Ronald Frierson

Celebration of Life for Ronald Everett Frierson

Public Viewing: 
Friday, May 20, 2022
5:30pm-8:00 pm
Wylie Funeral Home
9200 Liberty Road
Randallstown, MD  21133

Celebration of Life:
Saturday, May 21, 2022
Wake: 11:30am-12:00pm
Service: 12:00pm-1:00pm
Wylie Funeral Home
9200 Liberty Road
Randallstown, MD  21133

Interment: Immediately following service at Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens
200 East Padonia Rd.
Timonium, MD 21093

Please follow all COVID-19 guidelines. Masks are REQUIRED at all events.

In lieu of flowers, contributions and other expressions of comfort can be sent to Mrs. Jacqueline Frierson. 

Mail:
9309 Edway Circle
Randallstown, MD 21133

CashApp:
https://cash.app/$RonaldFriersonFund

Thank you for all your love and prayers during this difficult time. 

Ronald Everett Frierson, or Ronnie, as he was affectionately known, was called to his heavenly home at the age of 70 on May 5, 2022, after contracting pneumonia while in the hospital. Ronnie never gave up hope of getting well enough to return home. Although Ronnie lost his battle with pneumonia, he was surrounded by his immediate family as he peacefully transitioned to eternal rest. 

On February 20, 1952, Ronnie was born as the only child to the late Eresta Frierson and Dorothy Carr Frierson in Florence, South Carolina. He was raised in a family home with his grandparents, mom, aunts, and three cousins raised as his sisters. Ronnie was spoiled as the family's baby boy and "could do no wrong." As a young child, Ronnie was curious and inquisitive. He loved to develop plans and ideas for his friends and family. He was a natural-born leader known for getting into good and not-so-good trouble.

Ronnie grew up at the family church, Trinity Baptist Church of Florence, SC, where he accepted Jesus Christ as Savior. On June 5, 1960, he was baptized by Reverend H. P. Sharper and became a church member. Ronnie joined the Sunshine Band Choir, where he loved to sing "This Little Light of Mine" and was known for his eloquent speeches to the congregation on Easter Sundays. 

Ronnie was educated in the Florence County Public school system. He attended Carver Elementary, Williams Middle, and graduated from Wilson High School in 1970. He took advantage of every academic and extra-curricular opportunity. Being civic-minded and having a passion for positive social change, he became president of the Young Democratic Club of Florence, SC. Ronnie was articulate, charismatic, and confident and was known to take roles in school plays. Although unknown to him at the time, Ronnie's passion for education would become his calling and would lead him to positively impact thousands of young people over his lifetime.

Ronnie was no stranger to hard work and developed a strong work ethic at an early age. His first job was potting plants at Charlie Womack Nursery. He was so happy coming home with $10.00 for a week's worth of work, covered from head to toe in soil, but beaming with pride because of his accomplishments. Ronnie also worked with Wright's Construction Company as a laborer. While still in high school, he was one of a few students allowed to work as a school bus driver. A student driving a school bus back then was a big deal! Ronnie's mother eventually bought him a lawnmower, and he became self-employed. Ronnie's strong desire to attend college came from his grandmother, affectionately known as Mua, and those early jobs gave him insight into the profession he would pursue. In his later years, Ronnie would often tell his family, "I pursued higher education because I wanted to use my brains, not my hands."

Ronnie began his matriculation at Benedict College in Columbia, South Carolina, in 1970. In December 1972, he became a member of the "Apollo 5" line of the Epsilon Epsilon Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated. In 1974, Ronnie was awarded a Bachelor of Arts in English. Ronnie's college classmates and fraternity brothers describe him as a popular and fun-loving guy.

After graduating from college in 1974, Ronnie moved to Baltimore, Maryland, where he would eventually meet and marry the love of his life and start a family. On February 25, 1977, Ronnie met Jacqueline (Jacque) at a dance at Emerald Gardens, and they were inseparable from that day forward. Whether it was attending local concerts, binge-watching TV shows, or trips to stores around town with Jacque, Ronnie never needed extravagance because he enjoyed Jacque's company more than anything else. Ronnie and Jacque would eventually marry on October 26, 1981. Ronnie quickly formed a bond with Jacque's seven-year-old son Devin, who affectionately called him "Pops." Their family of three grew to five with the birth of J.C. in 1978 and Jakisha, whom Ronnie affectionately called "baby girl," in 1982. Ronnie was a proud and devoted husband and father who shared his children's accomplishments and pictures of his family with friends and colleagues. Ronnie was always there to help, guide, protect, and provide for his family every step of the way.

