Legend Moses ‘Mo’ Lucas dies
Moses “Mo” Lucas addresses the crowd on Sunday, June 19, during the Annual Mo Lucas Father’s Day Parade and Cookout. For more than 60 years, Lucas served children at the YMCA. (Photo by Tevin Stinson)
Leader passes away two days after annual Father’s Day event
On Tuesday, June 21, just 48 hours after the annual Father’s Day parade and cookout dedicated to him, Moses “Mo” Lucas, 89, passed away.
Michael Terry, president of the Mo Lucas Foundation, informed the public of Lucas’ untimely death via Facebook just after 10 p.m. Tuesday. The post reads: “It really saddens me to have to post this however, Mr. Mo Lucas has passed and I want to thank every last one of you for giving him victory before he passed on.”
After retiring from the U.S. Army, Lucas joined the Patterson Avenue YMCA as a volunteer in 1954. While attending Winston-Salem State University (WSSU), where he is credited with chartering the first chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc., Lucas first made a name for himself among youth in the area by deejaying weekly dances at the Patterson Avenue and Winston Lake Y branches.
After graduating from WSSU in 1960, Lucas joined the Y staff as a full-time employee, where he continued to inspire children in the community for more than 60 years.
Even after retiring at the age of 66, Lucas continued to spend his free time volunteering well into his 80s. Over the course of his tenure at the Patterson Avenue and Winston Lake branches, Lucas mentored hundreds of young men through his step team that was known for sporting the finest suits, as they strutted their stuff in area parades and other community events.
According to Terry, just minutes before he passed, Lucas was talking about how good it felt to see everyone at the parade held downtown on Sunday, June 19. Terry, who joined Lucas’ step team at age 14, said he was confused by the unexpected passing of the man he considers his role model.
“Right now, I’m super confused,” he said. “For the first time in my life, I can say I don’t know what to do.”
The YMCA of Northwest North Carolina issued the following statement on Lucas’ passing:
“There are few people who have influenced our community like Moses “Mo” Lucas. He has been a role model and mentor for generations of children in Winston-Salem. Mo Lucas began his career at the YMCA in 1954 at the Patterson Avenue Y. During his 50-year tenure he led programming ranging from summer camps to youth sports. He founded the Youth Incentive Program, as well as the Mo Lucas Boss Drummers, a longstanding, popular drumline, and Yettes, a majorette dance troupe. Following his retirement, Mo continued to be an active part of the Winston Lake Family YMCA until his passing. Our YMCA and our community are stronger because of Mo’s contributions. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him and his impact will be felt for years to come.”
