Charles W. “Chuck’’ Cherry II of Daytona Beach, a fierce advocate of the Black Press and a longtime warrior for social justice, died on Saturday, July 15, at age 66.

Chuck Cherry retired as publisher of the Daytona Times and the Florida Courier in 2020 after running the Black newspapers’ editorial operations for decades.

The retired attorney also was an author, speaker, radio broadcaster and strategic business planning consultant.

In 2019, he founded 623 Management, Inc., a company that focused on developing and disseminating messaging to Black America with a specific focus on understanding and reaching Florida’s Black population through a comprehensive marketing strategy.

He also was a sought-after speaker on Black history and civil rights in Daytona Beach and beyond.

Charles W. Cherry II was born on Aug. 6, 1956, in Daytona Beach to Julia T. Cherry and Charles W. Cherry, Sr., founder of the Daytona Times and Florida Courier newspapers. The senior Cherry also was a past president of the Florida NAACP and a former Daytona Beach city commissioner.

Admitted into the Florida Bar in December 1983, he was a former Fort Lauderdale city and South Florida state prosecutor, and practiced law for 21 years before returning to journalism and newspaper publishing as his primary occupation upon the death of Charles W. Cherry, Sr.

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For more than 10 years, Chuck Cherry also served as general counsel to the Housing Authority of the City of Fort Lauderdale.

Along with being publisher of the newspapers, he served as general manager of the family-owned radio station WPUL-AM and for years was host of the station’s “Free Your Mind’’ radio show.

Jenise Griffin, who replaced Cherry as publisher in 2020, said, “Chuck Cherry was my longtime mentor and friend, and I am devastated by his passing. He was a giant in the journalism industry and his voice will be missed. As his award-winning column was titled, he told it ‘straight, no chaser.’ I admired him as a journalist, a brother with a great legal mind, and an awesome father.’’

She added, “Although he was no longer a working member of the Daytona Times and Florida Courier, the staffers often still reached out to him for advice and insight on their editorial projects.’’

Plans for a public memorial service are in the works. In lieu of flowers, the Cherry family is requesting that donations be made to the Charles W. Cherry Sr. Endowed Scholarship Fund via giving.morehouse.edu.

Margaret Katherine Riley Pryor, 89, passed away peacefully at home in Moreno Valley, California during the early morning hours of July 8, 2023. She was born on Nov. 10, 1933, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to parents Katie Jasper Drake and Luther L. Thompson. After her family relocated to Phoenix, Arizona, she graduated from Phoenix Technical High School and later attended Arizona State University.

She married the late O.D.V. Owens in 1953 and from that union Malcolm D. Owens and Cheryl Y. Owens were born. She married the late Roy A. Pryor in 1964.

Margaret was first elected to the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Board of Directors in 1980. She served as the BART board president for three terms.

A tireless advocate of access to public transportation in underserved communities, she made sure Bay Area communities’ interests were represented on all vital transportation industry issues, particularly advocating for increased funding for public transportation and passenger rail in the community she served.

Margaret was also influential in the founding of Black Women Organized for Political Action (BWOPA). She was a member of Bay Area Christian Connection in Oakland, California.

She was preceded in her death by husband Roy A. Pryor, her mother Katie Jasper Drake and father Luther L. Thompson, half-brother Luther James Thompson and half-sisters Wanda Dorsey and Patsy Atkins.

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Margaret is survived by her children: Malcolm D. Owens and Cheryl Y. Owens; grandchildren Tente S. Owens (Naykeya), Malcolm C. Owens, Jr. (Christie), and L. Alexander ‘Alex’ Williams III; great-grandchildren: Spring M. Owens, Malcolm Brayden Owens, Mckenzie R. Owens, Maverick C. Owens, Logan A. Williams, Justin A. Williams; step-great-grandchildren Jazmin M. Guidry, Taylor M. Miller, and Seoul M. Worrell; half-sisters: Althea Banner, Angela Bailey (James) and Tarvis Parks.

Margaret leaves many other loved ones and friends to mourn her loss.

She will be remembered as a strong and intelligent woman who impacted many lives throughout her lifespan. Her remains will be interred with her husband, Roy A. Pryor, at Rolling Hills Memorial Park in Richmond, California. Services will be private.

Samuel Jones Sr., affectionately known as Sam, departed from his earthly home Tuesday, June 13, 2023, in San Leandro, CA. He was surrounded by his loving family.

Sam graduated from Rochelle High School in Lakeland, Florida. In 1963 he earned his Bachelor of Sciences degree from Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, Florida.

At FAMU, Sam met the love of his life, Hazel Redden from Arcadia, Florida, whom he married in 1966. The same year, Sam moved to Sonora, California, to begin his first job as a counselor at Five Miles Job Corps Center, where he was joined by his lovely bride.

Seeking new employment and higher horizons, in 1968 the young family moved to Oakland. They were the parents of two successful and productive children: a son, Dr. Samuel Jones, II and Candice Jones Mulder, owner and CEO of J-Vision Educational Services, and artist manager for her actress daughter, Nia Mulder.

Sam and his wife were raised in Christian homes, and they continued this spiritual life by joining Oakland’s Allen Temple Baptist Church under the leadership of J. Alfred Smith Sr. where Sam served God and attended faithfully for more than 50 years until passing.

Sam truly loved his family. Although living in California, he and his family traveled often to Florida, visiting family and friends. They also enjoyed traveling to numerous places, within and outside of the United States.

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For 57 years, they enjoyed and lived a wonderful life together. One of his blessings was seeing his granddaughter, Nia, portraying the role of Young Nala in Disney’s iconic production, “The Lion King.”

In the last five years of his life, Sam’s health began to decline. He was, until his end, a believer, a fighter, and champion.

Sam is survived by his wife, Hazel; son, Dr. Samuel Jones; daughter, Candice Jones Mulder; granddaughter, Nia; son-in-law, Marshawn Mulder; brother-in-law, Priest Redden; and numerous aunts, nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.

The viewing will be on Monday, July 10 at C.P. Banon Mortuary at 6800 International Blvd., Oakland, California.

Sam’s celebration of life will be held Tuesday, July 11 at 11 a.m. at Allen Temple Baptist Church, 8501 International Blvd., Oakland, California, 94621