October 19, 2006

OBITUARIES

Albert Harold Rau

Albert Harold Rau of Logan, Ohio, died Saturday, Oct. 14. He was 86.

Albert, affectionately known as Albie to his peers, was a painter, a potter and a singer/songwriter. A native of Columbus, he taught art in the Logan public schools for 32 years. He earned his fine arts degree at Ohio State University and his masters at Ohio University in Athens. During his teaching tenure, he worked numerous festivals in Ohio during the summer months, selling pots and singing his songs for customers and passersby. He produced one record album and recorded a number of cassettes of his music. Galleries and shops in the Hocking Hills region often display and carry his unique pottery, and his paintings have hung in various county buildings in Logan.

Albert was loved by many for his unique talents, his sweet but dry humor and his gentle nature. He developed friendships in Yellow Springs during visits to his daughter here.

He is survived by his daughter, Diantha Rau of Yellow Springs; his sons, Michael Rau of Dallas, Texas, and Gary Rau of Logan, Ohio; several grandchildren, nephews, nieces and their children.

Funeral services were held on Wednesday, Oct. 18, in Logan, with burial following. He was laid to rest next to his much beloved mother, Margaret Amelia Rau.

Willie Lawrence McCray

Civil rights organizer Willie Lawrence McCray of Yellow Springs died Wednesday, Oct. 11, in his residence after a brief illness. He was 64.

He was born March 4, 1942, in Columbus, Ga., the son of Willie C. and Gussie (Bussy) McCray.

In 1960, he moved to Atlanta. Drawn into the Albany movement by his cousin, McCray was arrested, and his life changed forever. Soon, he was hired as a staff member of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). Witness to his share of traumatic events, McCray followed the movement through Freedom Summer in 1964 and 1965’s march from Selma to Montgomery, Ala.

McCray was with Willie Ricks and Stokeley Carmichael when they called for “Black Power.” As SNCC moved towards Black Power, McCray ended up in jail for a year in 1966, and as the movement faded, McCray resettled in Yellow Springs. He met fellow activist Hellen O’Neal at SNCC’s New York office and they were soon married.

He was employed as security chief for the National Afro American Museum and Cultural Center in Wilberforce.

Mr. McCray was preceded in death by his parents, three sisters and three brothers.

He is survived by his loving wife of 40 years, Hellen O’Neal McCray; two sons, Malcolm Dubois McCray and Lawrence O’Neal-McCray, both of Yellow Springs; one sister, Rosetta McCray of Memphis, Tenn.; one brother, Jesse McCray of Columbus, Ga; two grandchildren, Lawrence Anthony McCray and Carley Chatman McCray; a host of nieces, nephews and cousins.

Services were held on Monday, Oct. 16, in the National Afro American Museum and Cultural Center with interment following in the Glen Forest Cemetery in Yellow Springs.