Obituaries
A Celebration of Life for Leroy Sterling
Leroy Sterling ( March 15, 1939~ August 08, 2023)
Mr. Leroy Sterling lived a life of great love, great faith and great purpose. Born to Willie and Mattie
Lee (Smith) Sterling, he was a member of a large, close-knit family. When his mother remarried Eddie
Phillips, the family grew even stronger. The poet, Nikki Giovanni famously declared that “Black love is black
wealth.” And this could not have been more true than it was for Leroy’s family. As a young person he chopped
cotton and baled hay to help make ends meet. The work was hard, but executed with love and commitment
to community and kin. Despite the many challenges of being African American in the Jim Crow South,
Leroy established himself early on as an intellectual. He came from humble beginnings, but everyone knew
that he was destined to make a name for himself.
Born in Booneville, Texas, he was an honor graduate of E.A. Kemp High School. After graduation, he
embarked upon a three-year tour of duty in the United States Army. Thanks to the GI Bill, he was able to
begin collegiate studies at Texas Southern University. A true Renaissance man, he studied French and English-
impressing his peers and professors alike. In the summer of 1963, Leroy Sterling made history by becoming
the first African American undergraduate student to enroll at Texas A&M University. In the fall, he returned
to TSU where he received his BA degree in French. He then went on to earn a master’s degree in French at
the University of Houston and did other studies at Jacksonville State University and Massey Business College.
His undergraduate education earned him a place in the record books, but integrating TAMU wasn’t the
most significant thing that happened to Leroy during his time in college. While studying French, he was
blessed to meet Miss Rose Marie Solomon, who served as a teacher’s aide. As they say in Paris, it was “le coupe
de foudre” -love at first sight. They enjoyed 41 beautiful years of marriage before her death in 2004.
With Rose by his side, there was nothing Leroy could not accomplish. He paved the way in both higher
education and business. He worked 17 years in sales and marketing with Dow Chemical Company. His
faculty positions were at Texas Southern University, Alabama A&M University and Jarvis Christian College.
His long list of service at Alabama A&M included being awarded Professor of the Year in Arts and Sciences
(1997-1998), Coach of the Honda Campus All Star Challenge academic team, Chair of the AAMU National
Writing Project, Vice President of the Alabama Council of Teachers of English, Director of the Honors
Program, and faculty sponsor of French clubs-all reflecting his practice of going beyond the call of duty.
Leroy was an accomplished writer who had many publications, he obtained numerous research grants over
the years, and mentored students for decades.
While his accomplishments were the result of hard work and dedication, Leroy also knew how to enjoy
himself. In the summer months he reveled in outdoor games of dominos or a couple of hands of bid whist. If
you were lucky, he offered you a plate of barbeque ribs or brisket he grilled with his own special sauce (A true
Texan!). Once, he tried blending his business with pleasure, following in his mother’s footsteps, and opened
Big Man’s Barbeque and Burgers restaurant. The endeavor was short lived, but he enjoyed the experience and
had no regrets.
In his golden years, he returned to Bryan because the old adage is true, there is no place like home.
Happily, he was “given his flowers” as society came to recognize his achievements. In 2011, he was inducted
into the Bryan Independent School District Hall of Honor. In 2019, Texas A&M awarded him with the
Pioneer Medal to thank him for his service. The Portal to Texas History conducted extensive interviews so
that his experiences will be available for scholars and lay persons alike, who will be educated and inspired by
his exceptional story.
Legacy of Leroy
And while he took pride in his accomplishments and enjoyed the honors afforded him, he also knew that
no man walks alone. A lifelong Christian, he was an active member of Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist
Church. Those who knew him knew that the music closest to his heart was Negro Spirituals. These songs
reminded him of our ancestors who paved the way, and whose faith transformed adversities into exquisite
melodies.
Just as the spirituals often speak of a great reunion in heaven, one can imagine the rejoicing when he is
reunited with his beloved Rose. He was also preceded in death by his parents, as well as by his cherished step
father. Five brothers and five sisters joined this list: Charles Sterling, James Sterling, Bobby Phillips, Paul
Sterling, Sr., Rufus Sterling, Lorraine Sterling, Christine Sterling, Judy Sterling, Olivia Sterling-Robertson,
and Carrie Sterling.
Left to treasure his memory are one brother, Dr. Calvin Phillips of Bryan, Texas, and six sisters: Willie
Mae (Sterling) Jenkins-Gregg of Bryan, Texas, Eddie Mae Phillips-Council of Cypress, Texas, Lisa Phillips-
Sanford (Reggie) of Round Rock, Texas, Lucy Sterling-Harris of Irving, Texas, Carolyn Diane Sterling of Los
Angeles, California, and Mary Ann Sterling of Bryan Texas. He is also survived by his three children: Balencia
Dove-Kimble of Katy, Texas, Mark Sterling of Richmond, Texas, and Sharla Sterling of Richmond, Texas. He
had one grandchild, Tia Sterling-Gueory (Justin) of Shreveport, Louisiana, five great grandchildren: Justin
Gueory, Jr., Jakari Gueory, Jodie Gueory, Jaiden Sterling, and Jamire Gueory, all of Shreveport, Louisiana,
and a host of in-laws, nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends.
Funeral Services will be held on Saturday August 19, 2023 11:00A.M. Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church 310 Martin Luther King Jr., Street, Bryan, TX 77803
Visitation Services will be held on Friday, August 18, 2023 4:30P.M. until 6:30P.M. at Daniel & Son Funeral Home located at 401 W 18th Street, Bryan, TX 77803
