Alyce Laurayne James

On May 6th 2019, Alyce Laurayne Farrar-James entered into eternal rest surrounded by her loving family at St. Josephs Manor Care and Rehabilitation Center in Trumbull CT. She was born in Bridgeport CT on June 9th 1926 to Alice Gertrude Farrar (nee Whiting) and Edward Langston Farrar, the sixth of seven children. Educated in Bridgeport schools, Alyce Laurayne went on to attend Howard University and the University of Bridgeport. She became a frontline educator, an inspired mentor, a committed civil rights defender and an impactful community organizer. Alyce Laurayne was a bright light in her community, and to her family and friends she brought wise counsel through an engaging, lively spirit.
Alyce Laurayne was deeply involved in the social and economic lives of the communities where she lived. In 1962, while living in Richmond, VA, she began her career in the civil rights movement under Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who hired her as his local coordinator. There she deepened her knowledge and commitment to eliminating barriers to justice. She continued her public service in Bridgeport when she moved back there in the mid 1970s and in 1985 entered her first and successful political contest for a City Council seat representing the East End of Bridgeport. She was one of the first women to hold this seat for the district.
Alyce Laurayne shared a deep interest in her familys history and closely identified with precursors who fought for equality in learning opportunities and education for African American women. Her mother, Alice was the first African American to attend Bridgeport High school in 1909, graduating in 1913. To have her admitted to high school, Alices parents had to mount a fight with officials stating that as taxpayers they had the same right and advantages as white taxpayers. Her Aunt Lillian Whiting, Alices younger sister, graduated from the same high school and applied to Bridgeport City Normal School only to be refused admission until her parents mounted a strong defense of her rights. Graduating in 1920, Lillian was denied assignment to a classroom until her parents intervened and prevailed again. She became Bridgeports and Connecticuts first African American teacher. More recently in the late 1970s, Alyce Laurayes older sister, Geraldine Whiting Johnson, was refused the position of Superintendent of schools until she filed a court case and the community rose up to support her. She became the first African American woman to hold that position in Bridgeport. Such was the context of Lauraynes lifes work in education and perennial fight for civil rights and justice.
In her own words, "Through the years, (I have) been committed to the work of inclusiveness and bringing about positive change via education, public service and advocacy". And indeed some of the milestones in her career include: Desegregating the largest hotel in the South (the John Marshall Hotel) in Richmond VA where Dr. King held a three-day convention for the SCLC in 1962; teaching 1st graders in the Bridgeport Public Schools in the early 1980s; membership in the National Political Congress of Black Women; member of the Board of Directors of the YWCA; Soundkeeper and Steward of Long Island Sound; Lifetime membership and active leadership in the Bridgeport NAACP as well as the distinguished Ella Anderson NAACP Image Award in 2017; and Bridgeport Chapter Convener for GPS/Ron Brown Scholars in 2018.
One of her most notable missions on behalf of the East End community was the fight to eliminate Mount Trashmore. Working to mobilize community and church leadership, Alyce Laurayne brought together impacted families, social and political organizations to march and demonstrate in Bridgeport and at the State Capitol. In 1991, she and religious leaders brought Jesse Jackson to Bridgeport to lead discussions and rallys drawing national attention to the issue and to the blight Mount Trashmore brought to the East End neighborhood. This Mount Trashmore fight marked a defining moment in the movement for environmental justice in Bridgeport and the State of Connecticut. Later, when Jessie Jackson ran for President of the United States, Alyce Laurayne was one of the organizers of his campaign.
Continuing to advocate for social and economic development of the East End, she led the movement to shut down Stratford Ave. for a day to protest the lack of services to the East End both as the Executive Director of the Neighborhood Enterprises United and East End Community Board.
The year 2011 marked a series of strong interventions on behalf of Bridgeport school children when Alyce Laurayne led a civil rights suit to prevent the closure of Dunbar Elementary School in the East End of Bridgeport. In September, she was lead plaintiff in the civil rights action to restore the duly elected Board of Education members to their seats. In November, she led the fight against a referendum to remove the right of public voting for Board of Education members. In all three cases, Alyce Laurayne and the plaintiffs won. A good year for public engagement and enfranchisement.
Alyce Laurayne taught and mentored hundreds of people in the Bridgeport community and beyond, across generational lines, in public and private endeavors. From the early 1980s as Director of VISTA Volunteers for the Department of Youth Services, she took a group of young people to California for a conference, and with those same young people created a youth entrepreneurship training program. Her advice and leadership were sought in environmental justice issues, starting up and advancing political careers, education administration, and, as always, empowerment of local communities. She fought for minority and women owned business equity in awards of City contracts and supported business-led efforts to re-vitalize disadvantaged communities. The state and city recognized her leadership throughout the decades: YWCA Salute to Women; CT National Guards award for Leadership Present & Future; US Census Bureaus Outstanding Service Award; Governor Jodi Rell recognized her as one of 100 Outstanding Women of CT; the North End Community Council gave her the Women of Distinction Award and The Heritage Scholarship Society awarded her the Outstanding Leadership and Dedication Award.
Alyce Laurayne Farrar-James, the widow of Anthony F. James, is also pre-deceased by her parents and her sisters Edna Grant, Geraldine W. Johnson, and Doryce Randall, and by her brother Joseph L. Farrar. Those mourning her loss are her three sons who brought her the greatest joy in their purpose and distinction: Anthony, Jr. of Fort Myers, FL and his wife Pamela, as well as his son Taji; Father Darryl, and Kendall both of New York, NY, and Kendalls wife Tracey and their children Harmon and Caleb. Also mourning her loss are her two surviving sisters who remember her with great fondness: Lillian Russell of Cincinnati, OH and Natalye Clark of Bridgeport, CT. Alyce Laurayne has many nieces and nephews, great and great-great nieces and nephews who she supported, counseled and loved, and who mourn the passing of their shero and mentor.
Alyce Lauraynes family, the community and friends mourn the loss of this leader who gave tirelessly of her time and wisdom for the greater good.
Services will be held at Golden Hill United Methodist Church, 210 Elm Street, Bridgeport, Connecticut 06604 (entrance on Golden Hill St.) on Saturday, May 18th, 2019 starting at 10:00 a.m. with Tributes by family, friends, and social, government and civic organizations. The Memorial Service will start at 11:00 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Alyce Laurayne Farrar-James Scholarship Fund are welcome.

SERVICES

Visitation
Saturday, May 18, 2019
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Golden Hill United Methodist Church
210 Elm Street
Bridgeport, CT 06604

Memorial Service
Saturday, May 18, 2019
11:00 AM
Golden Hill United Methodist Church
210 Elm Street
Bridgeport, CT 06604