TO THE CHAPTER INVISIBLE
The Honorable James A. Floyd, Sr. 1922–2018 Former Princeton, NJ Mayor In 1968, James A. “Jim” Floyd, Sr.
Amos F. Gordon, Sr. He earned a music scholarship to Alabama State Univer- sity (ASU) located in Montgomery, AL and where he received a bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Music Education. Crawford became a fraternity member as a 1971 initiate of the Alabama State University Chapter, the Beta Zeta of Kappa Alpha Psi ® . He later joined the U.S. Army and performed with the 291 st and 283 rd Army Band in Fort Bennett, GA. After his honorable discharge, Crawford returned to his hometown and worked as a music teacher in the Birmingham School Dis- trict. In 1976, he returned to his high school alma mater as assistant band di- rector and became the school’s band di- rector the next year until his retirement in 2011. After his retirement, Crawford served as band director for Miles Col- lege. He, and his sons, owned the C & S Charter & Tours Bus Company. Crawford published a book is entitled The Wheels of the Birmingham Civil Rights Movement. This book chronicles the life of his father, Worcy Crawford, who was the first known Black bus owner in Alabama, and the role he and his company played in the Birmingham Civil Rights Movement. In 2012, his high school alma mater named its school auditorium, the Gor- don-Crawford Auditorium, after Craw- ford and his predecessor and mentor, Amos F. Gordon. ASU named Crawford to its Music Hall of Fame. Brother Crawford Sr. is preceded in death by his parents Worcy and Chris- tine Crawford, brothers, Theopolis Crawford, Worcy Crawford, Jr., Alphon- so Crawford and Lawrence Crawford. He survived by his wife of 41 years, Mattie Wilkins Crawford; sons, Donald, Jr. (Beta Zeta 1999) and Christopher (Beta Zeta 2008) of Birmingham; one daughter, Dr. Tamera (Bryan Keith, Sr.) Preer of Huntsville, two grandchildren Berkley and Bryan Keith Jr., and a host of relatives, friends, colleagues and former students.
Life: From Rage to Entitlement, was pub- lished in 2005 by Atria Books. Dr. Cobbs was a member of the Nation- al Medical Association and a Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Associa- tion. He was a member of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences and a Fellow of The World Academy of Art and Science, as well as a founder of the African American Leadership Institute at the Anderson School of Business at the University of California at Los Angeles. He was a Charter Member of the Urban League, a Life Member of the NAACP, on the Advisory Board of The Black Scholar and a former member of the Board of Directors of Shared Interest. Dr. Cobbs is survived by his wife of thir- ty-three years, Frederica Maxwell Cobbs of San Francisco; his children Renata Cobbs-Fletcher of Philadelphia and Price Priester Cobbs of San Francisco (whose mother was the late Evadne Priester Cobbs); and his grandchildren Kendall, Kristopher, and David. —Terence Clarke Donald M. Crawford, Sr. 1948–2018 Birmingham, AL Musician, Author Donald M. “D.C.” Crawford Sr., renowned musician, author, educator entered the Chapter Invisible on Sunday, June 10, 2018 at the age of 70. Brother Crawford, was born on May 24, 1948 to Worcy and Christine Crawford. He was raised in the Birmingham, AL community of Ensley and attended Council Elementary. He was a 1966 graduate of Western-Olin High School, which was now known as P.D. Jackson- Olin. As a high school student, Crawford was an outstanding drum major and played first chair alto saxophone under the late and longtime band director at Birmingham, AL’s P.D. Jackson Olin High School
became the first African American elected to a political office in Princeton, NJ. In 1971, Floyd was named mayor of Princeton
and served one term. He earned a reputation in his community as a man who worked tirelessly to fight for civil rights and fair housing. Known as a blunt outspoken community activist, longtime Princeton Township community leader Brother James A. Floyd, Sr. entered the Chapter Invisible on May 14, 2018 at the age of 96. Born on March 9, 1922, Floyd was the eldest son of John and Adeline Floyd. He grew up in east Trenton, NJ and attended public schools in the township. After graduating in 1939 from Trenton Central High School, he left his native New Jersey for West Virginia State Col- lege (now University) located in Insti- tute, WV. He was president of his class and played on the school’s basketball team. He joined the fraternity as a 1942 initiate of the West Virginia State Col- lege Chapter, the Tau of Kappa Alpha Psi ® where he served as Polemarch. He earned his bachelor’s degree in political science in 1944 and graduated magna cum laude. After graduating from college, Brother Floyd returned to his hometown and worked for Stokes Molded Products. He worked for many years at Electric Storage Battery Co. and later worked for Educational Testing Service as vice pres- ident of personnel. Floyd entered the political arena in 1968 with his attempt to make history by becoming the first Black candidate ever elected to the gov- erning body of the township. He won the election and under the township's form of government he was chosen by the governing body to serve as mayor in 1971. He was narrowly re-elected to the Township Committee in 1971 by fewer
Publishing achievement for more than 100 years
THE JOURNAL SUMMER ISSUE | 67
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