Delano Black

Delano Black, age 86, died on January 3, 2024, following a courageous battle with dementia. A native of DeWitt, Arkansas, he graduated from DeWitt High School in the class of 1955. Delano loved playing center on the DeWitt Dragons football team and later with the Hendrix College Warriors.

After earning his graduate degrees, he served as Assistant Professor of Biology at the University of Memphis for over 35 years. During that time he was Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.

Throughout his life, Delano devoted countless hours to community service. He founded the Suzuki Talent Education Association of Memphis in the Department of Music and served on the boards of both the Memphis Youth Symphony Orchestra and the Memphis Symphony Orchestra. During his more than fifty years of membership in Idlewild Presbyterian Church in Memphis, Tennessee, he was Deacon, Elder, Sunday school teacher, coach of his children’s teams in the recreation program, and a leader in the 1988 installation of the pipe organ and the 1999 completion of the carillon.

Delano is survived by his wife Lynette and by his children, Dylan Black of Dallas, Texas, and Leslie Black of Pasadena, California; daughter-in-law Minday Black; and grandchildren Sebastian Black of Birmingham, Alabama, Eliza Black of Los Angeles, California, and Emma Black of Pasadena, California.

A memorial service for Delano was held at Idlewild Presbyterian Church in Memphis, Tennessee, on March 23, 2024. Donations may be made to Idlewild Presbyterian Church, the Methodist Church of DeWitt, the University of Memphis College of Arts and Sciences, or to a charity of the donor’s choice.