A United States Army Veteran, upon leaving the service Harold went on to open a successful barbershop in Wyandanch, NY called Welcome Barbershop. He never had any kids but many of my family members recall spending time in his shop and getting “fatherly” advice from him. I have many memories of Uncle Harold which typically center on eccentricity’s like his belief that eating beets daily, prolonged your life. Whenever he would come over to my Grandmothers house he had a huge smile and would share little known information about the world and people that none of us knew about. Afterwards, he would laugh like he said the funniest thing in the world and we’d laugh along with a bit of confusion in our eyes. But that was Uncle Harold, always leaving us with a laugh and something to think about later.
Harold Carpenter passed away on August 27, 2003 and today I honor him for Black History Month. I hope he’s in heaven sharing his thoughts and laughing it up with my Nana.