TO THE CHAPTER INVISIBLE
great-grandchildren.
Street Christian Church in Lexington, KY. Richard took great pride in being an outstanding bass singer in the Men in Christ Community Choir of Kentucky. Brother Gentry was a member of the Lexington, (KY) Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi. where he continued to perform community service and philanthropy in central Kentucky. Richard was commissioned as a Kentucky Colonel. Kentucky Colonel is the highest title of honor bestowed by the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Commissions for Kentucky colonels are given by the governor and the secretary of state to individuals in recognition of noteworthy achievements, contributions to Kentucky society, remarkable deeds, and outstanding service to a community, state, or the nation. He leaves behind his wife of 25 years, Diana Murray Gentry, son Melvin (Joe) Gentry, daughter Richelle Gentry Flemons, grandchildren Maya and Kamon, and host of other family members and friends.
After graduation, Harper taught junior high school briefly, prior to joining the United States Army. After his initial basic training at Fort Benning, GA, he received his advanced individualized training at Fort Bragg, N.C. After his honorable discharge from the Army, he returned to education where he had a tenure at Myrtle Wood Elementary School. While teaching, he also his master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Livingston University. He served as principal of Marengo High School from 1980-1993. One of his most cherished accomplishments was the outstanding improvement in state Achievement Test scores achieved by the elementary department in the early 1990s. This achievement brought about statewide recognition and inquiries into the methods used to achieve this. He was proud to be part of an outstanding team of dedicated educators. He met and married the love of his life, Loretta Hosea in 1952. They were married 63 years and had four children. He then continued his spiritual journey at Shady Union Baptist Church in Surginer, where he was a Deacon and Sunday School Superintendent for many years. His favorite hobby was anything related to his cows and their well-being. If he was not at work, he was in the pasture just watching or feeding the cows. He was indeed a cow whisperer. When not at school in the summer, he was often cutting and bailing hay in one of three pastures. Brother Dock Harper Jr. is survived by his four children, Deborah Antoinette, Brenda Sherrye, Anthony Durelle, and Michael Darnell; one brother; Harrell (Josephine); three sisters, Helen Sharpe, Jessica Gambrell, and Josephine Hintzen (Hubert); 13 grandchildren; eight great- grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, and friends.
Richard Lee Gentry 1947–2020 U.S. Department of State Diplomat and Public Administrator
Richard Lee Gentry was born on May 9, 1947. He was the son of the late Australia and Mary Gentry. He passed to the Chapter Invisible on Monday June 23, 2020.
Richard attended Tennessee State University on a music scholarship where he played the drums in the Aristocrats Band. On April 7, 1966, he was initiated into the Alpha Theta Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi. He graduated with a BS degree in Political Science. Richard then attended the University of Kentucky School of Law where he earned his Law Degree (Juris Doctor) in 1971. While he was at the University of Kentucky, Richard along with some other Brothers organized the Kappa Tau Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. With plans to put his fluency in the French language to use, he joined the United States Department of State Diplomatic Corps as a Foreign Service Officer assigned to the United States Consulate General in Toronto, Ontario. Richard continued his work with the United States Department of State until his return to Lexington, Kentucky in 1981. He was employed by the Commonwealth of Kentucky where he held the position as an Unemployment Insurance Appeals Referee Disputed Claims Investigator. Due to Richards efforts, he greatly assisted in the adjudication of numerous unemployment claims initiated by multiple employers across the Commonwealth. He was respected by others as he was active in many organizations such as the NAACP, B.U.I.L.D, and various other community support activities. As a dedicated Elder, he strongly supported his church family at the East Second
Dock Harper, Jr. 1929–2020 Educator, U.S. Army
Dock Harper Jr. entered the Chapter Invisible on January 23, 2020 at the age of 90. He was born Nov. 30, 1929 and was the third child born to
Dock Harper Sr. and Onie White Harper. Harper graduated from Thomasville (AL) Normal and Industrial High School in 1946. He attended Alabama A & M University located in Huntsville, AL from 1946-195 where he earned with a B.S. degree in the Division of Mechanics Arts. He was initiated into the fraternity as a charter line member of the Alabama A&M University Chapter, the Gamma Phi of Kappa Alpha Psi®.
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