Mr. Talmadge Moore

Mr. Talmadge Moore, 93, of Columbia, SC died on Wednesday, September 24, 2014 in Salisbury, NC. He was born on February 16, 1921 in Edgefield County, South Carolina to the late Mary Alice Dorn Moore and Isaac McManus. He was also reared by his late step-father, Son Moore, whose surname he adopted. Mr. Moore grew up in Aiken, SC and after being told that she had a very smart son, his mother approached the Principal of Schofield Academy and asked that he be allowed to attend while he worked for them to earn his tuition. He attended Schofield under the tutelage of Principal Sanford P. Bradby and his wife Celia Bradby. The Schofield Normal and Industrial School was founded in 1868 by Martha Schofield (1839-1916), a Pennsylvania Quaker. Her intention initially was to provide education for freed slaves. The School gradually evolved into a boarding school for training young blacks in industrial trades or to become teachers. It was absorbed into the public school system in 1952. Talmadge graduated with honors from Schofield, and armed with a letter of recommendation from Mr. Bradby, he entered Hampton Institute in Hampton, VA to pursue a degree in Business. While a student at Hampton, Talmadge was a member of the Boxing team and the Modern Dance Group, which gave him the opportunity to tour the Eastern seaboard. His reputation as a dancer earned him another nickname among his Hampton classmates, “Cutter Moore” (Because he could cut a rug) as they regaled him with the chant, “Who’s that out there on the dance floor? That ain’t nobody but Cutter Moore!” His college career was interrupted by the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the outbreak of World War II. He served in the Army Air Corps from 1944-1946, spending months in Okinawa, Japan. Following his honorable discharge from the Army, he returned to Hampton Institute and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in 1949. Following graduation from Hampton Institute, Talmadge began his career in higher education as a Staff Accountant for the Business Manager at South Carolina State College in Orangeburg, SC. While in Orangeburg, he met and married his first wife, Delores Scott Moore Haigler. To this union were born his son Eric and his daughter Terry. In 1961, Talmadge Moore accepted the position of Business Manager at Benedict College, moving his family to Columbia, SC. He took an educational leave of absence from Benedict to pursue his Master’s in Business Administration. Talmadge graduated from Texas Southern University in Houston, TX with an MBA in 1971.He managed the business affairs at Benedict College from 1961 to 1986 when he retired after twenty-five years of dedicated service. Mr. Moore married Malinda Crawford Ashford, adding five sons to his family, and to their union Natalie was born. Brother Moore was initiated into Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Epsilon Omega Chapter in Orangeburg, South Carolina in 1950. He later joined Omicron Phi Chapter in Columbia, SC and served as Keeper of Finance and Budget Chairman. He served as the Sixth District Keeper of Finance from 1966-1969. In his early Christian life, Talmadge Moore attended Willow Spring Baptist Church in Edgefield, SC, where he was baptized. He joined Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church in Orangeburg, SC and later moved his membership to Saint Luke’s Episcopal Church in Columbia, SC where he served as Treasurer for many years. He faithfully attended Saint Luke’s until his health began to fail. Talmadge Moore was a dedicated member of the National Hampton Alumni Association, Inc., serving as Chapter President for many years. He was a founding member of the Central Savannah River Area Chapter and later the Mid-SC Chapter. He was also a founder of the South East Region of NHAA. He was a recipient of the Henry Bryant Award from the South East Region and the NHAA Outstanding Service award. Talmadge had an undying love for his Alma Mater and was always thrilled to travel back to the campus and attend alumni events. He was also a member of the N.A.A.C.P., Veterans of Foreign Wars, and he served on the Schofield Foundation Scholarship Committee for many years. Talmadge loved to entertain and his home was always open to friends and visitors. He had an affinity for numbers and math, and he always enjoyed a friendly game of Dominos, Pinochle or Bridge. He was a member of the Club 24 Pinochle Club in Columbia. He also enjoyed bowling and fishing. Mr. Moore maintained a keen knowledge of current events and trends through reading newspapers, news magazines and academic publications. He was also a music aficionado and he had a special love of Jazz, showcased by his extensive music collection. His loving wife Malinda Crawford Ashford Moore, preceded him in death in 2008; and his son Eric Clarence Moore. Talmadge Moore, known as “Boise” by his close family, and “Tal” by close friends, was also preceded in death by his sisters, Rosa Belle Moore Kennedy, Elizabeth Moore, Mary Moore Eskew, and Gladys McManus Goode; brothers Lawrence McManus and Edward McManus. A caring husband, father, brother, uncle, grandfather and great-grandfather, he leaves to cherish precious memories, loving daughters, Teresa Rene Moore Mutakabbir and husband Tamir Abdul Mutakabbir of Charlotte, NC and Natalie LaTalmala Moore Fulton and husband Major Vernal Jermaine Fulton of Fayetteville, NC; sons Richard Hill of St. Louis, MO; Ronald Steven Hill and his wife Regina Hill of New Bedford, MA; Rodney Hill of Washington, DC; Rex Hill of Charlotte, NC; and Willie Bernard Meeks and his wife Jaynine Meeks of Charlotte, NC; fourteen grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren, Mr. Moore is survived by his loving and caring sisters, Ruth Ola Moore Nance of St. Petersburg, FL; Cornelia McManus of Myrtle Beach, SC; Doris McManus Freeman and Cassandra McManus of Johnston, SC; Reba McManus Dixon and Juanita McManus Robinson of Aiken, SC; loving brothers Felix McManus of Newark, NJ; Gilmore McManus and his wife Diane McManus of Andrews, SC and Bobby McManus of Hempstead, NY; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins; two brothers-in-law, Monroe and his wife Regina Ashford of Columbia, SC and Sidney and his wife Daisy Ashford of Upper Marlboro, MD; and other loving relatives and dear friends, all of whom join the family in sharing the grief caused by his departure. The family would like to acknowledge the excellent care given him by Miniimah Bilal Elahi in the home, and the staff of the W.G.(Bill) Hefner Veterans Administration Community Life Center in Salisbury, the family will receive friends 6-8:00 pm Wednesday, October 1, 2014 at Palmer Memorial Chapel. The family request that condolences and memorials be made on their page @www.palmermemorialchapel.com

Mr. Talmadge Moore

February 16, 1921 - September 24, 2014