at the following linkHarriet B. Black

Harriet Barfield Black, long time resident of Atlanta, passed April 14, 2020. A native of Gray, GA she was the first recipient of a four year degree at her alma mater, Fort Valley State University awarded in 1941. Along with her late husband Eldred Black, she was a faithful member of Friendship Baptist Church where she served on the Deaconess Board, the Adult Fellowship, the Art and Garden Club and the Uplifters. Mrs. Black was an educator throughout her adult life, having spent 44 years in the teaching profession and 8 years as a volunteer teacher after her retirement from the Atlanta Public Schools. Among her many honors she received the Teacher of the Year Award, E. L. Connally Elementary School and was a finalist for the Atlanta Association of Educators Teacher of the Year Award in 1973. At Fort Valley State University she received numerous awards including the Presidential Citation and was a life member of its National Alumni Association. She is widely considered as the "mother" of the university and was a significant financial supporter of the school. In recognition of her ardent support of her alma mater the university named an alumni society in her honor – The Harriet Barfield Black Society - (http://fvsunaa.org/harriet-barfield-black-society.html).

Harriet Barfield Black was born in Jones County Georgia on August 6, 1918 to the late Alonza Barfield and Mary Towles Barfield. She was preceded in death by her brother Willie Ernest Barfield and sister Dorothy Barfield Williams, her devoted husband Deacon Eldred Black and her son Dr. (Capt.) Charles Eldred Black. She is survived by her son Dr. Harold Alonza Black (Connie Neal), grandsons Morgan (Garlinda) and Dr. Michael, Sr. (Ashley), granddaughters Dr. Harriet Nembhard (Dr. David) and Erika Rose (Jack), eight great grandchildren (MJ, Reagan, Haley, Michael Jr., Ava Harriet, Olivia, Naomi and Charlotte) and three great great grandchildren (Elijah, Kai and Mikhai).

Graveside service will be held on Saturday, April 25, 2020 at 1 p.m. at Greenwood Cemetery, 1173 Cascade Circle, SW, with Dr. Richard W. Wills, Sr., officiating.  Mrs. Black may be viewed at our chapel on Friday, April 24, 2020 from 12 noon until 5 p.m.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to the Harriet Barfield Black Memorial Fund, FVSU Foundation, 1005 State University Drive, Fort Valley, GA 31030-4313.  The service may be viewed at the following link: https://vimeo.com/41017308