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In memory of

Albert Lewis Calloway

Dunwoody, GA

November 23, 1941 - June 8, 2020

Nov 23, 1941 - Jun 8, 2020

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Albert Lewis Calloway (Happy Grandpappy)

Sunrise November 23, 1941 - Sunset June 8, 2020

Albert Lewis Calloway was born in Havaco, West Virginia on November 23, 1941, to Ella Louise Calloway-McCutcheon, a beautician and home health aide, and Louis Wade Sr., a police captain in Gary, WV. He was raised in Charleston, WV by his Godparents, Emma and Willie Thomas, better known as Big Mama and Little Willie. Albert was a loving husband of 27 years to Lizzie Calloway and a beloved father, brother, grandfather, and devoted friend. He made his transition from this earthly life on June 8, 2020, surrounded by family and friends.
Growing up, Albert was a cornerstone in the Charleston community. He was part of the first integrated class of Charleston High School (C/O 1960), class president, a star on the football and basketball team, and had an inexplicable way of bringing people together from different walks of life. He went on to study Social Studies and Speech at West Virginia State University (C/O 1964) and later spent time in graduate school studying counseling at Marshall University in Huntington, WV. Albert left graduate school to pursue a career in IBM, selling typewriters, married, and had two beautiful children who he adored: Kendra A. Crump and A.J. Calloway.
Throughout his life, Albert was extremely active in the fight for civil rights. He dedicated his time organizing protests in West Virginia to desegregate local businesses, and was a key figure in 1963 in arranging transportation for individuals to go from West Virginia to the March on Washington, D.C. to fight for justice, jobs, and civil rights. He continued his fight for equality, while living in New Jersey in the 80’s, and was Co-Creator and President of the South Orange and Maplewood Awareness Council which facilitated the fight for fair and equal treatment of African-American families in the community.
Professionally, Al rose to the top of a fortune five-hundred corporation and became one of the first black sales managers for IBM. During Albert’s 30 years at IBM he was recognized for several accomplishments: becoming Branch Manager; Area Rookie of the Year; Area Marketing Manager of the Year; being a part of the 100% Club (17 times); and receiving the Regional Managers Excellence in Marketing award, as well as, the Golden Circle award; to name a few. He initiated numerous programs while working at IBM which served children in under resourced communities, including; Project Emulation, a program that provided career role models to New York inner city students; The Involved Businesses in More Education Club, a program that tutored sixth grade children in Elizabeth, NJ; Shaping the Future Organization, a program which was under review for national acceptance by the NAACP, and also was implemented by the Eta Omega graduate chapter of Omega Psi Phi in Atlanta, GA. After his service in corporate America, Albert became an entrepreneur and a proficient Multi-Level Marketer (which if you knew him...YOU KNOW!). He even started his own version of IBM - Information Becomes Money.
In 1993, after retiring from IBM, Albert married his second wife and the love of his life, Lizzie Calloway. He was a proud and active member of the Unity Atlanta Church for over 25 years, in the choir, Sunday school teacher, chaplain and on the Board of Directors. Both he and his wife, Lizzie, enjoyed teaching at Laurel Heights Hospital, an intensive residential treatment center that accepts children from ages 4 – 17 who experience difficulties with severe emotional behaviors; and for over 20 years they provided spiritual teaching to the children. Albert loved his church family, was a natural born leader and passionate about assisting people through life’s challenges.
Al was a member of Omega Psi Phi (ΩΨΦ), the first fraternity birthed out of an HBCU by African-Americans for African-Americans. He joined because of his commitment to the community and to brotherhood; and was the seventh member on the 1979 charter line.
Whether he was known as Albert, Al, Big Al, “Clucker,” Happy Grandpappy, or simply “Happy,” he was always there for anyone in need with a listening ear, a personalized song, his comforting demeanor, or his very soulful and energetic dance. His presence has brought joy and laughter to many people over the years and his spirit will live on in our hearts forever.

Cherishing the memory of his life are his wife Lizzie Calloway; siblings, Rosemary Calloway-Terry (Tim), Natalie Wade; Louise Welch (Allen Sr.), Ellen Harris-Harvey, and Dr. Louis Wade (Dr. Betty); children, Dr. Kendra A. Crump (Ronald II), Albert Calloway, Jr. (Dionne); grandchildren, Kiarra C. Grant (Leslie), Ronald Crump III, Donna A.J. Crump, Amy B. Calloway, Ava C. Calloway, and Albert Calloway III; sister-in-Law, Deborah Williams, Carolyn Williams (Deceased); brother-in-law Brinson Williams (Selima), Maceo Williams (Makeba); and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins.

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