Retired U.S. Air Force Captain Leroy L. Cromartie, age 98, beloved husband of Britanna Pinkney Cromartie, died on Sunday, September 28, 2025, at the National Healthcare Center, Sumter. Born in Coats, North Carolina, he was the son of the late Oliver H. Cromartie, Jr. and Mary R. Gardner Cromartie. He was affectionately called Leroy, Lee, Cro, and Papa. Mr. Cromartie attended the public schools of Harnett County, North Carolina, and graduated from Tuskegee University, where he studied Building Construction and Architecture. He served his country in the U.S. Army and the U.S. Air Force and was a veteran of World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. He earned numerous awards and decorations and retired in 1971 with over 20 years of active service. Following his retirement, he worked for the Santee-Lynches Regional Planning Council of Governments for eight years. For many years afterward, he was a private architect, designing numerous homes and buildings in Sumter. Serving his church, organizations, and community was vital to him. Mr. Cromartie was a faithful member of Mt. Pisgah A.M.E. Church, where he served on the Board of Trustees. He was a life member of American Legion Post 202 and an Emeritus Member of the Good Fellows Club. He was also a member and Past Master of Catchall Masonic Lodge #425 PHA. The Sumter community benefited from his serving on the Sumter City and County Planning Commission and the Solid Waste Advisory Committee. In addition to his parents, Mr. Cromartie was preceded in death by a brother, Mr. James Gardner, and a sister, Mrs. Evelyn C. Tann. Leroy is survived by his wife of 50 years, Britanna P. Cromartie, who he affectionately called Patoo; one daughter, Dr. Alberta Sierra Neal (Pierre) and two grandsons, Pierre Ricardo Neal II and Christopher Andrew Neal all of Sumter; two nephews, Jibreel Muhammad (Niya) of Jersey City, New Jersey and Rodney Tann of Richmond, Virginia; grandnieces and nephews, and a host of friends. Visitation will be held on Sunday, October 5, 2025, from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., followed by Masonic services at 5:00 p.m. at Williams Funeral Home, 821 North Main Street, Sumter, SC 29150. Funeral services will be on Monday, October 6, 2025, at 11:00 a.m., at Mt. Pisgah A.M.E. Church on 217 West Bartlett Street, Sumter, SC. Committal is at Fort Jackson National Cemetery, 4170 Percival Rd, Columbia, SC. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Mt. Pisgah A.M.E. Church Building Fund, 217 West Bartlett Street, Sumter, SC 29150.
Condolence Messages
Leave Your Condolence
Please feel free to sign the Guest Register and forward your condolences to friends and family members who have suffered a loss. Please enter your words of remembrance in the space provided. You may select whether you wish for us to deliver them to the family, display them online or both. Please note that Williams Funeral Home, Inc. will review all messages before they are published on the world-wide web or forwarded to family members. Please don't hesitate to contact us with any questions you may have. Thank-you.