On February 7, 2024, Dr. Claude Hargrove departed his earthly life at Wake Forest Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, leaving a profound void in the lives of his loved ones. He is deeply mourned by his wife of 58 years, Canieta Dunn Hargrove, and their three sons, Claude Michael (Linda), Curtis (Salina), and Chad (Laura).
Claude was born in Arrington, Virginia, on April 18, 1940. Claude was one of thirteen children born to Ellen and Herman Hargrove. Tragically Claude was orphaned at a young age. Claude found solace and stability when his Aunt Cassie and Uncle Wendell lovingly brought him and 6 of his siblings to New York. It was there that Claude's spiritual journey blossomed, leading him to embrace Christianity in his youth and pursue theological studies.
Driven by an insatiable thirst for knowledge and a fervent commitment to social justice, Claude embarked on an academic odyssey, earning a Bachelor of Arts from Virginia Union University, a Master of Arts in Foreign Relations from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and ultimately, a Ph.D. in Latin American and Caribbean Studies from Howard University. Claude’s academic pursuits were complemented by a dedication to activism, as he actively participated in civil rights protests during his time at Virginia Union University. Claude served in Haiti for the Foreign Affairs Department at The US Department of State.
In 1979, Claude commenced his tenure as an assistant professor at Livingstone College, where his passion for history ignited the minds of his students. His commitment to advocacy extended beyond the classroom, as he championed the cause of unionizing university professors, eventually ascending to become secretary of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP). Subsequently, he joined the esteemed faculty of Fayetteville State University's College of Government and History, where for 34 years he continued his tireless advocacy for equitable treatment of Black professors, securing tenure and assuming the role of program chair for the Department of Government and History in 1994.
Claude’s legacy is not only marked by his academic achievements but also by the profound impact he made on countless lives. While he is preceded in death by eleven of his thirteen siblings, his enduring spirit lives on through his devoted sister, Virginia Taylor of Washington, DC, and his cherished grandchildren, Samuel Hargrove, John (Kendrick) Hargrove, Caleb Hargrove, Rayshaud Hargrove, Nina Hargrove, Kina Hargrove, and Naomi Hargrove as well as a multitude of nieces, nephews, and other family members whose lives were touched by his kindness and wisdom.
The family will receive friends on Wednesday, February 21, 2024, from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. A celebration of life service will be conducted Thursday, February 22, 2024, at 12:30 p.m. at Jernigan-Warren Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Lafayette Memorial Park, 2301 Ramsey St., Fayetteville, NC 28301.
Online condolences may be made to www.jerniganwarren.com.
Arrangements by Jernigan-Warren Funeral Home, 545 Ramsey St., Fayetteville, NC 28301.
*For every sunset, there is sunshine in a land we cannot see. There is a place of love and endless dawn that is called eternity. In that land there are no shadows and no deepening shades of night. No candles are ever needed for God to provide the light.
Lovingly Submitted,
The Family
