Florida A&M University (FAMU) will host a memorial service for former President Dr. Frederick S. Humphries, Sr. at 1 p.m. Saturday, July 10 at the Alfred Lawson Jr. Multipurpose Center, 1800 Wahnish Way.
Dr. Humphries died in Orlando on Thursday, June 24. He was 85. He will lie in repose for public viewing from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Friday at Lee Hall Auditorium, 1601 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Tallahassee.
A public wake is scheduled for 6 p.m. Friday. At 7 p.m., there will be an Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Omega Service, which is open to the public.
From 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Saturday, Dr. Humphries will lie in repose for public viewing at the Lawson Center. The memorial service is scheduled to end at 3 p.m.
Tennessee State University, where Dr. Humphries served as the fourth president before assuming the FAMU presidency, will host a memorial service 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, July 18 at Avon Williams Campus, 330 10th Avenue North in Nashville.
The FAMU Student Government Association will host a students’ vigil in Dr. Humphries’ memory, 6 p.m. Thursday, July 8 at the Eternal Flame on the main campus.
Dr. Humphries graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in chemistry from FAMU in 1957 before going on to complete a master’s and a doctorate in physical chemistry from the University of Pittsburgh. He was the first African American to obtain a doctorate in his discipline from the University of Pittsburgh. While a graduate student, he met his future bride, Antoinette McTurner. She died in 2006.
Dr. Humphries, under whose leadership FAMU was named College of the Year in 1997, was a renowned scholar, charismatic, visionary, and innovative administrator and admired public servant. He led TSU for 11 years beginning in 1974. The trained scientist served as the eighth FAMU president from 1985 to 2001. In 2003, Dr. Humphries was named the Regent Professor at the FAMU College of Law, a school he played a key role in re-establishing.
Along with his almost three decades of leadership in higher education, the Apalachicola, Fla., native served on countless corporate boards and earned an impressive list of accolades and awards.
Dr. Humphries is survived by three children, Frederick Jr. of Washington, D.C., Robin Tanya Watson of Orlando, and Laurence Humphries of Houston, Texas, and eight grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to FAMU Life Gets Better scholarships, the Graduate Feeder Program, an eminent scholar position, and statue in honor of Dr. Fredrick S. Humphries, Sr. at https://my.famu.edu/donation/drhumphries.
Schedule of Services For Frederick S. Humphries, Sr., Ph.D.
Thursday, July 8
FAMU
6 p.m. – University Students’ Vigil
Eternal Flame
Sponsored by The SGA of FAMU
Friday, July 9
FAMU
Lee Hall Auditorium
1601 S Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Tallahassee, FL 32301
3 p.m. – 6 p.m. – Dr. Humphries Lying In Repose (Public Viewing)
6 p.m. – 7 p.m. – The Public Wake
7 p.m. – 8 p.m. – Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Omega Service (Open to the Public)
Saturday, July 10
FAMU
Alfred Lawson, Jr., Multipurpose Gymnasium
1800 Wahnish Way, Tallahassee, FL 32310
11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. – Dr. Humphries Lying In Repose (Public Viewing)
1 p.m. – 3 p.m. – In Memory Celebration Service
Saturday, July 18
Tennessee State University
Avon Williams Campus (Downtown)
330 10th Avenue North
Nashville, Tennessee 37203
2.p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, July 18,
Memorial Service
The family requests that photography and/or videography be prohibited at all services where Dr. Humphries will be lying in repose.
