Farewell to a Mentor – Raymond V. Haysbert, Sr.

This week I said good bye to a mentor. A friend. A fraternity Brother.

Bro. Raymond V. Haysbert, Sr. had an impact on the lives of many within the African American community. While there are stories and news reports of his having been a Tuskegee Airman or his stalwart efforts to lead the Park Sausages company to become the first African American business to go public or his business acumen to help lead the Greater Baltimore Urban League from the brink of bankruptcy, Bro. Haysbert was a man who could “walk with kings” and not “lose the common touch.”

In the African American community in Baltimore he was known as the “Dean of Black Business;” or one of the few trusted advisors within political circles. However, most knew him as the gentle man who could be sought out for advice from anything personal to professional development.

On occasion, we would meet at his favorite restaurant for lunch. Often speaking of how to ensure African American business owners understood the role of project management in strengthening the bottom line. As a matter of fact, most recently we focused my professional transition into coaching and mentoring senior staff and executives. His wisdom and guidance in determining direction have been valuable and will be missed.

This week I said good bye to a mentor. A friend. A fraternity Brother. But today I rejoice in the knowledge that he touched my life and made me a better person…a better man.

As the chorus of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Omega Service hymn says:

Farewell, Dear brother, transcendent art thou,
Thy spirit shall dwell with us now
We cherish thy memory,
Thy good name we’ll revere,
To thy glory, thy honor, Brother dear.

Its now time for the generations of mentees to ensure the lessons learned are passed on to those working to take the helm after us.