Obituary of Raymond D. Harrison

                                                            A Celebration of Life – His Journey

Raymond Devon Harrison began his life’s journey January 1, 1933 in Wilson, North Carolina, the third child of five born to Frank and Mamie Harrison. Raymond was dearly loved by his family and friends. He loved to have a good time and was always the life of the party.

Raymond attended elementary and high school in Wilson. As a student at Charles H. Darden High School, he was very popular and a star on both the football and basketball teams. Blessed with an inquisitive nature, a good mind, and athletic ability, he received a sports scholarship to Winston Salem College and was later drafted into the United States Army. After two years in the army, he received an Honorable discharge and headed to Tennessee State College (University) to study Accounting.

Raymond met many of his lifelong friends at Tennessee State and pledged Omega Psi Phi fraternity. He was truly an OMEGA man, as he lived by its motto “Friendship is Essential to the Soul”. He was proud to show the Omega brand on his arm. After graduating from Tennessee State with a bachelor’s degree in accounting, he headed to the Big Apple. In New York,

Raymond kept in touch and hung out with friends from Tennessee State (Fielder, AL,  Dolores, etc.). They were a tightknit group and enjoyed each other. He was lucky to get hired by the New York Stock Exchange and worked there for several years. By this time, he moved his parents to New York to join the rest of the family. During the 1960s (the height of the Civil Rights Movement) when there was a proliferation of Black businesses, a group of Black guys became well known. In 1967, it was reported that Jason Benning coined the modern term “dashiki” and began to mass produce the dashiki -style shirt along with Milton Clarke, Howard Davis and William Smith under their brand New Breed Clothing Ltd. based out of Harlem New York. Raymond joined these guys to help build this company. Their specialty included a variety of garments and complete wardrobes made with African print fabric. They made complete wardrobes, including tailor made suits for many of the New York Knicks basketball players and for many entertainers. They were very successful but began to have problems like so many other Black businesses during that time, eventually having to close their factory in Brooklyn and store in Harlem.

Raymond then went to work for The Council of Elders in Boston as their Chief Financial Officer (CFO). He enjoyed this job, especially having his nieces visit Boston and his weekend excursions down to Cape Cod. Eventually he returned to New York and worked in the furniture manufacturing business with a friend from New Breed. He ventured into other businesses over the years and eventually did some writing.  Most recently he worked for ten years as a substitute teacher in the Yonkers Public School system where he was able to touch the lives of many students and make a positive impact.  During his most productive employment years, Raymond read three (3) newspapers daily (The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and The New York Post).

Raymond’s journey ended when he transitioned from this earthly life and ascended to his heavenly home on Sunday, December 6, 2020. He is preceded in death by his son Derrick, his parents Frank, Sr. and Mamie and an older brother Frank, Jr. Yet, holding fast to cherish memories of blessings and laughter, joys and celebrations, and the treasure of fond yesterdays shared and spent together, he leaves two sisters Johnnie Mildred and Mary Louise, both of Yonkers NY and one brother James Louis (Martha) in Houston Texas. Also left to cherish his memories are two nieces Vernetta Renee (Bronx NY) and Evelyn Melinda (West New York, NJ); one nephew Ronald Virgil (Ft. Lauderdale FL); one grandniece, Queena Shireen (Bronx NY) and a grandnephew William (Papa)Yonkers NY; two great-nieces Princess Skye and Arianna and one great-nephew Bryce.

Raymond will be missed by many, but the impact he leaves will forever be with us. It’s all about the Journey.