TO THE CHAPTER INVISIBLE
Henry A. Hammell, Sr. 1930-2020 Family Man, U.S. Army
a minute later. In 1985, Hammell joined First African Methodist Episcopal Church of Pasadena, CA. He loved his church and for several years served as Pro Tem on the Steward Board. He was also a member of the Usher Board, Seeds of Faith Ministry, and active in the MOFAME Ministry until his health started to decline. Brother Henry A. Hammell, Sr. was preceded in death by his parents, brother Major D. Jr. and son Henry A. Hammell Jr. He is survived by daughter Andrea Hammell, son Richard (Paulette) Hammell, and daughter-in-law Verneva Hammell (Henry Jr.); grandchildren, Sheriah and Dejuan Hammell, Satoya and Kandi Burge; Richard Hammell; Brittany Hammell and Chauncey Hammell; great-grandchildren, Devyn and Khalil Hammell, and Henry Hammell-Jordan; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, step-children, step- grandchildren, and friends. James E. Hatcher, Jr. 1940–2020 Retired San Diego Police Detective, County Official, U.S. Army
Sr., his mother, Mardell, and his younger brother, the late Robert L. Hatcher (San Diego (CA) Alumni 1979). Hatcher attended San Diego elementary, middle, and high schools and was a bright student and football star in high school. He joined the National Guard, attended Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) Academy, and served in the United States Army in Fontenay, France as an instructor in chemical warfare. He had his young family with him in France, consisting of his then-wife Lenora. Upon returning to his native San Diego, Hatcher joined the San Diego Police Department (SDPD), where his career included such assignments as Community Service Officer and Detective. Hatcher left SDPD to work within San Diego County government, first working in the ranks of Social Services, but eventually moving up to the Chief Administration Offices (CAO). He served at the pleasure of three different CAOs. His position upon retirement was Chief of Staff of the Chief Administration Office. When Hatcher retired from the County of San Diego, he continued his work, emphasizing his concern and care for others by quickly beginning work as a vice president at Neighborhood House Association. During his important career progressions for over 40 years, Hatcher was married to his loving wife LeDean and surrounded by the love of "all his children," as he collectively called them, from the firstborn to the last. He loved, cherished, motivated, and inspired: Tairra, Byron, Marvita, Denae, Neiman, D'Juan, Caleb, Alexander, Rory, and Niarah. "Papoo," as he was lovingly called, will be respected, loved, and adored by every one of them for all their lifetimes. Silhouette "LeDean stated, "we all have many, many stories to tell" about James. We cannot end any saga about Brother James Hatcher without mentioning his beloved Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity
Henry A. Hammell, Sr. (Pi 1951) entered the Chapter Invisible on May 17, 2020. Henry Andrews Hammell was born on August 18, 1930, in Evanston, IL, the second son of Major
D. Hammell and Emery Fay Andrews. He graduated from Evanston Township High School in 1948. He graduated from historic Morehouse College in 1952 with a B.S. degree in mathematics and double majors in chemistry and sociology. In 1960, he earned an M.S. in mathematics from DePaul University in Chicago, IL. After graduating from Morehouse, U.S. Army drafted Hammell in 1953 and served for two years earning the National Service Defense Medal. Hammell worked at Clayton Marks & Company as a Laboratory Assistant until 1953. He also taught Mathematics in the Chicago Public School District until 1962, when he joined Sears Roebuck & Co. Hammell was one of the first African American managers at the downtown Evanston location and was Division Manager until it closed. He then transferred to the Northbrook location and continued working in the Home Improvement department in Illinois and then transferred to California in 1985; he later retired in 1992. After retiring, Hammell volunteered and taught reading and math at Altadena Elementary until the fall of 1998. He loved sports, particularly football, basketball, and boxing, which he played at the YMCA, High School, and College. Hammell was also an avid swimmer and walker. Henry swam at the YMCA and walked around the Rose Bowl four days a week, until three years ago when his health started to fail. He constantly challenged himself to complete his walk within the specific time he set…and not
James E. Hatcher Jr. (San Diego (CA) 1982) joined the Chapter Invisible on February 28, 2021, at age 84. He was a past polemarch of the San Diego (CA) Alumni Chapter and
served on the Western Province Board of Directors for several years. Hatcher was frequently honored as the master of ceremony at the annual San Diego (CA) Alumni Black and White Balls, where he would entertain guests with his great sense of humor and jokes. Nicknamed "Poochie," James Edward Hatcher, Jr. was born in San Diego, CA, at the old U.S. Navy Hospital on November 23, 1936. He was raised in a Navy family of mothers, siblings, and cousins. His childhood nuclear family consisted of his father, James Hatcher
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