Ronnie received his Certification in Education from The Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD, in 1977. He pursued graduate studies at Loyola College in Baltimore, MD, where he obtained twenty-one graduate credits toward a Master's in Administration and Supervision. He received the State of Maryland Educator Certification and Advanced Professional Certificate.

Ronnie began his career as an English teacher at Gwynns Falls Junior High and Benjamin Franklin Middle School. Ronnie was also the Lead English IV teacher at Carver Vocational Technical High School. After leaving Carver, Ronnie continued teaching as a Home and Hospital Instructional Leadership Team member. He provided individualized instruction for students who could not attend school due to illness, accident, or another crisis. Ronnie taught at the bedside of students in the hospital battling cancer and recovering from gunshot wounds and traveled to homes to teach young teen mothers. He also coordinated academic modifications for students with special needs, served as a class advisor, and mentored new teachers. He believed every child deserves the best education and every student can succeed if they have the proper foundation. Ronnie's classroom became a safe space for students trying to escape the harsh realities of growing up in Baltimore City. Ronnie instilled in thousands of students that education was the key to success and stability. 

Ronnie's dedication and commitment to the youth of Baltimore extended far beyond the classroom and was evident in his love for coaching. Ronnie coached sports for 34 years, including varsity football and junior varsity softball, baseball, and boys' basketball. He coached football for thirty-one years at Carver, where he was the Varsity Head Football Coach for thirteen years. Ronnie took the Carver football team to its first State Playoff game in 2005. He also coached football for three years at Patterson High School and coached in three All-Star games. As a huge fan of the Baltimore Ravens and Ray Lewis being his favorite player, Ronnie was incredibly proud to be named the Baltimore Ravens High School Coach of the Week, not once but twice! 

Ronnie retired from Baltimore City Public Schools in 2017 after 42 ½ years of dedicated service. Ronnie's greatest joy in retirement was spending time with his grandchildren. He loved to watch his grandchildren play in the backyard and give them pop quizzes to make sure their minds were sharp. Ronnie returned to coaching one last time in 2019 when he coached his grandson's little league baseball team and was named Coach of the Year. Ronnie also enjoyed hosting family and friends for holidays, cookouts, and birthday parties, getting together with the guys to watch football on Sundays, and shooting pool at the local senior center. Ronnie loved watching old Westerns, playing chess, and listening to old soul music. 

Ronnie was always a people person, and as soon as anyone met him, there was an immediate attachment. There wasn't a place he could go without someone recognizing him and stopping to thank him for the positive impact he had on their lives. Ronnie's legacy will live on through his children and grandchildren. It will also live on in the thousands of children who, because of his influence, have grown to become successful professionals changing the world for the better each day. 

Ronnie was preceded in death by his parents, Eresta and Dorothy Frierson; grandparents: JC(Louise) Carr & lvory(Annie) Gunter Frierson; his aunts: Frances Andrews, Elizabeth Carr, Patsy Louise Frierson Elliott, Benzina Bedard & Annie Mae Melton & his uncle, Wellington Wilder, Sr.,

He leaves to cherish his memory his devoted wife of forty-five years, Jacqueline D. Frierson of Randallstown, MD; two sons, Devin R. Johnson of Petersburg, VA and Ronald J.C. Frierson of Randallstown, MD; one daughter, Jakisha (Allen) Blackwell of Randallstown, MD; two grandsons, Jalen and Jordan Blackwell and one granddaughter, Jaxsyn Blackwell of Randallstown, MD; one brother-in-law, Larry Prescott of Owings Mills, MD;  first cousins (raised as his sisters), Theresa Pearson of Owings Mills, MD, Terry Baker of Florence, SC, and Sharon "Tippy" (James Henry) McDaniel of Bristol, VA; one uncle, Ivory Frierson, Jr. of Browns Mill, NJ; cousins: Marceain Williamson of Pikesville, MD, Theresa Boston of Florence, SC, Wanda Lynch of Tabor City, NC, and Patricia DeVane of Wilmington, NC; and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.