William “Bill” W. Cash Sr. was a man deserving of his many titles and honors. He had an illustrious career as a catcher for the National Negro Baseball League. He established himself as a superb athlete of the highest professional and personal standards. He had a career filled with his share of victories and success, which he always cherished.

Cash received many awards and acknowledgments. For his numerous and varied accomplishments he and his fellow Negro League players were honored by President Bill Clinton at the White House in 1994, the City of Philadelphia, the National Baseball Hall of Fame at Cooperstown and the African American Museum in Philadelphia. Various major league teams, including the Philadelphia Phillies, feted them. He was inducted into the National Negro Baseball Museum of History in 1981.

Cash died Sept 12, 2011. He was 92.

Cash was born in Round Oak, Ga. on Feb. 21, 1919. He was the youngest of four sons born to the late Lela Lloyd Cash and Arthur “Buster” Cash Sr. He moved as a child with his family to the Eastwick-Elmwood section of Philadelphia. He was educated in the city’s public school system graduating from Overbrook High School.

In early 1940, Cash began a rich and full romance with Ms. Sadie Bell Brooks, the absolute love of his life. They married on Sept. 7, 1940. From this union, three children were born, William W. Cash Jr., Janet Cash and Michael Cash. They were a source of happiness and pride for their parents always. Cash and Sadie loved their family and supported each other for 63 years of adventures and wedded bliss.

Cash also played “Winter Ball” in Mexico, Venezuela, Dominican Republic and Cuba. Bill later played for the Farm Teams of the Chicago White Sox Organization and various other cities in the Midwest and Canada. Following his retirement in 1955 from his beloved baseball, he accepted 30 years of employment with Westinghouse Electric in Lester, Pa. as a machinist. He retired in 1985. Despite his various responsibilities, Cash always found time to devote to religious, fraternal and community organizations.

His family said his greatest labor of love was his work for the Lord. First, he was a Deacon at Calvary Baptist Church. He later moved his spiritual home to First African Baptist Church, Sharon Hill, Pa. where he served as a deacon for 30 years. He was a great supporter of his church and his pastor. On Sunday mornings, Cash could be seen sitting in the front pew shaking hands with all.

He was also a 33rd Degree Mason, where he was Past Master of the Light of Elmwood Lodge No. 45, Past Commander-In-Chief of Charles E. Gordon Consistory, member of Paxon-Macey No. 45 and Past Potentate of Minaret Temple No. 174.

Over the many years, Cash has spent endless energy and countless hours serving the youth of Philadelphia. He founded the “Cobbs Creek Baseball Little League Association.” He was vice-president of the Foundation for Juvenile Decency. He also spread his eloquent words and stories far and wide, on college campus, in schools and churches, for social organizations, always sharing his experiences as a player of the National Negro Baseball League and the challenges and roadblocks faced by Black trailblazers.

Cash leaves to mourn: sons, William “Billy” Jr. (Diane) and Michael Sr. (Patricia); grandsons, Jeffrey Sr., Bobby (Brenda), Michael Jr. (Janna), and Darryll; granddaughters; Arnita (David), and Kiersten; great-grandchildren, Ashley, Jeffrey Jr., Bobbi, Brendan, Maya, Logan and Michael III; cousins, Molly, Ruth, Herman, Leroy and Lewis Tucker; special friends, Mary Bailey and daughter, Mitzi and Barbara.

Cash was predeceased in death by his wife, Sadie, and daughter, Janet.

Services will be held September 19 at First African Baptist Church of Darby Township, 901 Clifton Ave., Sharon Hill, Pa. The viewing will be from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. The service will start at 11 a.m. Yarborough & Rocke Funeral Home handled the arrangements.

Derrick Albert Bell Jr. was a law professor, legal scholar and racial justice advocate. He was a man of many accomplishments and was best known for his work in the field of critical race theory, a term he coined that embodies scholarship on race, racism and power, and examines how racism is embedded in all laws and legal institutions. He died October 5 from carcinoid cancer at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital in New York City. He was 80.

Bell’s work in promoting the study of critical race theory has inspired similar disciplines such as Latino Critical Race Studies and Asian American Critical Race Studies. He was described as being both an iconoclast and a community leader.

