Lyman E. Harper

LYMAN EARL HARPER, SR. was born on April 17, 1926 in Pitt County, North Carolina to Ernest Moye and Maggie Nora Harper (nee Newborn). Later, Maggie Nora married Walter Harper and adopted Lyman. Lyman was affectionately called Duke by his family and friends. Educated in the Pitt County School system, Duke was baptized at Little Disciple Church of Christ in Ayden, North Carolina. A veteran of two wars, Duke joined the United States Military in 1944, at the age of 18. Serving until 1946, Duke was in the Army Corps’ 24th Infantry, serving in the South Pacific. Duke also served in the Marine Corps from 1952-1955, during the Korean War, in G-company as a marksman. Duke often said that “every time the enemy heard I was coming, the war stopped.” During his tours of duties, Duke travelled throughout the world; some of the countries included: Greece, Italy, France, Scotland, Japan, Spain, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands. Duke said that he had been around the world three times and spoke to everyone twice. In addition to serving in the military, Duke worked as a farmer, growing tobacco and corn. He also worked for the Gibbs Packing House. Prior to his service, Duke became a father to Mablelean Porter (nee Strong) in 1943. In 1955, Duke met Adell Carman through her cousin, Paul Carman. Duke and Adell (Hazel) were married on February 15, 1957 in Greenville, North Carolina. From this union Duke and Hazel raised five children, Grenda (Louise), LaShirlle (Shirlle), Phyllis, Debra (Debbie), and Lyman Jr. (Beanny). Duke and Hazel moved to Baltimore, Maryland in 1959, joining other family members leaving the south, and seeking better employment opportunities and lives for their children. In Baltimore, Duke worked for the Knox Glass Bottle Company and the Baltimore County School System. In 1997, he retired from the United States Postal Service after 23 years of employment. Lovingly called “Daddy” by his family, Duke and Hazel kept their close-knit family together through daily calls and check-ins. Sundays were spent at Mama and Daddy’s house, where the family ate Sunday dinner together, a tradition that the family has maintained throughout the years. Even toward the end of his life, whether gathering at the house or the hospital room, Duke was surrounded by his family. Quick witted and outright funny, Duke made his family and those around him laugh. He was an avid reader. For years, he read every section of the newspaper everyday. A baseball fanatic, if an Orioles game was on, Duke was watching it. He also loved watching westerns, war and action movies. Duke was a self-described country boy who loved playing checkers --beating mostly everyone at the game. AOu rP Foeamth etor We thought of you with love today. But that is nothing new. We thought about you yesterday. And days before that too. We think of you in silence. We often speak your name. Now all we have is memories. And your picture in a frame. Your memory is our keepsake. With which we’ll never part. God has you in His keeping. We have you in our heart. It broke our heart to lose you, But you didn’t go alone, For a part of us went with you, The day God took you home. – Author unknown Celebrating

Tributes

Lyman E. Harper

February 23, 1926 - February 23, 2016