In 2004, Adelle J. Dantzler created two résumés for James Dantzler Jr. The collaborative, consulting experience was an opportunity to learn more about her father’s expansive knowledge, depth of skills, unique accomplishments, and varied experiences. It was also the second résumé she created for someone else and it netted him his dream job as an instructor at Durham Technical Community College (as the first résumé she created for a friend resulted in a six-figure job offer).
To remember James Dantzler, Jr. and to encourage the continuous pursuit of education, the James Dantzler Jr. Memorial Scholarship was created at White Rock Baptist Church in Durham, North Carolina.
PAST James Dantzler, Jr. Memorial Scholarship Winners
- 2014 – Maya K. Dantzler, UNC Chapel Hill and Mason Manhertz, North Carolina State U.
- 2013 – Casey Moore, University of Maryland at College Park and Justin Flowers, Chowan University
- 2012 – Maya K. Dantzler, UNC Chapel Hill
- 2011 – Jalen Jarmon, Durham Tech
- 2010 – Philip Daniels, North Carolina A&T
- 2009 – Sidney Tomlinson, Stanford University
- 2008 – Chad Manhertz, UNC Chapel Hill
BIOGRAPHY: James Dantzler, Jr. was born July 2, 1934, in Blytheville, Arkansas, to the former Rosie Lee Lobley and James Dantzler, Sr. When James turned two years old, his family moved to Cleveland, Ohio. James attended Cleveland Public Schools where his aptitude for math was nurtured. As a teen, he and some friends started a recreational/service group called the Samaritans. They played sports, had socials and gave away Thanksgiving baskets to those less fortunate. In 1954, James graduated from East Technical High School and was drafted into the Army and served two years. He attended DeVry Technical Institute in Chicago, Illinois, to study electronics. It was in Chicago that James met his future wife, Willetta, and for 48 years they spread their love to all their children (biological, adopted, foster, and grandchildren) from Cleveland, Ohio, to southern California and to North Carolina. He always encouraged all of his children to pursue education and served as a role model by completing an Electronics diploma, certificate, apprenticeship program, and an Associate of Arts in Business and Electronics. In 1992, James and Willetta moved to Durham, North Carolina. They joined White Rock Baptist Church in 1995 and James was very active as a volunteer van driver, with the homeless ministry, emergency preparedness, and the prison ministry. Because of James’ love for education, at the age of 65, he decided to go back to college. He graduated from North Carolina Central University (NCCU) at the age of 69 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology and worked as an instructor at Durham Technical Community College the remaining year of his life. James Dantzler Jr. passed away on Saturday, October 20, 2007, at Durham Regional Hospital from Bladder Cancer, Stage IV. He was 73. We will always love and miss our “Dad.”
Below is a list of the fine educational institutions James Dantzler, Jr. graduated from (DeVry, Pasadena City College, and NCCU) and taught at (Durham Tech).
- DeVry University (formerly DeVry Technical Institute): www.devry.edu
- Pasadena City College: www.pasadena.edu
- North Carolina Central University: www.nccu.edu
- Durham Technical Community College: www.durhamtech.edu