He was born on Nov. 6, 1930, in Pittsburgh to Derrick Albert and Ada Elizabeth Childress. After graduating from Schenley High School near Pittsburgh’s Hill District, he became the first member of his family to go to college, attending Duquesne University in Pittsburgh. He received his bachelor’s degree in 1952.

A member of the R.O.T.C. at Duquesne, he was later an Air Force officer for two years, one of them in Korea. Afterward he attended the University of Pittsburgh Law School, where he was the only Black student, earning his degree in 1957.

After his stint at the Justice Department, he headed the Pittsburgh office of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, leading efforts to integrate a public swimming pool and a skating rink. Later, assigned to Mississippi, he supervised more than 300 school desegregation cases.

In 1969, after teaching briefly at the University of Southern California, he was recruited and hired by Harvard Law School, where students were pressuring the administration to appoint a Black professor. Bell conceded that he did not have the usual qualifications for a Harvard professorship, like a federal court clerkship or a degree from a top law school.

Although he worked tirelessly to expose racism, Bell was not an eternal optimist. His idea of “the interest convergence dilemma” said that whites would not join efforts to improve the position of Blacks unless they found it in their interest.

In addition to his scholarly contributions, Bell believed that his personal decisions made as much of a statement about his beliefs as did the content of any of his professional work, a sentiment he expressed in his 2002 memoir “Ethical Ambition.”

“Your faith in what you believe must be a living, working faith that draws you away from comfort and security, and toward risk through confrontation,” he wrote.

Bell lived this maxim throughout his life, seemingly undeterred by the lure of prestige or power, and many of his most storied accomplishments were accompanied by resignations and protest.

In 1971, Bell became the first tenured Black professor at Harvard Law School, but he resigned from the prestigious post when he felt he had been discriminated against after a white university vice president tried to purchase a house that Bell had been previously offered through university.

While working at the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice, Bell resigned from his job after his bosses advised him to give up his NAACP membership because they felt it was a conflict of interest.

In 1980, Bell became the first Black dean of a non-HBCU law school when he accepted the position at the University of Oregon School of Law. Bell’s tenure as dean was short lived, however. He resigned in 1985 when an Asian woman was denied tenure at the school.

Bell’s final act of professional protest occurred when he was invited back to Harvard to teach. He vowed to take an unpaid leave of absence until the school agreed to add a Black woman on its tenured faculty for the first time. Bell eventually left Harvard behind the incident and began teaching at New York University School of Law, where he worked until his death.

Bell is survived by: wife, Janet Dewart Bell; children, Derrick A. Bell III, Douglas Dubois Bell and Carter Robeson Bell; two sisters, Janet Bell and Constance Bell; and a brother, Charles Bell.

—BET News and The New York Times contributed to this report.

Wilbert McDonald Chamberlain was known for his gallant ways with the ladies. Although he liked the ladies he never married or had children. He was a loving son, brother, uncle and faithful friend to many. He died November 9. He was 79.

Chamberlain, the son of the late William and Olivia Chamberlain, was born on August 31, 1932 in Philadelphia. He grew up in a loving home with great parents, and sisters and brothers. He was educated in the Philadelphia School District and graduated from Overbrook High School.

He was drafted in the U.S. Army after graduation. Chamberlain was also employed in Philadelphia by a pharmaceutical company for many years before moving to Los Angeles in the early 1960s.

Chamberlain leaves to mourn: three sisters, Margaret Lane, Selina Gross and Barbara Lewis; two brothers-in-law, Claude Gross Sr. and Elzie Lewis, and a host of nephews, nieces and other relatives as well as a special friend, Katherine Williams.

Chamberlain was preceded in death by seven siblings, Clara Mae, William Jr., Delores Jones, Shirley Freeman, Wilt, Yvonne Taylor and Oliver Sr.

A memorial service is pending.

Rosamond Sylvester Lindsey, known to many as Syl, was an educator and principal in the Philadelphia School District. He was also a charter member of Omega Psi Phi, Beta Gamma-Cheyney. He died Sept. 4. He was 86.

