Captain Julia O. Barnes, USN (Ret)

Captain Julia O. Barnes, USN (Ret)

With deep sadness, we inform you of the passing of NNOA founding member Captain Julia O. Barnes. Capt. Julia Barnes was the first black woman nurse corps officer to command a naval hospital when she took command of Naval Hospital Great Lakes, Illinois, in 1986. She was also among the visionaries who founded the National Naval Officers Association in 1972, actively supporting the Sea Services in recruiting, retaining, and developing a diverse officer corps. She passed away on September 14, 2023.

Funeral Information:
Wednesday, September 20, 2023

Paoli Presbyterian Church
225 S. Valley Rd.
Paoli, PA 19312

Visitation: 1000
Service: 1100

Mrs. Joyce B. Cromartie

Mrs. Joyce B. Cromartie

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Mrs. Joyce B. Cromartie, mother of NNOA Member Marco Cromartie. Joyce B. Cromartie was born in Ashville, North Carolina, on June 7, 1937. Her parents were Joe and Dorothy Bell; she was one of three and raised by her grandparents, Walter and Bula Mims. Joyce attended Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, Florida, from 1954 through 1957. While attending FAMU, she met and married the love of her life/college sweetheart, Eugene R. Cromartie. She is survived by four sons Geno, Leo, Marco, and Eliseo.

Visitation

SEP 16. 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM (ET)

Pope Funeral Home Forestville Chapel

5538 MARLBORO PIKE

FORESTVILLE, MD 20747

Funeral Service

SEP 16. 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM (ET)

Pope Funeral Home Forestville Chapel

5538 MARLBORO PIKE

FORESTVILLE, MD 20747

 

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the following under Joyce Cromartie:
Alzheimers Association Joyce B. Cromartie Dedication

Lieutenant General Vincent Raymond Stewart, USMC

Lieutenant General Vincent Raymond Stewart, USMC

Friday, April 28, 2023 – With heavy hearts, we report the passing of long-time NNOA supporter and friend Lieutenant General Vincent Raymond Stewart, USMC.  He served as Deputy Commander at United States Cyber Command. He previously served as the 20th Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA). LtGen Stewart, who held that post from January 23, 2015 through October 3, 2017, was the first African American, Jamaican American, and Marine to be Director of the DIA.

He is survived by his wife, (Phyllis), five children (Vincent, Robert, Nicole, Jennifer, and Patrick), and 15 grandchildren in order of age (Rashid, Usamah, Khattab, Ahlam, Saidah, Salahideen, Harrison, Terrell, Lily, Uriah, Sumaya, Veda, Lyric, Shahadah, and Sakina), as well his sisters and brothers (Vinette,  Paulette, Gaila, and Charmaine) and son and daughter in law (Kyle and Noor).

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to:

Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation
909 N. Washington Street., Suite 400,
Alexandria, Virginia 22314.

Donations Link: Give in Memory of LtGen Vincent Stewart

Mrs. Margie Griffin mother of Captain Anthony Swain, USN (Ret)

Mrs. Margie Griffin mother of Captain Anthony Swain, USN (Ret)

It is with saddened hearts that we report the passing of Margie Iola Griffin, the mother of longtime NNOA / DCNNOA member CAPT (Ret) Anthony (Tony) Swain, USN, on April 5, 2023 at the age of 84. She was known as a loving and devoted mother by her children, Captain Anthony Swain, USN, (Ret) (Dr. Joy); Gwendolyn Swain Allen; Marvin Swain (Kim); and Tracy Swain (Anisa). Her grandchildren are Dr. Trevon Swain (Tiffani), Amber Swain, Tracy Swain (Sameal), Christopher Swain, Allejah Swain, Miya Allen, and Kai Allen. She is also survived by her 5 great grandchildren, five siblings, two aunts, a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

She also is survived by five siblings, two aunts, a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Viewing Tuesday, April 11, 2023, 6:00 p.m.- 8:00 p.m.
Mitchell Funeral Care and Creation
609 Hull Drive
Elizabeth City, NC

Celebration of Life, Wednesday, April 12, 2023, 11:30 a.m.
Mt. Zion Baptist Church, COCGIC
118 N. Carolina Hwy 343 S.
Camden, NC

In lieu of Flowers, the family is requesting donations to Margie & Calvin Griffin Endowed Scholarship,Link: https://vikingsforward.ecsu.edu/project/29724/donate?des_id=390197

 

Captain Harold R. (Bob) Wise

Captain Harold R. (Bob) Wise

It is with great sadness that we report the passing of former NNOA president, Captain Harold R. (Bob) Wise on November 20, 2022.

