Brothers:

I write on behalf of both myself and Brother G. Dewey Stanyard (whose more personal remarks and reflections based upon his knowledge of and relationship with our departed brother will follow) to chronicle the Monday, November 1, 2010 homegoing services of our late brother of Omega Psi Phi, Raiford “Buddy” Younginer, who was born on August 13, 1961 and who passed into Omega Chapter on October 27, 2010.  Buddy pledged on the 1981 Alpha Chapter line, Mr. Bonz 19 Shadows of Toto.  As have the services of so many others of our brethren, Buddy’s homegoing service took place in the Andrew Rankin Chapel on the campus of Howard University.  The following link contains photos of Buddy and a place where you can leave a message. http://stei-23830.tributes.com/show/Raiford-Younginer-89690548

It was a clear but crisp fall morning and students could be seen bundled up scurrying about on campus.  Having left home without an overcoat and now feeling the chill in the air I walked at an accelerated clip from behind the Fine Arts Building where I had parked, down the Long Walk, past the Dial which I paused to touch. The bell atop Founder’s Library tolled 10 times as I entered the chapel where family and friends mourning Buddy’s passing had gathered for the 10 a.m. scheduled Omega memorial service.  The assembled included a huge throng of approximately 150 or more brothers wearing dark suits and white gloves.  Because I did not personally know Brother Buddy I was unprepared for the massive turnout of fraternity brothers at the service, which turnout was larger than any I had ever seen at the many Omega services I had attended over the years.  However, based on the remarks of all the many brothers who did know Buddy, and the family and friends who spoke about his character and personality and the manner in which he treated everyone with whom he came into contact, it quickly became obvious to me why a brother who lived a relatively modest life that was not distinguishable because of fame or fortune would be so celebrated in death as to fill every available seat in Rankin Chapel during an early Monday morning homegoing service and have double lines of Omega men crowded into each of the two aisles of the cathedral in order to fit us all inside the church.

Bro. Buddy’s homegoing began with the traditional Omega Memorial Service presided over by officers of Alpha Omega Chapter.  Centered at the base of the pulpit was Buddy’s photo on a large easel.  With Buddy’s wife Robin, young children Savannah and Maximilan, and other family seated in the front pews of the chapel’s center section and the other mourners who had come to pay their last respects seated throughout the church the Omega memorial service started with a massive processional of approximately 150 fraternity brothers, all dressed in dark suits and wearing white dress gloves, led by the Basileus, the Keeper of Records and Seals holding aloft the fraternity banner and the Chaplin of Alpha Omega Chapter marching in a single file line down the right aisle of the sanctuary around 10:15 a.m. towards the pulpit followed by a line of brothers with another similar line of brothers marching down the left aisle. When the two lines met at the center and both aisles and the rear of the church were still filled with brothers who had not yet marched, the remaining brothers all began marching down a second line in each aisle.

The Omega service ensued with brothers singing “Precious Lord” and lasted about a half-hour until 10:45 a.m.  After the completion of the reading of the rites of passage the brothers solemnly sang the hymn, Omega Dear, followed by the Basileus ordering that the KRS strike Buddy’s name from the roles of Alpha Omega Chapter and enter it onto the role of Omega Chapter after which began the recessional of brothers marching one by one up the two aisles and out of the sanctuary.  Brothers then exchanged greetings with each other outside, passed and collected envelopes of donations for the family and recalled their many wonderful memories about Buddy. 

Bro. Herb Sharpe (1969 line) and I had traveled to the service together and both of us found ourselves meeting many brothers such as I.G. (1979 line), Flash (1983 line) and Boss Grey (dean of the 1980 line) for the first time inasmuch as the dominant number of brothers present at the service were Alpha Chapter brothers from the late 1970s and 1980s who had either pledged  Buddy’s line or pledged with Buddy or been pledged by him, other Alpha Chapter brothers from the 1990s and 2000s including neophyte brothers and those currently in Alpha Chapter on campus as well as many brothers from Alpha Omega and the DC area.  As the bell above Founder’s Library tolled 11 times we brothers of Omega all subsequently rejoined the mourners in the sanctuary for the completion of the memorial service that followed the Omega Service.