Lindsey was born July 16, 1925, to Rosamond Burnell Lindsey and Christina Brown Lindsey in Philadelphia. His family relocated to Schwenkville, Pa., where he began his elementary education. He spent two years in Schwenkville. The next two years of schooling were spent in Kulpsville, Pa. The family’s next real move was to Pennlyn, Pa., where he completed five years of his schooling. He graduated from Abington High School in Abington, Pa.

The United States Army drafted Lindsey in October 1944. He served in the European Theater. After completing his military service, he returned to the States to continue his education at Cheyney State University. He received his bachelor of science degree in elementary education. While at Cheyney, he was initiated as a charter member of Beta Gamma Chapter, Omega Psi Phi. He was a financial member of Mu Omega Chapter and was recently recognized as a 60 plus member of omega Psi Phi Fraternity.

He furthered his education at the University of Pennsylvania, receiving his Master of Science Degree in Elementary Education. He became a teacher at the G.W. Childs School and later rose to the ranks of Principal. He retired from the School District of Philadelphia in July of 1991.

He received Jesus Christ at an early age at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Pennlyn. He joined Union Baptist Church under the pastorate of Rev. Dr. Laurance George Henry. He left Union Baptist Church with the Rev. Dr. Laurance George Henry to become a founding member of Christ Community Baptist Church.

As a member, he was in the trustee ministry where he served as ministry leader and treasurer. He was a financial member of the men’s ministry and supported Christ Community Baptist Church in all of its endeavors.

Among his other endeavors were Roundtable, Sunday Supper Club, Viri Viginit and Ye Olde Philadelphia Club. He was counted among the Lords for Top ladies of distinction.

He married Christine Henry on August 25, 1956 by Rev. Joseph Kirkland.  From this union, they had three children.

Lindsey leaves to mourn: wife, Christine; three children, Rosamond Sylvester Lindsey Jr., Christine Nanette Lindsey Steptoe and Laurie Elizabeth Lindsey; daughter-in-law, Shahnaz Lindsey Muhammad; son-in-law, Nicholas Steptoe; seven grandchildren, Lauren, Laurance, Darius, Aiysha, Khalid, Nicholas Jr., and Jeremy; brother, Theodore Lawrence Lindsey; brothers-in-law, John Henry and Russell Gardner; sisters-in-law, Verna Gardner, Doris Johnson and Gloria Carlisle and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Services will be held Sept. 12 at Christ Community Baptist Church, 1224-30 North 41st St. The viewing will be at 9 a.m. The service will start at 11. Waller-Robinson Gray Funeral Home handled the arrangements.

Junious Alexander Rhone Jr., known to all who knew him as “Jay,” formed his own computer business, “WARP10 Solutions.”

In April 2010, after many years of working on, building and fixing problem computers for friends, family and clients, he became certified as an IT technician.

In 2011, he received his Microsoft certification as a systems administrator. He also maintained and designed the Mount Carmel Baptist Church website.

Rhone died on Feb. 7 after a short illness. He was 51.

Rhone was born in 1961 in Philadelphia on New Year’s Day. He was the only child of Junious A. Rhone Sr. and Shirley Redcross Rhone.

He attended Waldron Academy and graduated from Friends Central High School. Following his graduation from Friends, he attended Guilford College in Greensboro, N.C. and Hampton University in Hampton, Va., where he majored in business administration.

He was baptized at Mount Carmel Baptist Church in his early years, and later, as an adult, served on the usher board. He moved on to join the trustee board of the Church and to serve as chair of the Computerization Committee.

He first married April Alexander with whom he has a son, Junious A. Rhone III, who is better known as “Alex.” On September 24, 1993, he later married Robin Dickerson.

His work career includes several years as a Pay-Per-View Manager and Supervisor at the former Wade Cablevision. Later, he was employed by Comcast Cable as a National Marketing Coordinator, a Customer Service Supervisor and as a National Service and Installation Project Coordinator.

His family said he excelled at training others. He worked for both the Metropolitan Career Center and at Solutions for Progress in the capacity of trainer. He moved on to work for Action AIDS in Philadelphia, as an IS Technical Support Specialist.

