LeRoy N. Hammond

Obituary

LeRoy Nathaniel Hammond was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota to the proud parents of Mark Hammond and Pearl Jerrell on November 29th, 1921.LeRoy, alongside his older sister, Satarus, attended elementary school in Minneapolis and they both began to develop an affinity for dance and the performing arts. Their talent and precocious nature soon brought them to the stage. The pair performed on as many stages as possible for a couple of kids not even old enough to enter some of the venues they tap danced in!

 By the time LeRoy was old enough for high school, his family moved to Harlem, New York. While dancing still remained his passion, LeRoy joined the Army soon after graduation. He used this opportunity to travel the world and learn a few languages along the way (German was his favorite to show off).

Upon returning from WWII, LeRoy began a storied career with the United States Postal Service and jumped into teaching tap. The latter culminated in him founding his own dancing school in the ‘50’s. This lead to him partnering with Gloria Jackson several years later on a dancing school in Jamaica, NY. All the while building a life with his truelove, Mary. The pair married in February of 1948. Some years later came their daughter, Debra.

The family put down strong roots here in Amityville, becoming active members of the Bethel A.M.E. church family, with LeRoy perhaps the most active of all. As a member of the Usher Board, a Steward, being named, “A Distinguished Gentleman” and “The Dancing Usher” by the Bethel Family are examples of how he immersed himself into his church family and served cheerfully.

LeRoy touched many lives in his time here and will be missed by all that have come to know him. He is survived by his loving daughter, Debra and stepdaughter, Joyce

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