Harry Singleton

Beatrice McBryant, a native of Eustis, Florida, and Fred Singleton of Summerville,

South Carolina.

He attended the local elementary, middle, and junior high schools before completing

Hope High School in 1964. After graduation, Harry followed in his older brother Errol's

footsteps and enrolled in the United States Air Force. Sergeant Harry Singleton

received an Air Force commendation medal and spent a memorable eighteen months

stationed at Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines.

After serving six years in the Air Force, he was honorably discharged in January 1971

and began a career working in both the Department of Defense and the White House.

He started his career with the United States Department of Defense as a

Telecommunications Operator for the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA). He

was one of a tiny but growing number of African Americans hired to the Department of

Defense at that time.

After receiving his master's in Public Administration at The American University and

contributing three decades of outstanding work for DISA, Harry was eventually

promoted to Telecommunications Program Manager, providing support for the White

House under President Bill Clinton.

In 1973, Harry met his future wife and the mother of his children, Gladys Gray Singleton

of Lake City, SC. They settled in Lake Ridge, Virginia, where they raised their two

daughters, Ebony and Sonja. Harry was a decades-long member of First Mount Zion

Baptist Church in Dumfries, VA.

After completing his career at the Department of Defense, Harry spent his retired life

enjoying the peace and quiet of Indian Head, Maryland, and doing the activities he

loved most: walking the Indian Head trail, fishing locally and in New England, bicycling,

watching the Triple Crown races each year, rooting for his beloved Washington

Commanders, cooking, and sharing companionship with his dear friend, Brenda Turner.

Harry was preceded in death by his mother and father, Beatrice and Fred Singleton, his

daughter, Ebony L. Singleton, former wife, Gladys G. Singleton, brothers George

Singleton and Errol Singleton, and sister Geraldine DeBolt.

He leaves to cherish his memories his daughter Sonja Singleton of Brooklyn, New York,

and his two grandsons, Jamel Sowell of Woodbridge, VA, and Marcus Johnson, Jr. of

Dumfries, VA. He also leaves to cherish his memories two sisters, Eleanor Singleton,

Los Angeles, CA, and Margaret O'Connor, Philadelphia, PA, and two brothers,

Frederick Singleton, Providence, RI, and Edward Singleton, Centralia, WA.

In addition to Harry's immediate family, his memories will be cherished by a host of other extended family members, friends, and neighbors.