James Rufus Junior “JJ” passed away peacefully on May 27th, 2018 at Valley Medical Center surrounded by his children after a 25 year long battle with cancer.
James was born to Mack Henry Junior and Annie Pearl Williams on March 7, 1942 in Braggs, Alabama. He was raised in Inkster, Michigan and graduated from Inkster High School where he won many awards for his talents in choir, football, basketball, and track. He later served in the United States Air Force.
James moved to Seattle where he worked as a crane operator for the Boeing Company for 35 years.
James had a huge heart and a beautiful smile. He was well-known in the community for his love of basketball. He continued to play and coach basketball all the way up until recent years. His favorite pastime if he was not on the court was watching the horse races.
He leaves behind to cherish his memory his four children: Mack Junior, Tasha Junior-Dawkins (Sean), James Junior (Janelle), and Briana Junior Maddock (Lonzell). Grandchildren: Taseandra Dawkins, Destin Dawkins, Estelle Junior, Emmelise Junior, Leland Maddock, Ezra Junior, and Bailee Maddock.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Monday, June 25, 2018 from 12pm-3pm at the Renton Community Center 1715 Maple Valley Hwy, Renton, WA 98057. 425-430-6700
David Fredrick Mann, the youngest of ten children, was born in Dalton, Georgia, on February 16, 1933 to the union of King Solomon and Mary Mann located at 603 Spring Street. After attending first through eighth grades at Emery Street School in Dalton, David moved to Detroit, Michigan, to live with his brother, John “Snook” Mann. He finished his high school education at Miller High School in Detroit and soon after attended Wayne State University. In 1953, David had the privilege of being the first Sepia athlete to sign a professional baseball contract out of the State of Michigan. Adding to this historic fact, two black Daltonians, he and Harry “Suitcase” Simpson, were the first and only athletes to play pro baseball from Dalton,Georgia. David played professional baseball for 13 years with the St. Louis Browns, Brooklyn Dodgers, Boston Red Sox, and Cleveland Indians organizations. David holds the distinction of playing with and being the roommate of Satchel Paige, when they played for the Miami Marlins in 1960.
Another prominent memory for Dave happened in 1963 when he became the first black baseball player to play for the then Atlanta Crackers of the International League. In 1962, the year of the World’s Fair in Seattle, David moved out west to play baseball. He, along with Hall-of-Famer Carl Yastrimski and Earl Wilson, came from the Minneapolis Millers, a Triple A Club of the Boston Red Sox organization, to play for the Seattle Rainiers. David played with the Rainiers for three years before retiring in 1965. David fell in love with the Pacific Northwest and made Seattle his home. After retiring from baseball, Dave worked for Nordstrom. He was the first African American male model to be featured in the Nordstrom catalogs. His recognition and achievements in the black community were important, but David was even more passionate about the growth of mankind. He was an ambassador for equal rights and the struggle that brought all of us together.
In the early 70’s, David found an outlet to speak his truths from a black athlete’s point of view. He became the sports editor for The Facts Newspaper, a weekly publication with a focus on the black community in the Pacific Northwest. He wrote Mann’s Bits & Pieces, a newspaper column that was published weekly for over 40 years. David was also a photographer (Mann’s Photography) capturing the memories and moments of a lifetime. David was a man of habit. Healthy living was his obsession. He worked out relentlessly. After baseball, Dave played tennis, skied, and lifted weights. A true man’s Mann, David had three heart attacks on the racquetball court. But his love was golfing. For David, it was more than chasing rabbits and squirrels….it was about the individuals and people he met .
Fir State “David Mann Celebration of Life”
Sunrise: January 2, 1937 Sunset: May 6, 2018
In 1966 McKinney founded and served as president and CEO of the Seattle Opportunity Industrialization Center. He later led the construction of Samuel Berry McKinney Manor to house elderly and working poor people which was completed in 1998.
(Cat, Margie, Mommo)
Andrea was born in Seattle, WA on September 16, 1951. She graduated from Rainier Beach High School. 
Honoring The Past, Present and Future Washington State Funeral Service Professionals of African Heritage.
L’Ray Scott married Kitty Dorman in 1976 and later that year the couple had their first child together. Mr. and Mrs. Scott had five children: Corey Scott, Coretta Scott, Corwin Scott, Cortny Scott, and Corenna Khieu. He was a devoted father, husband, and grandfather. Family meant the world to him.
The Founder, Thomas Whibby and his wife, Frieda C. Whibby, were among the original study group who foresaw the need for continuing the relationships thus established Epsilon Nu Delta to accomplish a goal with a broader scope embracing the whole profession.