Frank Humphrey was Instrumental in Bringing the NAACP National Convention to Milwaukee in 2005
Frank Anderson Humphrey, 69, transitioned from this life on Aug. 1, 2022. He was the third and youngest son born to the Rev. William A. Humphrey and Winona V. Truss Humphrey on Dec. 10, 1952, in Chicago. He graduated from Brother Rice High School and Loyola University, both in Chicago, and the University of Wisconsin Law School in Madison. After relocating to Beloit, he married Valeria A. Davis Humphrey in 1982. Born to this union were in his own words “the greatest blessings of his life,” daughters Janeane C. Humphrey and Vanessa N. Humphrey.
A longtime civil rights leader, Frank Humphrey has given a full life of service that includes work with the NAACP, his church family of New Zion Baptist Church in Beloit, with the Prince Hall Masonic Order, with Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., and with the Epsilon Theta Boulé, Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity. A retired business executive, he served in senior executive positions with the Wisconsin State Department of Revenue, Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, Household International, General Motors, Warner Electric Brake & Clutch Company, Inc., Johnson & Johnson and the U.S. Department of Treasury, Internal Revenue Service.
Mr. Humphrey was a member of and served the NAACP for 40 years in various leadership roles at the local, state and national level including nine years as local branch president with the NAACP Beloit Branch and seven years as the First Vice President for the Wisconsin State NAACP Conference.
In 2015, he was elected as President of the Wisconsin State NAACP Conference. His leadership was tapped at the national level as well. From 1998 to 2010, Mr. Humphrey served as one of 17 members of the NAACP Executive Committee under the leadership of the legendary civil rights icon Julian Bond.
He served as NAACP National Board Assistant Treasurer and chairman of numerous national NAACP committees. His service also included being designated the National Board Appointed Administrator for NAACP branches in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Las Vegas, Nevada and Charlotte, North Carolina. While serving as Vice Chairman of the Convention Planning Committee, Mr. Humphrey was instrumental in bringing the NAACP National Convention to Milwaukee in 2005, where he was accorded the high honor of introducing then Chairman Julian Bond as the Convention keynote speaker.
Mr. Humphrey served as the Jurisdictional leader (Worshipful Grand Master) for Prince Hall Masons for Wisconsin and Worshipful Master of Kennedy Lodge No. 3 in Beloit. Rising through the leadership of Prince Hall Masons. He also served as Sovereign Grand Inspector General 33° of the United Supreme Council Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite Prince Hall Affiliation Northern Jurisdiction, as well as Honorary Past Potentate of A.E.A.O.N.M.S. of North and South America and its Jurisdictions, Inc., and many other offices at all levels of the Prince Hall Affiliated Masonic Order. As a member of the nation’s first African American College Fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha, Mr. Humphrey held countless local, state and national leadership positions within this distinguished organization. Mr. Humphrey also was among the foundational leaders of the Wisconsin Association of Black State Employees (WABSE).
Left to cherish Mr. Humphrey’s memory are the loves of his life Valeria, Janeane and Vanessa; brother Grady Humphrey; family by marriage Irma Davis, Lori (Tristen) Wier and Justin Linden; a very special niece Roshanda Humphrey, special nephew Dock R. Humphrey II, nieces Shawnell (Jason) Humphrey Conyers and Erica Humphrey; the next generation including Terrence, Alante, Amber, Jayshawn, Josiah, Jason Jr., Aryhanna Conyers; Dock R. Humphrey III and Deaun R. Humphrey; dear cousins Deborah Truss, Geoffrey Truss, George Truss, Maurice Truss, Rodero Warren, Lorna Ligon and Nina, Maria and Bernardo Valdez; along with a beautiful and expansive nationwide family of Humphrey descendants. Awaiting him beyond this realm are his parents, 20 of Rev. William Humphrey’s siblings, brother Dock Russell Sr., sister-in-law Gwen Humphrey, beloved uncle George (Faye)Truss and aunts Chrystine (Thomas) Warren, Arlonia (Hubert) Ligon, Lula Fred (Bernardo) Valdez, and cousins Wendy and Wanda Warren.
