Jonathan David Fraley Jr.

Dr. J David Fraley, Emeritus Professor of History at Birmingham-Southern College, passed away on July 8, 2023. A native of North Carolina, Dr. Fraley earned his Bachelor’s Degree at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1963, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He completed his graduate work at Duke University and earned his PhD in 1971. In 1965, he was chosen to spend one year researching 19th century German History at the Free University of West Berlin. While there, he went to a Christmas party where he met the love of his life, an undergraduate student from Pennsylvania. He and Ann Diefenderfer were married in 1967. Dr and Mrs. Fraley then moved to Birmingham, where he began his 36 year teaching career at Birmingham-Southern. Dr. Fraley loved baseball and was an avid fan of the New York Yankees. He also enjoyed listening to a wide variety of music, including popular and classical. He never lost his enjoyment of traveling to Germany and locations throughout the United States. Dr. Fraley is survived by his wife of 55 years, Ann D. Fraley, daughter Pamela Jill Fraley, a nephew and niece, and a great niece and three great nephews and many former students. Dr. Fraley was pre-deceased by his parents, J.D. Fraley and Ruth P. Fraley, and his sister Jane F. Kodack. A celebration of life will be announced at a later time. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to a charity that is meaningful to you, or go to the baseball field closest to you, Major or Minor League, and enjoy America’s favorite pastime.