James T. Herd

James T. Herd was born on March 4, 1926, to James Samuel Herd and Annie P. Tarver-Herd in Grafton, WVA. He was their second child and only son. He attended Garrison Elementary and Junior High School and graduated in 1944 from Kelly Miller High School in Clarksburg, WVA, the Colored high school that was 25 miles from Grafton. He and his older sister, De'Velma were fortunate to be able to ride the train to and from Clarksburg, WVA using passes their father got from his employer, the Baltimore and Ohio railroad. After graduation, James joined the United States Navy and served the last two years before World War II ended. James attended Alderson and Broadus College in Phillipe West Virginia. His parents sent him there to support his sister who was having a rough time being one of the first African-American students to integrate into this college.
After leaving College James was employed at Railways mail service and worked on the B&O line. He worked there for a while then he passed the test for the National Federation of US male handlers which guaranteed him a job at the United States Post Office in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania.
James had a passion for music and singing his entire life. After living in Pittsburgh, PA for a decade and working at the Post office he became a regular in the Christmas choirs the Post Office had at Christmas time. In 1956 he met his future wife Faylese Person and the mother of his children.
His faith in God and his love for his family were important to him. Music and singing were his passions. He was a strong tenor and he sang in the choir at Grace Memorial Presbyterian Church where he and Faylese raised their family in the historical Sugar Top section of the Hill district. The next chapter of his singing career led him to an audition that got him a position with the Mendelssohn choir. From there he stepped out on faith once again enjoying the Pittsburgh Opera Company where he's served in the company for nearly 10 years. For a period of time, he performed in both at the same time.
He was a strong Community activist and an active participant in the lives of his children as well as his community. Every year that his sons performed in the Royal Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corp, James was the highest and best seller for the fundraisers. He was a top seller for Girl Scout cookies when his daughter became a girl scout. He was always there to support his children and his niece through Sports, music, dance, church groups and whatever else they were involved in. During the race riots in the 1960s, he and some other black fathers in the Beltzhoover community where he lived with his family formed a security team to keep the neighborhood safe and hold the police accountable. He was an influence on the neighborhood children and had a heart for helping others to be the best they could possibly be.
The last 4 years of James' life were spent in Lancaster, California. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister De'Velma Herd, two wives Mary Gray-Herd and Bernice Scates-Herd, and his son Darrow Thomas Herd Sr.
He is survived by his first wife, the mother of his children, Faylese Herd, his daughter De'Velma, and Son J. Sheldon (Elnora), and Virginia his niece. James has 12 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandson, and a host of other relatives.
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