| Sources |
- [S113] Manes Funeral Home, (http://www.manesfuneralhome.com), 11 Mar 2012.
Terrence Logan Stewart obituary
- [S24] The Newport Plain Talk, (http://www.newportplaintalk.com), 14 Feb 2013.
Tanner students recall days at historic school
EDITOR'S NOTE: The Tanner Preservation Committee continues its work to rescue and preserve the historic Tanner School, one of the few Rosenwald Schools remaining in America. Many students of the institution used the knowledge and wisdom gained there as springboards for success in many areas of life. One of these was the late Mayor Roland A. Dykes, Jr. In observance of Black History Month, the Tanner Preservation Committee has shared several of these autobiographical sketches with us.
In 1987 Roland Dykes, Jr. became Cocke County's second black elected official when he ran for and was elected to a position as member of Newport's Board of Alderman, following in the footsteps of Dr. Dennis Branch, Newport's first black alderman. Because he garnered the highest number of votes of the alderman candidates, he earned the position of vice-mayor. After the sudden death of Mayor Jim Robinson in the summer of 1998, Dykes was sworn in as Newport's first black mayor. A few months later, he ran for and was elected mayor in his own right.
He was born April 30, 1931, in Newport, the only son and youngest of the children of Roland and Oray (Dawkins) Dykes. His older deceased sisters were Della Saunders, Nettie Sue Swagerty, Bernice Banks, Marian Berry, and Mamie Ray Julian. The only serving sister Essie Barton.
- [S24] The Newport Plain Talk, (http://www.newportplaintalk.com), 11 May 2005.
Roland Albert Dykes, Jr., departed this life on May 11, 2005. He was born on April 30, 1931, to the late Roland Albert and Oray Dawkins-Dykes, Sr., of Newport, TN.
Roland is the youngest and only son of six children born to the late couple. Roland was born and raised in Newport, in the Jones Hill Community. He attended Tanner Elementary and High School, graduating in 1949. He continued his education at Morristown College, Class of 1951, where he lettered in football, basketball, baseball, and track. He was a successful businessman, a civic leader, an active churchman and Newport's first black elected official in 1987, 1991 and 1995 serving as an alderman for the Newport City Council, and Vice-Mayor. Mr. Dykes served the city of Newport as Mayor since 1998.
Roland married the late Elizabeth Carol Smith in 1951. Together, they proudly raised eight children to adulthood. Terry (Felicia) Stewart, of Newport, TN., is a police officer with the Newport Police Department; Roland (Rhonda) Dykes, III, of Talbott, TN., is a district manager for Quaker Oaks, Inc.; Stephanie (Don) Stewart, of Newport, is a Head Start teacher with Douglas Cherokee Economic Authority; Gary Dykes, of California, is self-employed as a brick mason; Kathy (John) Sims, of Knoxville, is Executive Director of Human Resources for Knox County Schools; Vivian (Mark) Reed, of San Antonio, TX., is a special education teacher; Maurice Dion (Mary Lynn) Dykes, Sr. of Newport, TN., is the Media/Publication Designer for the Newport Plain Talk newspaper, a free-lance graphic artist and creative art director for the Holston Conference of the United Methodist in Knoxville; and Eric (Stacey) Dykes of Kingston, TN, is a State Farm Insurance agent.
The family will receive friends on Sunday, May 15 from 4-6 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church, 212 Washington Avenue in Newport. Funeral services will follow at 6 p.m. Entombment will be at Resthaven Memorial Gardens on Monday, May 16 at 11 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Tennessee Picnic Roland Dykes Jr. Memorial Scholarship Fund at 260 Dykes St., Newport, 37821.
Manes Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
- [S1] U. S. Social Security Death Index, 408-44-8739.
Issued in Tennessee, residing in Newport, Cocke County, Tennessee
- [S87] Death Certificate.
Name Date of Death / Age County of Death County / State of Residence Marital Status Gender Race File #
DYKES ROLAND A 05-11-2005 / 74 WILSON COCKE / TN WIDOWER M BLACK 23259
- [S147] Find a Grave, (Memorial: 43827243).
- [S58] Marriage Certificate.
Groom's Name: Roland Dykes
Groom's Birth Date:
Groom's Birthplace:
Groom's Age:
Bride's Name: Ora Dockins
Bride's Birth Date:
Bride's Birthplace:
Bride's Age:
Marriage Date: 10 Jun 1917
Marriage Place: Cocke, Tennessee
Groom's Father's Name:
Groom's Mother's Name:
Bride's Father's Name:
Bride's Mother's Name:
Groom's Race:
Groom's Marital Status:
Groom's Previous Wife's Name:
Bride's Race:
Bride's Marital Status:
Bride's Previous Husband's Name:
Indexing Project (Batch) Number: I03651-9
System Origin: Tennessee-EASy
Source Film Number: 1928644
Reference Number: pg 564
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