ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, April 8, 1997 TAG: 9704080095
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: NEWS OBIT
SOURCE: BETTY HAYDEN SNIDER THE ROANOKE TIMES
He ``believed in treating people fairly, and people being treated fairly,'' said a Community Relations Task Force co-chairperson.
The Rev. Dr. Alfred Prunty, a vocal supporter of improving relations between the Roanoke Police Department and the black community, died Sunday at a Richmond hospital. He was 71.
Prunty, pastor of Slate Hill Baptist Church until a year ago, was an early co-chairperson of the city manager's Community Relations Task Force.
The task force was formed in 1990 after the local NAACP chapter accused the police of using excessive force in several incidents with black residents, which in turn led to questions about minority recruiting in the department.
A year later, Prunty and other task force members criticized what they believed was the city's slow response in addressing concerns from the black community.
"This is supposed to be the All-American City. That's the biggest joke there is," Prunty said in a 1991 Roanoke Times & World-News story. "It's hard to believe we live in a city where we don't do anything more to hire and recruit minorities than we do.
"It's a feeling of disgust, because we're about 20 years behind the times."
Melinda Payne, a member of the Roanoke School Board, was a co-chairperson of the task force with Prunty. She said he had a lot to do with getting the task force started, and that he was committed to fostering a better relationship between police and the black community.
"Rev. Prunty believed in treating people fairly, and people being treated fairly," Payne said.
George Sanderson, also a task force co-chairperson, remembers Prunty as being very level-headed.
"When we had anything coming up that was controversial, we could depend on Al to say, `Let's look at that in a different light,''' he said.
Prunty's zeal for community action didn't spill over to the pulpit.
"He felt the sanctuary was for the Lord's work," said church member Esther Whitlock. Prunty saved all talk that wasn't related to God for the fellowship hall.
It is there that the church holds breakfasts once a month as part of a rotation with three other churches. Community leaders such as Commonwealth's Attorney Don Caldwell, Police Chief David Hooper and Payne have been invited to speak.
It was Prunty's idea, and the churches have continued the before-church meetings that give members a chance to ask questions, express concerns or suggest solutions for community problems, Whitlock said.
Despite his involvement in community affairs, Whitlock said she will remember him most for the work he did in the church.
He helped boost membership at the church and oversaw the addition of a kitchen and fellowship hall. His success could probably be linked to his ability to appeal to members of all ages.
"He was interested in every member," Whitlock said. "He was interested in having every member involved in some or all of the activities in the church."
No job was beneath Prunty, who drove the church bus on occasion, she said. "He would serve in any capacity he could."
Prunty is survived by his daughter, Melissa Kemp of Richmond. His funeral will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Greater Mt. Zion Baptist Church.
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