Funeral Services Held for James Singletary, Jr.

James Singletary, Jr.

Funeral Services for James Singletary, Jr. were held Tuesday, December 30, 2023 at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, 226 Cedar St., Buffalo. The Wake was held at 12 noon, followed by the Funeral at 1:00 p.m. James Singletary, Jr., was born on January 24, 1947, in Buffalo, New York to the late James, Sr. and Dora Ruth (Goodman) Singletary.

As a child, he accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior and was baptized when he attended Bethel Tabernacle COGIC. As an adult, Mr. Singletary became a member of the Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. James F. Banks and later Rev. Joe L. Fisher. Mr. Singletary served on the Senior Usher Board and became a part of the Deacon in-training program.

Mr. Singletary graduated from East High School in Buffalo, NY and then enlisted in the United States Navy. He served as a Radioman. Mr. Singletary highly valued this service and attained the rank of E3. As part of this service, Mr. Singletary earned the National Defense Service Medal. After Mr. Singletary completed his military service, he worked as a Sheet Metal Fabricator for Local 71, served as a Customer Engineer for IBM Corporation, and then transported students, as a Bus Driver, for the Buffalo Public School District. Next, Mr. Singletary became a drafting teacher at Seneca Vocational High School. Mr. Singletary earned a Bachelor’s degree from Buffalo State College and a Master’s degree from Canisius College.

Mr. Singletary was the first African-American male to serve as Assistant Principal at Seneca. Later, he served as a Secondary Assistant Principal at Hutchinson Central Technical High School. Subsequently, Mr. Singletary was promoted to serve as Director of Non-Instructional Personnel/Affirmative Action and served in that position for several years. He was credited for hiring hundreds of people for Civil Service positions. Mr. Singletary worked with six of nine unions governing district employees. After leaving the Personnel position, he returned to and concluded his career at Hutch Tech as an Assistant Principal. He occasionally served as a Substitute Administrator after retirement. He received the Community Service Award in Education from the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. Theta Sigma Chapter.

Mr. Singletary was presented with a Certificate of Recognition from the Buffalo Board of Education for assisting with the implementation of the secondary school e-SIS start up during his administrative tenure. Mr. Singletary was initiated into the State University of New York/Buffalo Chapter of Phi Delta Kappa.

Mr. Singletary found joy in his family. His activities included bowling, teaching loved ones how to bowl, playing and watching tennis, roller skating, and watching the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) on television. He was also a mentor to former students and was always willing to offer sound advice and wisdom to those who needed help based on his life experiences. While a sailor, Mr. Singletary married Margaret Coston and to that union two children were born: Donnell and Donnette. Later, he married Carolyn Price and 4 sons: Arien, Craig, Brandon, and Evan were born in this union.

Mr. Singletary is preceded in death by his parents, James Sr., and Dora Ruth Goodman Singletary. He leaves to honor his life and cherish his memory, his loving wife, Carolyn, and six children Donnell (Sonya), Donette, Arien, Craig (Angela), Brandon (Sharlene), and Evan (Lisa); ten grandchildren Toni, Krysten, Jaylin, Donisha, Doniqua, Andrea, Justin, Ashley, and Evan II; five great-grandchildren: Micheal, Noah, Lilyana, Neyava, Na’zhia; 1 brother Richard; 2 nephews Stephen C. Price, Doctor of Music, Michael Singletary, 2 aunts, Mrs. Ella Louise Singletary, Mrs. Sylvia McGill (Washington, D.C.), 1 uncle, Mr. Warren Singletary (Washington, D.C.), and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, in-laws, church family, colleagues, former students, and friends.

A few comments made by former students:

“Thank you for listening to me.”

“Thank you for taking time with me.”

“I will miss you when I graduate.”

“Please keep in touch.”

“You were like a father to me.”

Favorite Scriptures:

Psalm 91 and Proverbs 3:5 and 6.

The Thomas T. Edwards Funeral Home, 995 Genesee St., Buffalo, was in charge of arrangements.