The 11:00 a.m. service began with the invocation being given by Reverend (Bro.) Dr. Leonard Hamlin, followed by holy scriptures and a prayer of comfort from Minister (Bro.) Anthony Evans, the reading of Psalm 133 and the famous verse of Ist Corinthians, Chapter 13, whose theme of love and how Bro. Buddy personified it was the dominant message carried throughout the memorial service.  Bro. Minister Evans spoke about how Buddy was the living embodiment of love and how he always seemed to have the uncanny ability to call you, text you or contact you at just the right moment to share his message of love with you.

Following the prayer and scriptures, Bro. Alvin Coleman sang an accapella version of, fittingly enough, James Taylor’s “You’ve Got a Friend” to honor Buddy who, like the song’s lyrics, “brightened even the darkest night” by his message of friendship and love.  The audience spontaneously joined in singing the last chorus and erupted in applause at the end of the song.

Savannah and Maximilian followed with a tribute to their dad consisting of a poem that Savannah had written entitled “My Buddy” that appeared on the last page of the memorial service program.  However, overcome with emotion Savannah was unable to finish reading the poem and leaned on her brother Max for comfort and to complete reading the poem just as so many of Buddy’s brothers leaned on him in their time of need.

Buddy’s sister, Debra Younginer Brewster, and brother, Shawn Yette, followed with their own personal recollections of Buddy. Shawn, who was born 11 days apart from Buddy and was very close to him, fondly recalled Buddy’s days as a track and field athlete at Howard noting that although Buddy wasn’t the fastest guy on the team he would always pick out one person on the other team and tell him “I’m gonna beat YOU!” which he usually did.  Shawn thanked the brothers of Omega for all the love and brotherhood they showed to his blood brother, Buddy, who pledged Omega following in the footsteps of their father, Moses Younginer.

Following acknowledgements by Minister Pamela Thomas, a proclamation from Howard University was presented to Robin after being read by the presiding minister.

Tribute to Buddy was next paid by his 25-year friend, Richard Duncan who recalled that Buddy would remember everything about everything including people to whom Richard had introduced him and often inquire about them years later.  Like others, Richard recalled that Buddy never said anything bad about anyone ever, that he always looked at the silver lining in every cloud and truly loved his life. He said that no one was ever a stranger around Buddy for more than a few seconds and that Buddy had taught him that nothing was more important than the love of family.

The final tribute to Buddy was paid by his 1981 line brothers, led by Bro. Brad Seamons who was joined on the podium by 14 other brothers from Mr. Bonz 19 Shadows of Toto. Brad noted that Buddy, the last man on the line (#19), was the first line brother to pass and now joins their dean, and Buddy’s former business partner, Ted Cook, in Omega Chapter.  Brad spoke about how Buddy was the embodiment of the fraternity motto, “Friendship is Essential to the Soul”, noted that Buddy was always happy and encouraging and was great at connecting people with other people who often went on to become best friends.  Brad spoke movingly about what Buddy meant to all brothers who knew him and in his final words reassured Robin and the family that just as Buddy had always been there for them the brothers of Omega Psi Phi would continue to be there for her and Max and Savannah.

As the bells of Founder’s Library tolled 12 times for the noon hour and played Howard’s song, Ms. Tiffany Frazier took to the pulpit to sing the musical selection, “While Riding Through the Storm” followed by Bro. Rev. Dr. Leonard Hamlin who delivered the eulogy.

Bro. Hamlin began his remarks by having the audience hold hands with each other during prayer. He recalled Buddy being in his wedding and the many wonderful times they shared together over the years.  He also referenced the Love chapter of 1st Corinthians that had earlier been read and quoted its famous last lines (the Faith, Hope and Love passage) penned by the apostle Paul.  He noted that in writing this verse Paul was concerned that the members of the church at Corinth may have misplaced their priorities and were far too busy spending their lives chasing positions of prominence and trying to gain popularity in a quest for their “15 minutes of fame” and greatness.  Bro. Hamlin noted that Buddy never appeared on the front pages of the newspaper but indeed gained greatness by his ability to have meaningful relationships with others.  He said that being in the company of Buddy made YOU feel great!  He noted that while some people burden you that Buddy always lifted up your spirit even in the most troubling of times, and that people were always glad to see him.  He said that life is made worth living when you meet people like Buddy that possess the unique characteristic of having LOVE IN THEIR HEART FOR EVERYONE!  He recalled that he last saw Buddy at a get together a few weeks earlier at Bro. Anthony Evan’s home.  He recalled that although Buddy was going through some rough times then Buddy had told him that everything would be all right and that the next time he saw him it would be in church. (How prophetic!)

