Algie S. Oldham

May 18, 1927 - Jan. 13, 2011
INDIANAPOLIS - Educator and distinguished Masonic member, Algie S. Oldham Jr. of Indianapolis, IN, formerly of South Bend, IN, died January 13, 2011, after an extended illness. He was born in Dyersburg, Tennessee, on May 18, 1927, to the union of Algie S. Oldham Sr. and Cleo Rodgers. His parents, including his siblings Daisy, Maxine, Julia and Patricia, preceded him in death. In 1952 he married Sarah May Graham. To this union were born one daughter, Roslynn (Wesley) Oldham Lancaster of Indianapolis, IN, and one son, Bryan (Marcia) S. Oldham of Douglasville, GA. They survive along with three grandchildren, Jonathan Lancaster and Lauren Lancaster of Indianapolis, IN, and Sydney Oldham of Douglasville, GA.

Algie is the former principal of James Whitcomb Riley High School in South Bend, IN. He also taught at Linden, Oliver and Colfax schools in South Bend, and retired in 1989. He received a B.S. degree from Tennessee State University in Education 1949 and an M.A. degree from the University of Notre Dame in 1954. He was a former member of the Phi Delta Kappa Education Fraternity, the National Association of Secondary Schools and Indiana Principals Association. He was a former trustee of the South Bend N.A.A.C.P., Board of Directors, and South Bend Urban League. Other affiliations included the South Bend Rotary Club, and he was a recipient of the Paul Harris Fellow Award.

He was also a member of the South Bend Police Merit Board, Model Cities Neighborhood Board and South Bend Board of Zoning Appeals. He was a life member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, and was inducted in the South Bend Hall of Fame in 1993. In 1997 he was appointed a board member to the South Bend Community School Corporation Education Foundation. He served the U.S. Army from 1950-1952, obtaining the rank of Supply Sergeant Transportation Corps, Ft. Eustis, VA. He was a member of St. Peter's Lodge #31, F.&A.M. of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Indiana, and became Worshipful Master in 1965 and 1966. He was elected Right Worshipful Grand Junior Warden in 1975 of the Grand Lodge, and held offices of Right Worshipful Grand Secretary and Right Worshipful Grand Treasurer. On the Scottish Rite level, he served as Recording Secretary and Grand Secretary of the Indiana Council of Deliberation. In 2005 he became the Sovereign Grand Commander of the United Supreme Council Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry Prince Hall Affiliation, Northern Jurisdiction, USA, Inc.

Ebony Magazine cited him as one of the 100+ Influential Black Americans in the United States in 2005 and 2006. He was also a member of Olivet A.M.E. Church in South Bend and Northminster Presbyterian Church, Indianapolis.

Open visitation to include Masonic Rites and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., will be held Friday, January 21, at Crown Hill Funeral Home & Cemetery, 700 W. 38th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46208, from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. A tribute celebration will be held at noon on Saturday, January 22, in Northminster Presbyterian Church, 1660 Kessler Boulevard East Drive, Indianapolis, IN 46220. Visitation will be from 10 until noon, with the tribute to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Algie S. Oldham Foundation, Incorporated, P.O. Box 781132, Indianapolis, IN 46278.

Published by South Bend Tribune on Jan. 19, 2011.

07/18/2023 EJS

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