Zack E. Hamlett III

On Wednesday, May 27, 2009, Zack Earl Hamlett, III spread his wings and went home to be with God. Brother Zack was born December 16, 1951 in Tuskegee, Alabama, the oldest son born to Merilyn Frances Bruce Hamlett and Zack Earl Hamlett, Jr. The family moved to Kalamazoo, Michigan, where Zack accepted Christ as his personal savior. In childhood he became entranced by photography, a lifelong love. He graduated from Kalamazoo Central High School in 1969. As a student at Howard University in Washington, D.C., Zack’s love for people and community was evident. He was active in the Pan African and Black Power movements, helping to set up breakfast programs for urban youths. Brother Zack moved to Des Moines, Iowa in 1972, where he married writer Eleanora E. Tate on August 19, 1972 at the Center for the Study and Application of Black Theology. He became part of the Des Moines IA area Black arts movement. In 1975 he and Eleanora produced a chapbook of his photos and her poems entitled Eclipsed, the first of many publications under their company name, “Positive Images.” In 1978 the family moved to Myrtle Beach, SC where he was stationed with the U.S. Air Force. Here they formally established Positive Images, Inc. In 1982 Brother Zack became public information officer for Waccamaw Economic Opportunity Council, Inc., Conway, SC. Brother Zack was graduated from the South Carolina Governor’s Rural Development Leaders School, White Oak. He earned a B.A. at the University of South Carolina-Coastal Carolina, Conway. Brother Zack served as national media relations director of the 1991 National Festival of Black Storytelling held in Horry and Georgetown Counties, SC, and received many awards for his photos, published in leading newspapers around the country. Zack was a member of St. Paul AME Church and the St. Paul Sons of Allen, and many other organizations. Brother Zack dedicated his life to service and people. At the time of his passing he was director of the NCDHHS-Office of Economic Opportunity and board chairman of the North Carolina Rural Communities Assistance Project, Inc. Surviving are his wife, Eleanora E. Tate; his stepdaughter, Gretchen R. Tate; his father, Zack E. Hamlett, Jr. (Gretchen); two sisters, Stephanie Stevenson (Robert) and Diane Cooper (Michael); two brothers, Bruce G. Hamlett (Patricia) and Reginald C. Hamlett (Jill), and other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his mother, Mrs. Merilyn Frances Bruce Hamlett, and sister-in-law, Jill Hamlett. Memorial services, 12: 00 noon Wednesday, June 3, 2009 at St. Paul AME Church, 402 W. Edenton St., Raleigh. 11:30 a.m visitation with the family. Haywood Funeral Home is handling arrangements. Flowers are acceptable but persons can make contributions to the National Association of Black Storytellers, Inc. (NABS), P.O. Box 177, Glenwood, MD 21738. Make checks out to NABS. Include in the memo line: “In memory of Zack E. Hamlett, III for Youth Programming.”