Dr. Anthony Ryan Easley

Dr. Anthony Ryan Easley was born February 17, 1972 in Tupelo, MS to the parents of Sara C. Easley and Charlie Patton Sr. He accepted Christ at an early age and was baptized as a young child at Red Oak Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Tupelo. He was a faithful member and loved to sing in the choir. He enjoyed mentoring the youth, especially assisting high school seniors to pursue higher education.

Anthony graduated from Tupelo High School in 1990. After receiving a full music scholarship to attend Stillman College in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Anthony spent the next four years developing his skills of working closely with others. During his decorated college career, Anthony was an active leader on campus. His senior year, he was elected to the Student Government Association as the Vice-President.

Upon graduating with a degree in sociology and a minor in psychology from Stillman in 1994, Anthony received an assistantship to Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, Florida to study psychology. After one semester of psychology, Anthony’s true career field was discovered. He changed his major to pursue a Master’s in counseling education. Anthony graduated from Florida A&M University in August of 1996 with a Master’s of Education degree and embarked on his career in education.

Anthony immediately moved to Orlando, Florida where he lived for the next ten years. While in Orlando, Anthony’s career path took him on a fast track through the educational ranks. He served as an elementary school guidance counselor, a middle school guidance counselor, a college professor of education and finally as the Manager of Student Services at Valencia Community College. Anthony enrolled in the University of Sarasota and began post graduate studies in higher education. In 2002, Anthony completed the requirements for the Specialist of Education degree in higher educational administration. In 2003, he completed the Doctorate of Education in educational leadership, where he received his Doctorate Degree. His doctoral dissertation was, “African American Men who are the Presidents of Predominately White Institutions; Their Pathways to the Presidency”. Anthony’s extensive educational career allowed him to be well versed in varying areas of the academic process for young people. He was often called upon to mentor other new professionals as they started their professional careers.

In mid-2006, Anthony suddenly lost a significant amount of his vision due to a retinal detachment. At the time, he was unsure that he could continue a career in education; therefore, he withdrew from his position at Valencia Community College and returned to Tupelo, Mississippi with his family. After a few years, Anthony began getting restless and started looking for work. His vision issues still problematic; however, his ambition was strong. After struggling with finding the perfect fit for his passion for education and his now stabilized vision issue, Anthony enrolled in a vision rehabilitation program where he learned to use techniques to overcome his lack of vision.

In 2011, Anthony completed a vocational rehabilitation program for the blind and started working at a factory packing boxes. For one year, Anthony worked at this minimum wage job only to prove to himself and to others that he was not what is disability said he was. He never stopped the pursuit to regain is professional career in the field of education. In 2012, Anthony and Demetry relocated to Cleveland, OH as he accepted a position as Manager of Special Projects at the Cleveland Sight Center. After advancing so quickly, he was later promoted to Director of Client Experience. Anthony took great pride in his work and enjoyed assisting in helping others succeed. In 2015, Anthony had an eye procedure that restored a great amount of his vision. He went from 20/400 to 20/50 vision, which allowed him to require very little assistance. He continued to work at the Cleveland Sight Center until he became ill with stage 4 cancer. Anthony refused to let this illness defeat him and continued to fight until he took his last breath on April 22, 2017 at his home with Demetry by his side.

Anthony leaves to cherish his memory: Partner of 9 years, Demetry Sorrells, Cleveland, OH; Father, Charlie Patton Sr (Bernice), Belden, MS; Son, Kyle Easley, Shannon, MS; Granddaughter, Skyla McMillan, Tupelo, MS; Sister, Brandi Easley-Lanier (Marques), Tupelo, MS; Brothers Charles Sims (Tonya), Belden, MS; Charlie Patton Jr, Belden, MS and Christopher Patton, Belden, MS and a host of other relatives and friends.

Anthony was preceded in death by: Mother, Sara C. Easley; Grandfather Clyde Easley, Grandmother, Clara Easley; Grandmother Willie Mae Edwards; Niece, Kenadee McCullough.