock Fish Cemetery, Fayetteville, NC.
Mr. Davis was a 1965 graduate of Morehouse College and the University of Pittsburgh; after graduation, he was employed by the City of Greensboro and North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. He is survived by his son, Paris. Memorial contributions can made in his honor to Wells Memorial COGIC, 1001 East Washington Street, Greensboro, NC 27401.
Caption for image above: Members of the Magnificent 16 -- Fall 1962 initiates of Alpha Rho Chapter at Morehouse College.
