Homegoing Celebration held for Walter Bellamy Jr.

Walter Bellamy, Jr., known for his humor and service to humankind, exchanged time for eternity to be with his Lord on Saturday, November 2, 2013. He was born on July 24, 1939, to the late Walter and Theo Jones Bellamy in New Bern, North Carolina.

He was preceded in death by his grandmothers, Rosa Jones and Ella Bellamy and brother, Edward Lee Bellamy. On June 11, 1960, Walt married Helen Hollie Ragland and to this union one son, Derrin, was born. Hall of Famer Walt Bellamy has had a diversified career in college and professional sports, matched only by his civic and community involvement. Mr. Bellamy received his secondary education in New Bern, North Carolina where he was born and reared. He graduated from Indiana University in 1961. In 1960, Walt was a member of the United States Olympic Basketball Team and won a gold medal. While attending Indiana University, he received All American Honors as a result of his outstanding skills on the basketball court. Walt�s professional career began officially in 1961, when he became affiliated with the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Chicago Packers. During his rookie season, he was named the National Basketball Association �Rookie of the Year� for his outstanding performance. During Walt�s professional basketball career, he played on the teams of the Baltimore Bullets, the New York Knickerbockers, and the Atlanta Hawks. During the 1973-74 season with the Atlanta Hawks, Mr. Bellamy reached the 20,000-point career mark, the sixth player ever to achieve such a feat in professional NBA history. He began the 1973-74 season ranking third in career rebounds and ranks third in field goals percentage and fifth in minutes played. Mr. Bellamy also served as vice president of the NBA Players Association during his professional basketball career. In 1984, Walt was selected to be inducted into the United States Olympic Hall of Fame, the Indiana University Sports Hall of Fame and the NBA Hall of Fame in May, 1993. Mr. Bellamy is a member of the Atlanta Urban League; served as an Advisory Board member of the Maryland Oil Line Corporation; board member of the Southwest Atlanta YMCA. In 1976, Walt served as a delegate to the Democratic Convention. Walt was elected and served as a delegate to the 1984 and 1988 National Democratic Conventions. Mr. Bellamy served as Senate Doorkeeper for the Georgia General Assembly 1977-81. Walt was vice chairman of the Metro Atlanta Respite Development Service and vice chairman of the College Park Business and Development Authority. Walt served as a Customer Service Representative with the Department of Aviation, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Mr. Bellamy is also a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., the Indiana University Alumni Club, Indiana University Advanced Leadership Council, Alpha Phi Omega Service Fraternity, member of the Board of Trustees of Gate City Day Nursery Association, board member of Southwest Business Organization, Founder and First President of �MEN OF TOMORROW, Inc.� of Maryland, and Membership Chairperson of the Campbellton/Cascade Y�s Men International Club. He was a member of the St. James Lodge No. 4, and Outstanding Young Men of America, 1975. Mr. Bellamy loved the Lord and was a faithful member of Shaw Temple A.M.E. Zion Church, where he served as Vice President of the Lay Council. Mr. Bellamy worked on the district and conference levels of our denomination and served as President of Men of Zion for the Georgia Conference. On the national level, Mr. Bellamy was inducted into the A.M.E. Zion Connectional Lay Hall of Fame. He is survived by his wife, Helen Hollie Ragland Bellamy; son, Derrin (Sherrika) Bellamy, Sr. of Riverdale, Georgia; mother, Theo Jones Bellamy of the home; two grandsons, Derrin, Jr. and Drew Bellamy of Canton, Georgia; brother, Ronnie Bellamy, New Bern, North Carolina; two aunts, Alberta Jones of New Bern, North Carolina and Willie Mae Ragland of Angier, North Carolina; cousins, Rosa Jones and Julia Jones of New Bern, North Carolina and Carol Ruth Perry of Corona, New York; goddaughter, Shawn (Keith) Smith, Canton, Georgia, a host of relatives and friends.

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