Detroit loses two community pillars

On Monday, June 22, Detroit lost two individuals of great accomplishment and whose impact will endure — Brenda L. Rayford, executive director of Black United Fund of Michigan (BUF), and Leon  H. Atchison, longest-serving member of the Wayne State University Board of Governors.

Rayford, community development activist and social worker, spent the greater part of her life working to ensure that community-based, nonprofit organizations and programs received financial and technical capacity building support.
A number of major organizations, including the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, received local and national recognition due to the early funding they received from BUF.
Services were held on June 30 at St. Stephen A.M.E. Church. Swanson Funeral Home handled arrangements.
Atchison, although regularly noted for his 32-year tenure on the WSU board, at various times held a number of other key positions. They include serving as director of purchasing for the City of Detroit under Mayor Coleman A. Young and director of civic of government affairs for Michigan Consolidated Gas Company.
Upon his retirement from MichCon, Atchison, who had also taught science in the Detroit Public Schools, became an accountant for NICO, a duty-free operation at Detroit Metropolitan Airport. He later became vice president of public affairs and human resources for Ultimed HMO of Michigan. In addition, he served on the Board of Directors of Omni HMO and was a board member and chair for the Detroit Medical Center.

In recognition of his great contributions at Wayne State, the university’s South University Hall was renamed the Leon H. Atchison Hall in 2008.
Services were held at Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church. The arrangements were handled by Swanson Funeral Home.