W.H. Mays Mortuary | Augusta, GA

Obituary For Ambassador Larry L. Palmer

The Honorable Ambassador Larry L. Palmer A native of Augusta, Georgia, Ambassador Larry L. Palmer was born on July 13, 1949 to the late Rev. R.V. Palmer, Sr. and the late Gladys Y. Palmer. Ambassador Larry L. Palmer entered into rest on Thursday, April 22, 2021. He received his early education in the public school system of Richmond County and was a member of the first graduating class of Thomas Walter Josey Comprehensive High School, the Class of 1966. After graduating from T.W. Josey, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Emory University, a Masters in Education in African Studies from Texas Southern University (with studies at the University of Liberia), and a Doctorate in Higher Education Administration and African Studies from Indiana University in Bloomington. Ambassador Palmer served as U.S. Ambassador to Tegucigalpa, Honduras during the presidency of George W. Bush and U.S. Ambassador to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean during the presidency of Barack H. Obama. He also served as Ambassador in Residence to the Office of the Provost at Howard University. An accomplished diplomat, academic and development professional, Ambassador Palmer served as president and CEO of the Inter-American Foundation (IAF), an independent U.S. government agency that provides grants to poor and marginalized communities in Latin America and the Caribbean. As president of the IAF, he supervised a team of development professionals and traveled over 100,000 miles annually funding projects in education, health, alternative energy, agriculture, ecology and economic development, ensuring that the foundation’s assistance funds reached the neediest recipients. In previous roles, he also served as a senior adviser to the president of the University of Texas at El Paso and director of the Office of Minority Affairs at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. A memorial service will be held on Thursday, May 13, 2021 at 1:00 P.M. at the Cramton Auditorium on the campus of Howard University in Washington, D.C. An additional memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 22, 2021 at 12 Noon at Friendship Missionary Baptist Church 2543 Deans Bridge Road, Augusta, GA. Masks will be required and social distancing will be practiced.

Guest Book

Larry was a fraternity brother of mine at Emory University. He was the first black man ever admitted as a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity and was incredibly brave by weathering the immense storm over that action. I met him by chance again when I visited Uruguay as part of a Naval exercise. It had been 14 years since we had seen each other but recognized each other immediately. He invited me and my wife and children to his house for the day and we reminisced. Larry was larger than life. He will be missed. Michael Adams, MD, Capt, USN (retired)

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I had the honor of working for Larry Palmer in Santo Domingo for 4 glorious years from 1994 to 1998. He was, without exaggeration, the best boss I ever had. He had an overwhelming personality that always brought a huge smile to my face and heart whenever I was in his presence. May he Rest In Peace and I look forward to joining him again in the next life. Abrazos Larry. Tu amigo del alma, Jerry Helmick

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I am still not over the death of Larry. I first met him when he was my Ambassador in Honduras and I was new Foreign Service Officer. He had served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Liberia just a few year before I did, and we frequently went together to visit Volunteers in Honduras as we shared a love of Peace Corps. I remember one Valentine's Day party I held in Tegucigalpa and invited many people including Larry and PCVs. I went to bed around 1AM and Larry and the Volunteers must have stayed up all night because I could hear them in the early morning. Several years later when I was in public diplomacy in Argentina and was in charge of an NGO Fair, I asked Larry to come down in his role at President of IAF to be my keynote. He came and was the best part of the whole fair. How I miss him. I am so saddened to think I won't run into him again as I have over the years. My love to his family who must miss very much.

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We were shocked and saddened to hear of the passing of Larry Palmer, our friends and colleague. We first met Larry in Liberia when we were Peace Corps Volunteers. Later we met up when Larry and Lucille returned to Liberia to teach at Cuttington College—now Cuttington University. In 1982, Larry walked back into our lives, showing up in my office when I was working at the Foreign Service Institute. After reconnecting again, we got together sharing a connection with Liberia and Georgetown basketball games. As the years went on and his career in the State Department grew and our careers took us back to Africa, we saw much less of each other. We however proudly followed his career. We last got together at the 50th Anniversary of the Peace Corps. Aside from a few grey hairs, Larry had not changed much. He was still engaging and friendly. Our sympathies go out to Lucille, their son, and all Larry's friends and relatives. Jim and Lyn Gray

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Uncle Larry was such a pure and awesome person with the sweetest Godly spirit. I never seen him sad. Always such a light in the room and to so many people. His gift of love and encouragement will never be forgotten. Hard to believe you are gone. You are so missed.

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I want to offer my prayers to Mr. Palmer's family and friends. He was always respectful and took time for small talk. Nothing reveals more about someone's character then how they treat those with a lower status than their own. He was a great guy.

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My sincere condolences to the family of Larry

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Our staff will continue to keep your family in our prayers. We thank you for allowing us to serve your family.

- W.H. Mays Mortuary | Augusta, GA