Quincy Bledsoe

Quincy Bledsoe departed this life and went unto the presence of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, on Monday, July 31, 2023 at Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital. 

His celebration of life will be held on Wednesday, August 9, 2023, at Sharpe Road Church of Christ, 2400 Sharpe Road, Greensboro, NC  27406. The Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated® Omega Service will begin at 10:45 a.m., family visitation at 11:30 a.m., and service at noon.

Quincy was born August 11, 1940, in Reagan (Falls County), Texas, to the late George and Ida Mae Hall Bledsoe. As Salutatorian of his class, he was a 1959 Blackshear High School graduate in Odessa, Texas. Quincy was highly scholastic and attended Prairie View Agricultural and Mechanical University in Prairie View, Texas, on a full academic scholarship. He graduated from Prairie View A&M University in May 1963 with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Chemistry. After graduation, Quincy began his career as a Math and Science educator in various school systems in Texas. While teaching in Sulphur Springs, Texas, he met the love of his life, Margarett Ann Sanders. They were married on May 31, 1965. Upon their union, three daughters were born in 1971, 1972, and 1976; Anissa Cassandra, Tanya Mishun, and Kendra Neressa. In 1967, Quincy received a full scholarship to North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University from the National Science Foundation, where he received his Master of Science in Chemistry in 1969.

After Quincy graduated from North Carolina A&T State University, Quincy taught math at Palmer Institute in Sedalia, NC. During the Christmas break, he and his wife intended to return to their home state of Texas. However, Quincy received an offer to work as a chemist at Lorillard Tobacco Company Research Center in Greensboro, North Carolina, and never returned. Quincy was eventually promoted to Supervisor of the Smoking Laboratory. He retired from Lorillard in 2003 after 34 years of service. Quincy was notable for bringing his daughters to the smoking laboratory as little girls to teach them how cigarettes are made and tested. Professionally you would often see him at the National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers (NOBCChE) conferences as a presenter and/or attendee or mentoring and tutoring students in math or chemistry.

After retirement, Quincy became heavily involved with tending to his granddaughter, Leah De’Jhara, daily. Quincy and Margarett became heavily involved in volunteering with Guilford County Schools in multiple capacities.

Quincy was added to the body of Christ at Cottage Grove Church of Christ in 1967. His mother-in-law, Katherine Sanders, played an instrumental part in bringing him to the body. You could find Quincy leading songs on any Sunday at Wendover Avenue Church of Christ. 

Quincy became a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated® Kappa Lambda Chapter on March 21, 1998, where he is a life member. Quincy loved his fraternity and could be seen working in various capacities and attending numerous conferences. He loved mentoring the young brothers in his chapter and assisted many in being able to attend activities to enhance and further their brotherhood experience.

Quincy was heavily into the sciences and was often called a “walking periodic table.” He was notorious for remembering any and every fact about anyone he met. He was very engaged in STEAM and instilled math, science, and the arts into his daughters at a very early age. He was very proud of his daughters and their career paths that followed his teachings.

Quincy was a very active individual.  He had a love for exercise and shopping.  Until his illness, you could find him in the local YMCA or any local shopping outlet. Quincy was an avid fan of classical music and old-school Motown Music. He taught himself and his daughters how to play the piano and instilled a love of music into his children. He was serious about his financial matters and loved to track his daily stocks.  He loved to eat sweets, and ice cream was an all-time favorite, specifically Blue Bell Homemade Vanilla and Butter Pecan. He was a family man who afforded his wife to be a stay-at-home mom for all three daughters so their children would never have to experience daycare.  

Anyone who knows Quincy knows he is the epitome of a “#Girl Dad.” You would often see “Mr. Bledsoe” volunteering at their schools, being an active member of the PTSA, attending football games to hear his daughters play in the band, orchestra concerts, field trips, at A&T Alumni events, dance competitions & parades with his granddaughter, and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated® events and conferences with his daughters. He was an avid Facebook fan.  Even in his last days, he kept up with all the social blitz in the world.  Quincy was never the same after losing his middle daughter, Tanya, in 2017. She was the apple of his eye, his twin, and the mother of the most precious human he had ever met, his granddaughter, Leah.

Leah “Sweet Pea,” Tanya’s 19-year-old daughter, was the love of Quincy’s life (behind his wife). Since her arrival on Earth, she has had her “Pepaw” wrapped around her fingers. Quincy was most elated that his granddaughter is a third generation Aggie as a rising sophomore at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. Quincy’s warm and compassionate nature endeared him to everyone he met. Quincy had a unique way of nurturing his relationships with family and friends, making each one feel valued and loved. Quincy will be remembered for his unwavering dedication to his family, passion for education, and heartwarming sense of humor. His spirit will forever live in the hearts of those fortunate enough to know him.

Quincy was preceded in death by his daughter, Tanya Bledsoe Bell; parents, George and Ida Mae Bledsoe;  sister, Helen Bledsoe; and nephew, Autry Sanders. 

Quincy is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Margarett Ann Sanders Bledsoe; daughters, Anissa Cassandra and Kendra Neressa of Greensboro, NC; granddaughter, Leah De’Jhara Bell of Winston-Salem, NC; brothers, Horace (Renette) Bledsoe of Hutto, TX; Garland (Debra) Bledsoe of Odessa, TX; sister, Ladell Smith of Dallas, TX, and sister-in-law, JoAnn Sanders of Dallas, TX; nephews, Horace (Candace) Bledsoe, Jr. of Keller, TX, Latrell (Ashlea) Bledsoe of Odessa, TX, Terrance (Chrissy) Bledsoe of Round Rock, TX, Lloyd Sanders and Antonio Sanders of Dallas, TX; Nick (Nickie) Pannell of Sulphur Springs, TX; nieces, Niccole Bledsoe Boswell of Houston, TX and Jillian Sanders of Dallas, TX. He also leaves many “adopted children,” extended family, friends, church members, and fraternity brothers that will forever cherish his memory.

The family would like to thank Dr. Austin Skakle of Guilford Medical, Dr. Matthew Eskridge of Alliance Urology, and Dr. Firas Shidad at Wesley Long Cancer Center for your medical treatment and advice during the last 3-½ years. We also thank Southeast Home Care LLC, especially Ms. Tee, or as Quincy affectionately named her, “Miss Annie,” and Care Connection for their in-home services during his illness. Additionally, we would like to thank Floor 6 East at Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital for Quincy's care during his final days on Earth. In honor of prostate cancer awareness, we would like all attending the celebration of life to wear something light blue.Instead of flowers, the family requests donations to Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated® Kappa Lambda Chapter Scholarship fund at P.O. Box 21052, Greensboro, North Carolina 27420.

The service will be livestreamed at https://www.youtube.com/@sharperoadchurchofchrist2699