James Credle ascended into the heavens on the morning of April 15, 2023.
Born in North Carolina in 1945, James lived a life filled with heart and soul, and created a legacy for the thousands of lives he touched all over the world. One of 14 children, James worked alongside his siblings to support his family, and in 1962, he moved to Newark, New Jersey, where he would call home for most of his life.
James began working at the Veterans Administration in Lyons, New Jersey, but his service did not end there. James was drafted into the U.S. Army, and served courageously in Vietnam. Trained as a medic, James became a hero, assisting others while he himself was wounded in Tây Ninh province. His selfless actions earned him the Purple Heart and Army Commendation Medals, the Vietnamese Cross for Gallantry, and a Bronze Star with a “V” for Valor.
Afterward, James became a founding member and chairperson of the Association of Veterans Program Administrators and Director of the National Association of Concerned Veterans. He was also a founding member of the National Association for Black Veterans, Vice Chair of the New Jersey Agent Orange Commission, and the National Council of Churches Executive Director for the Veterans in Prisons Programs.
James was also a driving force for change when he continued his education at Rutgers-Newark University. While a student, he became a member of the Black Organization of Students and participated in a successful protest on campus to bring attention to the lack of educational and professional opportunities for minorities.
In 1973, James officially began his employment at Rutgers, which would last over 38 years. In 1976, he became an Assistant Dean, then Dean of Minority Student Affairs, where he continued to make a difference in the lives of students who were discriminated against and deprived of their civil rights.
His lasting impact on the lives of students continues to be felt throughout academia today. Since 2005, the Dean James Credle Award has been granted annually to a student who contributes through community service activities by the Women’s Studies Department.
James also founded the Circle of Friends, a non-profit organization devoted to granting scholarships to students for their LGBTQ+ advocacy and other efforts in our communities. In addition, he was responsible in helping to create and serve as a board member of the Newark Pride Alliance.
James has also left an indelible mark on the formation and early service as Co-Chair of the NABWMT, and of the New York chapter (Men of All Colors Together). In addition, he aided the Philadelphia Chapter as well as to other Chapters, both nationally, and internationally. Most recently, James was an active member of the Bush-Mallon Institute for Social Justice (BMISJ), helping to create and co-facilitate several workshops. His work for over 40 years is one of the reasons why the National Association of Black and White Men continues to exist today as an. antiracism, anti-sexism, anti-HIV discrimination, and anti-homophobic and transphobic organization.
James and Pierre
There are not enough words that can express our heartfelt sadness and our sense of loss for James, our visionary and extraordinary hero, mentor, friend, and father figure. Our hearts go out to his family and to his husband, Pierre Dufresne. Both James and Pierre showed us how people in love can overcome many obstacles and challenges and endure. When same gender marriages were legalized, their wedding at the Newark City Hall was officiated by Mr. Cory Booker.
We are honored to have been recipients of the many extraordinary gifts he gave to us so freely and unconditionally. He is the reason that we must continue his work; his legacy will be forever an important part of our history. He fought for this country. He fought to end segregation, discrimination, and oppression. His life and legacy will continue to shine brightly because of his will to endure the harshness around him to create a better place for all of us to live, love, and to be ourselves.
There were two services for James Credle. One was a memorial April 28 at Rutgers Newark-Paul Robeson Campus. The other was a funeral service on May 6 in Mesic N.C.
James will continue to live on in our hearts, minds, and spirits and is his passion for positive change will be felt for years to come.