At the time of his death, he was employed once again at the Comcast organization, this time as a business service technician in the company’s Horsham office.

In this capacity, he assisted business subscribers with their cable, television, telephone and internet problems and concerns. At the same time, he was also enrolled at the New Horizons Computer Learning Center in pursuit of a MCTIP certification in Windows 7.

Following his diagnosis of multiple myeloma more than a decade ago, he became an ardent advocate for the Cancer Support Community (formerly the Wellness Community of Philadelphia), participating in their many programs and being a part of a support group.

Rhone’s family said he loved all things Star Trek, DC comics books, especially Superman, working on computers, going fly fishing, listening to the music of the Beatles, Prince, Yolanda Adams and Elton John, cheering and praying for the Philadelphia Eagles, cultivating his vegetable garden and building remote control model airplanes.

He was remembered as cherishing his family with a passion. He was devoted to his church. He endeavored to be loyal to his many friends. He was a people person, possessed an inquiring mind and quick wit, loved his cat Coco and especially, his bichon frise, Callie, whom some of his family members referred to as his “daughter.”

Rhone is survived by: parents, Junious Sr. and Shirley; wife, Robin; his son, Junious III; daughter-in-law, Ronnecia; uncle, Mercer A. Redcross Sr.; great-aunt, Zetherine Rhone; and a host of cousins and friends.

Services will be held Feb. 17 at Mt. Carmel Baptist Church, 5732 Race St. The viewing will be at 9 a.m. The service will start at 11 a.m. Wood Funeral Home handled the arrangements.

Rheinhold Blake Jr., known as “Butch” to family and friends, was said to be a fun-loving block captain. He was also a 25-year employee of the Philadelphia Water Department and a Navy veteran. Blake died December 31 of a brain aneurysm. He was 61.

“Never one to stay silent longer than 30 seconds, he was an outgoing, warm, embraceable, fun-loving and intellectually astute man who had a thirst for life that seemed unquenchable,” said his brother, Joseph P. Blake. “He had a larger-than-life personality and a heart to match.”

Blake was born in Philadelphia to Rheinhold A. Blake Sr. and Lillie Mae Blake. He attended Edison High School before entering the Navy for a four-year hitch.

Blake went to work for the city after his discharge. He retired in 2010 for health reasons, “but didn’t stop his zest for life or inhibit his love for family and his many, many friends,” said his brother, a former writer and editor at the Daily News and Inquirer.

Blake was a longtime block captain for 15th Street between 67th and 68th avenues in West Oak Lane.

“Butch absolutely loved people and loved telling jokes and stories,” his brother said. “He was a natural-born comedian, whose timing and sharp mind were a wonder to watch.”

Joseph P. Blake said his brother could enliven any moment and create an air of festive fun that would literally last for hours.

“He was a confidant, a friend, a mentor, a guide, a supporter of anything positive, and often the voice of reason that brought clarity with such sayings as, ‘If you’re not stupid, then don’t do anything stupid,’” he said. “Although he is physically gone, Butch Blake will be alive in spirit, legend and the history of family and friends for many years to come.”

Blake leaves to mourn: wife, Debbie; five daughters, Rhonda, Rasheda, Tamika, Erica and Lisa; and his brother, Joseph P. Blake. Services were held January 7.

The Philadelphia Daily News contributed to this report.

Viola Malcolm was an evangelist. Her family said she was a strong, virtuous woman. She was stern but compassionate. Her family said she was always caring towards others, and sharing.

After a major car accident in September of 1982 in Fayetteville, N.C., she became paralyzed from the fourth vertebrate. Malcolm lost movement from mid torso on down. However, this did not stop her from praying, prophesying and ministering to people wherever she went.

Malcolm died on Jan. 31. She was 83.

Malcolm was the daughter of Frank Bradley and Ada Slappy in Coatesville. She was one of eight children. Much like her mother, she loved to sew and dress fashionably. Her father passed on to her the talents of art, music and preaching the Gospel.

She received her full education in the Coatesville School District until she graduated. She soon met and married Bobbie Lester Malcolm, a Mason who served in the Korean War and who was a member of the NAACP.

