MERIDIAN —     Services for Dr. Leroy L. Ramsey will be held Thursday, at 11 a.m., at Mt. Zion Baptist Church with Rev. Timothy Jones officiating. Burial will be in Mississippi Veteran’s Cemetery, Newton, with Berry and Gardner Funeral Home in charge of the arrangements.

    Dr. Ramsey, 90, of Bala Cynwyd, Pa., died Saturday, March 9, 2013, at Golden Living Center Rosemont in Pennsylvania. Leroy was born to the late Sally Blackshed and Tom Ramsey in Meridian on Nov. 12, 1922. He attended Mount Zion Baptist Church and graduated from and eventually went on to teach at Harris High School, Wechsler Junior High and Harris Junior College. He was president of his graduating class and was voted male most likely to succeed, and succeed he did. In 1942, Leroy enlisted in the U.S. Army and was stationed in the South Pacific during World War II. He earned the rank of sergeant and received the Purple Heart for injuries sustained in battle. After leaving the Army in 1946, he used the G.I. Bill to help earn his bachelor’s degree from Jackson State University, where he played football, ran track and also joined Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. He went on to receive master's degrees from both Boston University, and NYU, and then went on to earn a Ph. D in government administration from NYU.

    Dr. Ramsey dedicated his life to education, civil rights and the recognition of African-American war heroes. He wrote several books including "The Trial and the Fire", "Black Americans in Defense of Our Nation", and created "The Black American Veteran" Magazine after founding Elramco Enterprises. He founded the African-American Museum in Hempstead, N.Y. Dr. Ramsey retired as bureau chief from New York state government after working to desegregate school districts across the state, but continued working towards his lifelong goal of racial equality.

    Dr. Ramsey has been witness to a busy and varied career serving the needs of youth, minorities and our country as: English Teacher for 10 years - Plainview Old Bethpage High School; Assistant Professor of Black History - Hofstra University, Adelphi University, Dowling College; Coordinator of Graduate School Programs - New York University; Director of Minority Affairs - University of Nebraska; Chief Bureau of Educational Integration - New York State Education Department; Administrator of Intercultural Relations - State of New York; Special Consultant to Director of Military Equal Opportunity Policy - The Pentagon; and, Military Historian - United States Department of Defense.

    Survivors include his life partner, Joan Niles; children: Walter Ramsey, David Ramsey, and Julia Ramsey; grandchildren: Shameka Ramsey, Dominique Ramsey, Jermaine Ramsey, Jenelle Ramsey, and Gwendolyn Arrington; and six plus great-grandchildren.

    Visitation will be Thursday, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., at the church. The Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Ceremony will be conducted at 10:30 a.m.