Riley Preston Brother RILEY PRESTON, JR., 39, entered Omega Chapter on December 25, 1988 at his home in Ocala, Florida. Brother Preston was a member of Epsilon Pi Lambda Chapter in Ocala, Florida. His career was marked by service and leadership of the highest caliber in Education and Religion. Brother Preston received his primary and secondary education in Ocala, Florida. He earned his B.S. in Music at Florida A & M University in 1971. Brother Preston did further studies at Stetson University. Survivors: his loving Mother Annie Bell Preston: His Children: Stephanie, Riley III, Dionne, and Carl Preston; Four Sisters: Frenchie Hampton, Lydia Darnes, Claudette, and Paula Preston; Five Brothers Sheddrick, Walter, Claude, Marese, and Paul Preston. Omega Services were held at Cunninghams' Funeral Home on Friday, December 30, 1988 and the Obsequies were held at the Mt. Moriah Baptist Church, where Brother Rev. Dr. Lorenzo S. Edwards officiated.
Rev. Dr. Alfred Smith Brother REV. DR. ALFRED SMITH, Sr., owner and founder of Smith Funeral Home, Inc. of Whiteville and Wilmington, died Thursday, Dec. 29. The Rev. Smith was a New Hanover County native, a son of the late Rev. J. C. and Mrs. Violet Hansley Smith. He was the husband of Mrs. Margaret Shaw Smith, to whom he was wed Dec. 25, 1952, who survives. He was ordained into the ministry on October 9, 1943 and had been a Baptist minister for over 45 years. He has served pastorages at First Baptist Church, Smithfield; Green Chapel, Bolton; Kitchen Branch, Council; Mt. Calvary, Goldsboro; and Bright Hopewell at Laurinburg. He had also held such positions and experiences as serving as a member of the Home Mission Board of the National Baptist Convention; instructor in the Pee Dee Association; Second ViceModerator of the Ordaining and Executive Boards of the North Carolina Baptist Convention; and Statistician of the N.C. Baptist Convention. The Rev. Smith was a Mason and an Elk. He was a licensed funeral director and embalmer and was a businessman in both Whiteville and Wilmington. A graduate of Williston Industrial High School of Wilmington, he was a graduate of Gupton Jones School of Embalming, Nashville, Tenn. He received a B.A. degree from Shaw University in Raleigh in 1948; the Doctor of Divinity Degree from Shaw in 1976. Final rites were held Saturday, Dec. 31, at First St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church, Whiteville, at 2 p.m. by the Revs. Morris F. Mitchell and Dr. E.B. Turner, with burial in Camp Ground Cemetery, Whiteville. Survivors include his wife, Mrs. Margaret Shaw Smith; sons, Alfred R. Smith, Jr. of Whiteville, Garvin Stevens of Wilmington and Harold Stevens of Washington, D.C.; foster daughter, Mrs. Barbara Walker Tillery of Morehead City; brother, Thomas Simmons of Jamaica, N.Y.; sister, Mrs. Rachel Simmons of Wilmington, and a number of nieces and nephews. Members of Ever Ready Lodge No. 765, AF&AM served as active pallbearers, with fellow ministers serving as honorary pallbearers.
T h e Sphinx/Winter 1989
William Thomas Syphax "The Lord is my shepherd, . . . even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for thou art with me; . . . " — Psalm 23:1,4 Brother WILLIAM THOMAS SYPHAX, Ph.D., the first son of William Shalter and Jessie Thomas Syphax, was born July 31, 1920 in Arlington, Virginia. On March 3, 1989, the Lord called him home to receive his heavenly reward. In 1928, the family moved to Ithaca, New York and became active in Calvary Baptist Church where, at an early age, Mr. Syhphax accepted Christ as his personal savior. He sang in the choir, taught Sunday School and participated on many programs of the Junior Church. After completing his public school education in Ithaca, Brother Syphax attended Virginia State College and received his B.S. in Mathematics in 1942. His education was interrupted for four years during World War II while he served with the U.S. Air Force as Group Electronics Officer, 447th Bombardment Group. He was honorably discharged with the rank of First Lieutenant. In 1964 he earned his Master's Degree in Engineering Administration and received his Ph.D. in Behavioral Philosophy from Pacific Western University. While in the military, Brother Syphax met Margarite Reed of Pittsburgh, PA who was working with the U.S.O. They were married November 24, 1945, and chose Arlington as their permanent residence. From 1943 to 1964, he worked for the Department of Defense and his exit position was Chief of Advanced Memory Devices, Research and Development Branch, GS 15. While still in the government service, Brother Syphax established his construction company, building single family homes and apartments for Blacks in the area. He later added development and management departments to round out his real estate business. Upon his return to Arlington, Mr. Syphax renewed his ties with Mt. Olive Baptist Church and served as Director of the Senior Choir for twenty-five years. He was one of the builders of Fellowship Hall and served on the current Building Committee. Prior to each Sunday service, Brother Syphax played the organ and sometimes sang to set the mood for worship until ill health prevented his attendance at his beloved Mt. Olive. He has one son, William Jeffrey Syphax, one daughter, Carolyn Syphax Young, and three grandchildren, Delino Syphax, Mark and Nicole Young. Mr. Syphax was always interested in the development of young people and opened his home to over 100 children, encouraging them to pursue an education, become affiliated with the church and helping them financially. Some of those he foster fathered were Audrey F. Jefferson, Capt. Charles Thompkins, USN, Harold D. Young, George M. Clay, Rev. Michael C. Murray and Sheldon Baker. Some of his civic responsibilities included Chairman, Arlington County Building Code Board of Appeals; Arlington County Drug Abuse Commission; Board of Directors, Arlington Red Cross; Virginia State Highway Commissioner; Rector, Board of Visitors, Virginia State College. In addition, he held membership in a number of professional organizations: Associated Builders & Con-
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