She relocated to Bridgeton, N.J. and raised a family. She had 14 children though some of them were complicated births.

Malcolm began working in the Bridgeton Hospital and preaching at local churches which introduced her call to God. After this, her husband became ill with cancer. She took care of him until he died.

In the late 1960s, Malcolm relocated to Philadelphia. She united with Deliverance Evangelistic Church who took the family in and gave them a new start.

She then sought out avenues to fulfill her career in theology. She received her degree in evangelism from the Dr. Howard Jameson Bible Institute. It was through her father’s preaching, playing the piano and organ, and making crosses that he donated to churches that she formed her style in God. Her father invited her to preach at the churches in Hayti located outside of Coatesville. She also preached in many churches throughout Philadelphia.

Malcolm was a member of Apostle Prophet Joel Charleston’s church and served on the Mother’s Board under pastor Selma Allison of the Holy Ground Church in South Philadelphia. Her family said she spoke in tongue and prophesy and that she performed many miracles including praying for a blind girl who later received her sight.

Her family said she also loved knitting and crocheting. She enjoyed making her own dolls, clothing, hats, pocket books, shawls, scarves, gloves and boots. She had a heart for missionary work and collaborated with televangelist Peter Popoff and the Benny Hinn Ministries. Before she took ill, she had plans to donate her own personal, hand-crafted dolls to Rod Parsley Ministries to be transported to underprivileged children in Africa.

Malcolm leaves to mourn: children, Marcus L. Malcolm (Christina), Leonard Malcolm (Florence), Shirley Langron (Mikel), Roland Malcolm, Kosmoe Malcolm (Sharon), Vincent Malcolm (Ernestine) and Howard Malcolm; three siblings, James “Buster” Bradley, Frances Craven and Sheron Bradley; 23 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Malcolm was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Bobbie Malcolm; and three siblings, Louis Bradley Jones, Joyce Hines and Dorothy Bradley.

Services will be held Feb. 11 at the First Baptist Church of Passtown, 117 Barber Ave, Coatesville. The viewing will be at 9 a.m. The service will start at 10.

Wright Funeral & Cremation Services handled the arrangements.

Milton Hall Sr. was described by loved ones as a very fun loving and hard working man.

He was always on the go throughout the neighborhood and the city. He was well known and loved by many people throughout Philadelphia and Georgia. Milton was never too busy to help someone in need. He died Sept. 29. He was 81.

Hall was born on April 24, 1930 to Milton Hall and St. Julia Hall in Savannah, Ga. He began his education in the Savannah school district and finished his education in Philadelphia.

In the early 1930s, he was baptized by Bishop C.M. Grace at the United House of Prayer for All People. On July 1, 1948 he married the love of his life, Helen. They enjoyed 63 years of marriage. In 1949, Hall and Helen moved to Philadelphia with their newborn daughter, Constance. Four more children followed: Adrent, Diane, Milton Jr. and Tyrone.

Hall started his employment in 1950 at the Jack Miller Coat Front Company where he became a supervisor. He retired in 1995 after 45 years with the company. He was known by several names, “Deke,” “D-man” for Daddy man and “Old Dude.”

Hall and Helen were world travelers. They traveled throughout the states from coast to coast, to Hawaii and to the Caribbean Islands. They went overseas to Paris, France and over to Jerusalem, “the holy land,” where they observed and participated in a baptismal in the river, Jordan.

In 1961, Hall and Helen moved to West Philadelphia where they met and maintained long enduring friendships with neighbors.

Hall leaves to cherish his memory: wife, Helen; three daughters, Constance Williams, Adrent Naeef and Diane Canty; son-in-law Frank Canty; two sisters, Ada Mak and Angela Brown; brother-in-law, Ku Kwa Mak; brother, James Hall (Wilhemina); 14 grandchildren, Richard, Anthony, Marquette, Raphael, Reginald, Ricky, Camisha, Susan, Robert, Antoinette, Tariq, Analiese, Jermaine and Tyrone Jr.; eight great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, church members, friends and neighbors.

Hall was preceded in death by sons, Tyrone Hall and Milton Hall as well as three sisters, Althea Brown; Cecilia Baker and Mildred Myers.

