
Armel Lashley
In memoriam
Armel Eugene Lashley
August 27, 1939-August 15, 2023
Armel Eugene Lashley, affectionately known as “Gene” or Geno,” was born in Harlem New York to Lorraine Thomas (deceased) and Armel C. Lashley (deceased) on August 27, 1939. He also had a sibling Susan Johnson (deceased). Gene attended New York public schools and graduated from Boys High School in Brooklyn, New York. While attending Boys High, he was a track and field star, and known by his teammates as “Flash”. He won dozens of medals and was recognized by the Boys High Alumni Track and Field Inc. in 2008 for his participation 50 years earlier on the legendary 4×440 relay team, the first team in NYC public school history to break 3:21.00.
Gene’s interest in track was lifelong, and he made yearly pilgrimages with his friends and former teammates to the famous Penn Relays — where they gathered and cheered sitting in the “grey heads” section, and where many of his track triumphs from long ago were recorded.
After graduating from high school, Gene attended Virginia State University, and later, Gene enjoyed a modeling career, appearing in Essence, Ebony, and Jet magazines in the 1960s. With his charisma, wit, and natural gift for developing personal relationships, Gene was a top salesman for Pennsylvania Bell Yellow Pages. He later took those skills to form his own ethnic greeting card company in Minneapolis, Minnesota during the 1970s.
In the 1980s, Malcolm Dunn, Gene’s lifelong friend, brought him on board Dunn & Sons, the New Jersey-based commercial cleaning company. Later, Gene retired after several years working at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
Gene loved fishing, particularly with his cousin Charles Morris at Charles’ fishing camp at Walpole Island First Nation in Canada. It was always a big fun family affair when cousins David, Timothy, and David, Jr. were there with Charles’ fishing partner, KC, “The Catfish Hunter.”
Gene married Augusta M. Jones in 1960, and from that union, came two children, Linda and Armel Jr. Following Augusta’s death, Gene was widowed for many years. In 1996, he met and married Myrna Le Sueur of Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, where he settled and remained until his passing on August 15, 2023.
Eugene was a wonderful father, a loving husband, and a good friend to many too numerous to name.
He is survived by his wife Myrna of 27 years, his two children, Linda and Armel; his grandchildren Jessica Durant, Faraad Kelly, Isaac James; and great-grandchildren Jayden and Zoey Durant; Samirah Kelly and a host of cousins, nieces, and nephews.
The family of Armel Eugene Lashley wishes to acknowledge with sincere appreciation and gratitude the many comforting messages, prayers, and other expressions of kindness and concern.
The memorial service will be held on August 25, 2023, at 11:00 am at Rose Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc. Located at 10940 Frankstown Rd., Pittsburgh PA 15235.
For everyone unable to attend the funeral the service will be streamed via Zoom.
Meeting ID: 796 4230 2379
Passcode: 3nxAcb