During his 30 plus year career in both active and reserve duty assignments, he served in several leadership positions including Commanding Officer, Auxiliary Floating Drydock Medium 104, Trenton, NJ;  Assistant Programs Officer, Naval Reserve Readiness Command Region Four, Philadelphia, PA.; Plans Officer, CINCEASTLANT 108, Atlanta, GA; Communications Officer, SACLANT Det. 205, Buffalo, NY; Director of Training, Naval Reserve Center, Buffalo, NY; Management Information and Retention Officer, Naval Reserve Readiness Command Region Eight, Jacksonville, FL.; Commanding Officer, Naval Reserve Voluntary Training Unit 0801, Atlanta, GA; Assistant Inspector General and Assistant Director of Plans for Readiness, Naval Reserve Readiness Command Region Eight, Jacksonville, FL.; Commanding Officer, Naval Reserve Readiness Unit “C”, Atlanta, GA; Director of Selected Reserve Training, Naval Reserve Readiness Center, Atlanta, GA; and Explosives Safety Inspector, Naval Ordnance Center, Indian Head Division, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, DC.

Captain Wise attended the Naval War College, served as a member of the Secretary of the Navy’s National Naval Reserve Policy Board for three years, served on the Naval Reserve Readiness Command Region Eight, Jacksonville, FL’s Reserve Policy Board for three years, completed the Reserve Components National Security Course presented by the National Defense University, attended the Armed Forces Staff College, attended the Naval War College War Gaming course and served on several Navy Reserve Officer line and staff selection boards.

Captain Wise was awarded the Navy Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy “E”, the National Defense Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with two stars, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal with hourglass, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Expert Rifle Medal, the Sharpshooter Pistol Ribbon, and Command Ashore Pin.

Captain Claude R. Williams

Captain Claude R. Williams

It is with great sadness that we report the passing of NNOA founding member, Captain Claude R. Williams. Dr. Claude R. Williams, Sr., 93, Orthodontist, Navy Captain, and Civil Rights Champion was born in Marshall, Texas in February 1929 died in Dallas, Texas. Williams was educated in the segregated schools of Marshall, Texas where he graduated from H.B. Pemberton High School. He attended Wiley College where he pledged Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity but transferred to and graduated from Howard University in Washington DC with a Bachelor’s Degree in Zoology, a Doctorate in Dental Surgery, and a Certificate in Orthodontics. Upon graduation, Dr. Williams joined the United States Naval Reserves and served on active duty in Bainbridge, Maryland. Dr. Williams became the First African American Dental Commanding Officer and the First African American Navy Dentist to achieve the rank of 0-6 (Captain).

 

Dr. Claude R. Williams Sr. Endowed Scholarship fund at Texas A&M University School of Dentistry

How to give to the Dr. Claude R. Williams Sr. Endowed Scholarship fund at Texas A&M University School of Dentistry. The scholarship is endowed to exist in perpetuity, and the funds are managed through the Texas A&M Foundation:

Online:

  1. Go to www.txamfoundation.com.
  2. Click on the Give Now button.
  3. Where it says “Select a Unit or College” select: An Unlisted Account
  4. Where it says “Giving Account Name or Number” type: Dr. Claude R. Williams Scholarship – 23-076011
  5. Follow the rest of the instructions regarding donation, contact and payment information

By check:

Make check payable to: Texas A&M Foundation
In memo/notes section write: Dr. Williams Scholarship -23-076011
Mail check to: Texas A&M Foundation, 401 George Bush Drive, College Station, TX 77840