Almeda Vivian Hunt Rippy

Almeda Vivian Hunt Rippy CHARLOTTE - Almeda Vivian Hunt Rippy, died February 25, 2013 at Mercy Hospital, surrounded by her family. She was 93 and had lived in Charlotte for 67 years. She was the widow of Prof. Coleman Dupont Rippy of Johnson C. Smith University, who died in February 1996. Almeda Rippy was born to James Butler Hunt, Sr. and Helena Diggs Hunt in Greenville, South Carolina on May 16, 1919. Her parents worked at the Brandon Mill; in addition, her father delivered coal and ice, cut hair, raised and sold fruits, vegetables, chickens, and hogs, had a smokehouse, and served for 50 years as superintendent of the Sunday school at Pack's Chapel and Antioch Baptist Church. From her parents she learned the Christian faith and the virtues of hard work and integrity. She graduated from Sterling High School as class valedictorian and went on to Paine College, Augusta, Georgia, where she met her future husband and graduated cum laude in 1940. In later years she did graduate study at Atlanta University, Johnson C. Smith and North Carolina Central Universities, the Universities of Oklahoma and North Carolina-Greensboro, and earned a master's degree at Columbia University in 1959. She had a long, distinguished career as an educator, starting with a primary school in Greenville and continuing after the war with positions in Charlotte. She began at the Billingsville School in 1948 and progressed to general supervisor for elementary schools, coordinator for elementary mathematics (she wrote and taught a series of six programs on Math Readiness that ran on WTVI from 1967-1972), and curriculum coordinator for the experimental model school. She completed her service with five years as assistant professor in the Department of Human Development and Learning at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte. Along the way she was a consultant on math, language, reading, and desegregation with school systems in North and South Carolina. Almeda Rippy was a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and Omicron Delta Kappa education honorary. She was on the Board of Directors of the Charlotte YWCA and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Mental Health Association, the Board of Governors of WSOC's (Channel 9) "Nine Who Care" community service awards; and belonged to numerous local and national educational and charitable organizations. She was a co-founder of the Monday Evening Bridge Club that flourished for over 30 years. She joined Little Rock AME Zion Church in 1946 and remained a faithful member for 67 years, serving a long period as superintendent of the Sunday school. She leaves her loving daughter, Vivian Rippy Ingersoll; son-in-law, John; grandson, Justin Rippy Patterson Ingersoll, all of Atlanta; her youngest sister, Mary Ruth Byuarm of Charlotte; and many nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews. She was predeceased by her husband of 54 years, Coleman Dupont Rippy, and her siblings, Fred, Florence, Ellen, and James Butler Hunt, Jr. Almeda Rippy will be remembered for her keen intellect, unfailing good cheer and sense of humor, her love of children and concern for their welfare, and her Christian devotion, which she exemplified every day of her long life. Funeral services will be held at 12:00 noon Saturday, March 2nd at Little Rock AME Zion Church, 401 North McDowell Street, Charlotte 28202, Rev. Dr. Dwayne A. Walker officiating. Family visitation begins at 11:00 am at the church. A.E. Grier & Sons is in charge of the arrangements.