Emery Louvelle Rann, III

Pastor Emery Louvelle Rann, III transitioned on Wednesday, May 10, 2017.  He was born on August 2, 1952 to the late Dr. Emery L. and Margratha Rann in Charlotte, North Carolina. Professional services entrusted to Russell Funeral Home, 322 Carl Russell Avenue, Winston-Salem, NC.

Emery was a man of deep spiritual and religious convictions.  He believed in the African tradition of defining family through relationships in addition to blood kin.  He lived his life with that belief system enmeshed into his value system. 

He was courageous, loving, funny, and a master at pranks, card games and Scrabble. 

His intellect was deeply rooted through his family and his formal education from elementary to high school in the West Charlotte neighborhood of Charlotte, NC.  He earned his BA from Lincoln University, Pennsylvania and his Juris Doctorate from Howard University, Washington, DC.

Emery had a history of service within government, non-profit organizations, and educational institutions. He worked as a special assistant to Governor James G. Martin, director of the Land Ownership Information Project at NC A&T State University, the Winston-Salem Human Relations Commission, and was the director of Mediation Services of Forsyth County. He was an adjunct instructor of Political Science at Winston-Salem State University and was the pastor at Mt. Vernon Presbyterian Church in Woodleaf, NC. He also consulted with neighborhood groups on organizational ad project development through his company, The SPHINX group.

Emery was very involved in community advocacy and action, serving on several boards and commissions to help empower citizens. He had served on the boards of Mediation Network of North Carolina and the NC Association of Black Lawyers Land Loss Prevention Project and was formerly chairman of the board for the NC Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service and the Sawtooth Center for Visual Arts. He is a past President of the Alpha Pi Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and was a member of Sigma Pi Phi Boule’.

Emery is survived by his loving wife, RaVonda Dalton-Rann; children, Eric (Zuri) Coles and Christon (William) Anderson; grandchildren, Teriana, Rashaad, Amelia, Kahlil, and Nina; siblings, Lara and Jonathan Rann, and Kevin (Tilda) Bruce; special nieces, Nicole, Brianna, and Alana; Godchildren, Jalyn, Taylor, Myshale’, and Montre; as well as a host of other relatives and many cherished friends whom he considered family.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00pm Wednesday, May 17, 2017 at Red Bank Baptist Church with Reverend Dr. James Clyburn officiating and Dr. Carlton A.G. Eversley eulogist.  Interment will follow in Evergreen Cemetery. The family visitation will be held from 11:30am until 1:00pm on Wednesday at the Church.  The Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Omega Service will be held at 7:00pm Tuesday, May 16, 2017 at the Russell Funeral Home Chapel.

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