James C. Dupree

JAMES CLARK DUPREE, SR., the son of the late Preston and Hester Flynn Dupree and the youngest of eleven children, was born on November 7, 1933 in Florence, South Carolina. He was called Home to Glory on Tuesday, January 31, 2017 after a life of service, dedication and inspiration to his family and community. JAMES and his family moved to Baltimore, Maryland shortly after his birth. He was raised in a Christian home and baptized at an early age. He attended Baltimore City Public Schools and graduated from Carver Vocational-Technical High School in 1952. James attended First Apostolic Faith Church, under the leadership of the late Bishop Cornelius Showell; later joining the House of Prayer Church, pastored by his sister, the late Pastor Marie L. McCoy. On October 16, 1954, one day after Hurricane Hazel swept through Maryland, James married his sweetheart, LYLA L. HUNTER. They were married for 62 years and from this union nine children were born. One son, David Dupree and one grandson, David Dupree, Jr., preceded him in death. JAMES began his working career as a Driver/Short-Order Cook at Jim’s Lunch Wagons. He helped build our nation’s Interstate Highway System, and he worked as a Supervisor at the Crown Cork & Seal Company. He broke the color-barrier in 1967 when the Schaefer Brewing Company hired him as one of their first African-American Salesmen, and he broke it again when hired as a Salesman by the Milton S. Kronheim Company; where he worked until his retirement. JAMES spent his life providing and caring for his family, but he also extended this commitment beyond the borders of his home. He was a mentor, friend and counselor to many. He always had a positive, encouraging word for everyone, loved to talk and was well-known for his generosity, unbelievably quick wit and mercurial smile. During the 1960’s he originated the phrase, “It’s 11 pm, Do You Know Where Your Children Are?” and he successfully campaigned to have several local TV stations ask this question nightly on the air. It caught on, and today many stations nationwide still ask. He would later use this phrase to develop and implement an innovative after-school program, which gained national attention, and has positively influenced the lives of many. JAMES leaves to cherish his memory his devoted wife, Lyla L. Dupree, four sons, James C. Dupree, Jr. (Denise), Wade Dupree, Neil Dupree and Jason Dupree (Samantha); four daughters, Sharon Dupree (Dorothy), Diane Dupree, Princess Dupree and Rachel Melton-Welch; one loving sister, Eloise Rose; a devoted niece (more like a sister) Melvine Turlington, and faithful nephew Oscar Wingfield; thirty-three loving grandchildren; nineteen great-grandchildren; and a host of other nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

Tributes

James C. Dupree

November 7, 1933 - January 31, 2017