Rev Walter S. Leflore
Reverend Walter S. LeFlore of Salem, VA, passed away in his home with his wife by his side on August 12, 2024 at the age of 72. He was born to the late George LeFlore and Marzella Goode LeFlore on January 26, 1952, in Schenectady, NY.
Walter had a long and varied career, including the Assistant to the City Manager for the City of Dover, NH, Director of Personnel and Labor Relations for the New Hampshire Municipal Association, Organizational Development, and HR Manager for Digital Equipment, and an Adjunct Faculty Member for Cambridge College.
In 1986, he started an organizational consulting practice focusing on change management, diversity as an organizational development tool, and team development. His clients included Chevron, Ford, Frito Lay, The Gillette Co., and many others.
Walter began attending the First Parish Church in Stow, MA, which led to his next professional step as an ordained Unitarian Universalist Minister. He obtained his Masters of Divinity at Andover Newton Theological School. He interned at All Souls Church in Washington, DC, was a summer minister at First Church in Boston, MA., and was a minister for 8 years at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Poughkeepsie, NY. In 2020, he and his wife moved to Virginia for his position as a Developmental Minister for the Unitarian Universalist Church of Roanoke.
Walter’s focus on diversity and equity started in high school when he helped to found a group called Linton Action Committee, which addressed issues of race, and this work extended through his professional career. Walter served on the Unitarian Universalist Ministers Association board and was part of the ARAOMC (Anti-racism, anti-oppression, multiculturalism) and the CAROM Committee. He Co-Authored the book Centering: Navigating Race, Authenticity, and Power In Ministry, was President of the Dutchess County Interfaith Council, and was one of the founding members of the Roanoke, VA Reparations Group. As someone who could see the bigger picture, he didn’t hesitate to step into the fray to have conversations that might make others uncomfortable but undoubtedly exposed their blind spots and opened their minds.
He had lifelong passions for his aquariums, gardening, birding and the news.
Walter is preceded in death by his parents George and Marzella LeFlore, three brothers, Louis LeFlore, Dr. James LeFlore and Ray LeFlore, sister, Florence Nicholson Anderson and daughter Elisha Inferrara.
He is survived by his wife, Yvette LeFlore; his two children, Alison LeFlore and Eric (Audrey) LeFlore, and grandchildren, Nicholas Inferrara, Joseph Inferrara, Kimberly Inferrara, and Elias LeFlore. A brother, Ivens LeFlore, and two sisters, Loretta Wells and Pat Francois.
In lieu of flowers, Walter has asked that donations be made to the Roanoke Reparations Group. Checks can be sent to the UU Church of Roanoke, 2015 Grandin Rd. Roanoke, VA 24015, with Reparations in the memo line.
There will be two celebrations of life services for Walter. August 24th at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Roanoke, VA at 1pm and September 14th at the First Parish Church of Stow, MA at 2pm.