Services were held Oct. 7 at The United House of Prayer For All People.

William Leonard Watkins Jr., affectionately known as Billy, was a jovial person who had a great sense of humor and loved to joke and laugh with his friends and family. He also enjoyed sports, fishing, hunting and spending quality time with his children whom he proudly raised, and later spending time with his grandchildren. The former police officer and proud veteran died Sept. 13. He was 63.

Watkins was born to the late Annie T. W. and William Leonard Watkins Sr. on Oct. 24, 1947 in Philadelphia.

As a young child, Watkins was baptized and accepted Christ as his personal lord and savior. He was raised in the Tioga Section of the city where he was educated in the Philadelphia School District and also attended Community College. He later joined the United States Army with an Honorable Discharge, and thereafter worked for 20 years for the City of Philadelphia as a police officer in the 35th and 14th Districts. He received many great awards for achievements such as Officer of the Year and was recognized for many other great accomplishments. He retired from the police force in 1992 and later became employed with TSA of the Homeland Security Dept. Watkins was proud to be a veteran who served his country and a proud member of the Charles Young American Legion Post No. 682.

William married Mildred Watkins on April 14, 1990.

Watkins leaves to mourn: two children, H. Leora Washington and William Leonard Cyrus; son-in-law, Phillip Washington; three grandchildren, Felicia Washington, Phil Cole Washington, Justin Cyrus; two siblings, Beatrice Spence and Lucetta Watkins and a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his wife.

Services will be held Sept. 21 at Christlike Pleasant Green Faith Baptist Church, 25th & Cambria. The viewing will be at 9 a.m. The service will start at 10 a.m. Powell Mortuary Service handled the arrangements.

Catherine Clark was a faithful member of New Bethlehem Baptist Church. She was involved in various ministries such as the Deaconess Ministry, Bereavement Committee, the Feeding Program, Missionary Society, the Scotts Inspirational Chorus, Sunday school and the Revival Choir.

Clark was dedicated to her church family and enjoyed ministering to the sick and shut-in. Her family said she lived according to the Biblical scripture of Paul, in 2 Timothy. Clark died on February 10. She was 79.

Clark was born on October 7, 1932, to Lucius and Anna Smith in Homerville, Georgia. She was the third of eight children.

At an early age, Catherine’s family moved to Danville, Virginia. She accepted Christ at the Loyal Baptist Church when she was 13 years old. She received her education in the public school district and graduated from Langston Mercer High School. While in high school, she met the love of her life, Percy E. Clark.

In 1952, her family moved to Philadelphia. Shortly thereafter, Percy followed her to Philadelphia. After a short courtship they were married in 1953. They had three daughters, Marilyn, Carol and Pamela.

She joined New Bethlehem Baptist Church in 1958 under the pastorate of the late Rev. James F. Scott.

Clark worked as a cashier until retirement. She had a long healthy life until she became ill in 2009. During her illness her faith in Jesus Christ became even stronger. Daughters Carol Briggs and Pamela Johnson, and son-in-law William took very good care of her.

Clark leaves to mourn: daughters, Carol Briggs (William) and Pamela Johnson (Jesse); grandchildren, Phillip Wilson (Joenetta), Kimberly Wilson, Tara Johnson, Tahir Briggs, Tarik Briggs and Catherine Johnson; great-grandchildren, Khalen and Khristian; godchild, Angelina Hopkins; siblings, Pauline Inge, Lillie Terry, Herbert Smith, Lurene Lenear (Robert), Annie Mackey, (John Sr.) and Clarence Smith; brother-in-law, Floyd Clark; three sisters-in law, Betty Clark, Meta Clark and Kitty Clark; two lifelong friends, Lois Petty and Cora Cooke; and a host of nieces, nephews, other family and friends.

Clark was preceded in death by her husband Percy Clark, her daughter Marilyn Wilson and her brother Lucius Smith.

Services will be held Saturday, Feb. 18 at New Bethlehem Baptist Church, Preston and Aspen. The viewing will be at 9 a.m. The service will be at 10 a.m. James L. Morse Funeral Home handled the arrangements.