Lamar E. DeLoatch is a historian, genealogical compiler, and researcher. He is the President of the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society of North Carolina/Piedmont – Triad Chapter (AAHGS of NC/Piedmont – Triad) in Greensboro, North Carolina, which he co-founded in June 1998. In addition to the Piedmont – Triad chapter, DeLoatch has organized AAHGS chapters in Raleigh and Charlotte. He has been a member of the Afro-American Historical & Genealogical Society, Inc. (Washington, DC) since 1985.

DeLoatch’s goal is to “bring enslaved families together.” In addition to his work with AAGHS of NC/Piedmont – Triad, he has published a genealogical directory, A History of the DeLoatches of Northampton (1991), which has been included in the Genealogical Services Branch Division of the State Library of North Carolina (Raleigh), the National Archives in Washington, DC., and the Northampton County County Public Library (Jackson, NC).

DeLoatch attends Genesis Baptist Church in Greensboro, NC, where he serves as Youth Ministry Coordinator and is a member of the Church Leadership Team. After 29 years, DeLoatch retired as the Director of Evaluations/Career Development at Goodwill Industries, Greensboro, NC. Prior to Goodwill, he worked for ten years as the District Scout Executive for the Boy Scouts of America, and with the New York State Division for Youth for six years. He attended Elizabeth City State University, National Executive Institute, and Auburn University, and has been a Business owner / consultant (transportation, tours, and travel) for over 40 years. DeLoatch served as a member of the City of Greensboro’s Human Relations Commission for eight years and on the Minority/Women Business Enterprise Board for seventeen years. He is the founder of the NorthEast Project (a community development corporation), and is currently serving as a mentor for new & start-up businesses.

DeLoatch loves horseback riding, tennis, golf, traveling, working with youth & young adults, praising the Lord, genealogy research, economic development, and playing with his grandsons. His family attended the first Somerset Homecoming in 1986.

[This piece was submitted by the honoree and has been edited.]