Bro. Hamlin reminded everyone present that power, titles, good looks and position don’t make you great.  He said, “What makes you great is not what you got on you, but rather what you got in you!”  Buddy had something in him.  If you have faith there is always a bright side to come.  Buddy had great expectations.  He had Faith, Hope and Love.  The greatest of these is Love. He said that if you want to be great, try loving those who don’t love you. Bro. Hamlin then ended his remarks with a story. 

Two young men were hiking in the woods and were oblivious to the possible danger that surrounded them.  They heard a bear loudly growling and coming towards them.  One of the hikers quickly scurried up a tree and covered himself with leaves in an effort to escape the danger.  His friend who wasn’t very good at climbing sought to extend his hand for help getting up the tree but received none, so he just lay down on the ground at the base of the tree and played dead.  The bear came, looked around and sniffed the man on the ground, then whispered something into his ear before leaving.  After a few minutes the man in the tree came down and asked him what the bear had whispered in his ear, to which his friend replied, “Never go hiking with a friend who will leave you in times of danger.” Bro. Hamlin noted that Buddy was a friend who would always stand by you.

Following the Benediction the brothers of Omega Psi Phi recessed to the outside of the church where they formed two lines of approximately 65-75 brothers each leading from the front door of Rankin Chapel to the driveway and beyond and mournfully sang repeated verses of “We’re on Our Way to Omega Land” for about 15 minutes until all of the approximate 350 or so other mourners inside the chapel had exited through the lines led by Robin, Savannah and Max heading over to the Carnegie Building where the repast took place.  Brother Allen Toles (Unofficial Alpha Chapter Basileus for Life) then stood on the steps of the chapel and directed brothers to the Dial where he led brothers in the singing of Omega Dear one final time with a space left in the circle of 120 or so brothers for Buddy as the bell on top of Founder’s Library tolled one p.m.

Later as I sat in the repast at Carnegie I recall thinking that Buddy, the first to die from his 1981 pledge line, had passed into Omega Chapter during Homecoming week 2010 just one year after Brother Sam Boozer, architect of the Omega Founders Memorial in the Valley and the first to die from his 1971 line, had passed during Homecoming Week 2009; and that both the 1971 and 1981 lines would be celebrating their respective 40^th and 30^th anniversaries next year during Homecoming 2011 in the tradition of 2 up 2 down gatherings of brothers that were started as an Alpha Chapter tradition by the late Brother Barry Campbell and his 1968 line in 2003 without these two stalwart brothers (Buddy and Sam) that meant so much to each line.  I also thought about the milestones that the 1970 and 1980 lines had just completed celebrating at the McLean Hilton and the Grand Hyatt and I wondered who among us would be joining Buddy and Sam and Ted and Barry and Al and Wood and Wheels and Doom and the many others of our brethren in Omega Chapter in the year to come and would not be around for next year’s homecoming celebrations.

As Herb and I left the repast in Carnegie and the bell atop of Founder’s tolled one last time, two thoughts crossed my mind.  First, after having heard the effusive praise that all brothers who knew Buddy heaped on him and having witnessed how his life had affected those of all with whom he came into contact, I thought it most fitting that this brother should have his homegoing on November 1^st, All Saints Day, because he was indeed a saint in the eyes, minds and hearts of the many brothers and others whose lives he touched.

Secondly, I thought to myself that just as no one expected a 49-year old brother who appeared to be in good health to have his number so suddenly called, there but for the grace of God go any one of us.  For you never know for whom the bell will toll next.  And all you can do is make sure that when it inevitably comes to toll for you that you have lived the type of life that Buddy led so as to ensure that the Good Lord will open his arms at the gates of Heaven and speak to you the words found in the scripture, “Well done my good and faithful servant.”

May our Brother Raiford “Buddy” Younginer rest in peace in the bosom of love of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, until we may one day see him again.

Yours in Service to Omega,

Brother Everett “Eddie” Vann Eberhardt

#19-A-70 (Freeze’s Rolling 28)