Mr. Freddie Lane Jr.

FAYETTEVILLE – Fred Lane, Jr. Esq. aka Mustafa Qasim Faruq Rashid, 55, of Fayetteville, NC was called Home on 14 December 2024 to be with God and rewarded eternally for a life welllived. Mr. Lane was born in Buffalo, New York on 10 February 1969 to Merita Azadale Carr Lane (who preceded Mr. Lane in death in 2020) and Freddie Lane, Sr. Mr. Lane was a God-serving man who studied and taught theology for most of his adult life; served downtrodden and oft overlooked citizens otherwise in need; advocated for those who were otherwise burdened by inaccessible justice withheld; fostered and committed to adopt difficultly placed children who survived trauma; and whose early Christian education was primarily at Lisbon Street Baptist Church in Clinton, NC where he was baptized and worshiped with his parents and three younger siblings, Jeffrey Lane; Tarita Lane and Shana Lane. In his latter years, he and his family primarily worshipped at Manna Church in Fayetteville, where his multiethnic children enjoyed the service format to which they were accustomed and though his wife remains a member of Simon Temple AMEZ Church. Mr. Lane graduated from Clinton High School in 1987. An African-American man from a family of little financial means in a small rural town, Mr. Lane was brilliant and was spuriously but extremely narrowly deprived the high school Valedictorian honor and instead was class Salutatorian, a member of the National Honor Society and Beta Club, and an honor graduate decorated highly with corresponding cords. A year prior to his high school graduation, Mr. Lane became a model father figure to a beautiful baby girl (Danyle), who was born of his young friend who had formerly attended and graduated from the same high school. The two soon thereafter had a beautiful baby girl (Cynthia) and Mr. Lane was a loving and doting father even while attending Wake Forest University on a full academic George Foster Hankins Scholarship and working full-time to be a financially supportive father while clocking in countless precious hours at the local Walmart, in the university library and as a highly sought university-endorsed academic tutor. Mr. Lane graduated with high honors from Wake Forest University in 1991 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and a minor in chemistry. While awaiting his sweetheart’s completed undergraduate matriculation, Mr. Lane taught honors science classes and coached track at his high school alma mater. While at his high school alma mater and due partly to disparate treatment he received as a student, Mr. Lane observed a need for greater camaraderie and resources amongst the black male students and persuaded the administration to permit him to form BMO (homophonous for “Be More” and an acronym for Black Men’s Organization). BMO became a launching pad for many Clinton High School graduates who have excelled academically and professionally while maintaining strong bonds with one another. Toward the latter years of his life, Mr. Lane devoted himself to forming a nationally offered high school brotherhood-sisterhood organization for all children and National Pharaohs Society was formed from the Clinton High School BMO model with support of BMO alumni and mentors. After teaching high school for a year, Mr. Lane entered law school at North Carolina Central University. Excelling academically as always before, Mr. Lane won several law school academic honors called “book awards” that are awarded to the highest performing student in each class. Mr. Lane was a tutor provided by the law school as well as a professor’s assistant. He helped revive and was instrumental in the competitive success of the Trial Advocacy Team. He additionally was awarded the academically based honors of Moot Court membership and Law Journal Editor-in-Chief. In the Fall of 1989 and prior to graduating from undergraduate school, Mr. Lane crossed the burning sands into the ice-cold Xi Eta Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. A life member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Mr. Lane’s line name was Plato and anyone knowing him even casually would easily discern why. Also in the Fall of 1989, Mr. Lane began dating the love of his life who rejoicingly became his fiancé while in undergraduate school and soon became his cherished and loved wife. The two young George Foster Hankins Scholars were smitten with Lyle Love amongst the beautiful WFU magnolias while the then Meleisa Cassandra Rush was becoming a member of the Pi Beta Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc at the same time that Mr. Lane was joining what is known as the PhirstPham other half. On Juneteenth of 1993, Mr. Lane and Mrs. Meleisa C. Rush-Lane became one when they were joined in Holy Matrimony at Soldiers Memorial AMEZ church by their Uncle Franklin Rush with their uncle Oscar Rush and Mr. Lane’s Lisbon Street Baptist Pastor Rev Dr. HR Cogdell additionally officiating. With his union with Meleisa, Mr. Lane gained two additional parents and travel buddies (Margaret and Melvin Rush who preceded him in death in 2020 and 2021 respectively); two brothers (Melvin, II and Marius); a beloved niece and nephew who are Marius’ children; informally adopted children (son Xavier and daughter Ashanisty); foster children; many uncles and aunts; and many cousins. Mr. Lane was additionally blessed to love three nephews and five nieces born of Mr. Lane’s biological siblings; a son and daughter born to Danyle; and three sons and a daughter born to Cynthia. During law school, Mr. Lane became a Mason and later became a Shriner. Mr. Lane graduated from law school with high honors in 1995. After law school, Mr. Lane had the esteemed and rare honor of serving as a judicial clerk at the North Carolina Supreme Court and had the then singular privilege of doing so for two terms with the Honorable Chief Justice Henry E. Frye. Mr. Lane additionally was a prized associate attorney with preeminent law practices that include the law office of Attorney Albert Kirby; Browne, Flebotte Wilson Horne and Webb; and The Charleston Group Lawyers. Mr. Lane had various law partners, together with his wife, throughout his career of obtaining phenomenal results for countless happy clients who became and remained long term friends until his early demise. Passing the NC Bar exam on his first attempt and doing so exceptionally well on the bar exam that he was eligible to waive into admission in the District of Columbia, Mr. Lane successfully practiced business and civil litigation as well as appellate law for decades until his health took a turn that irreparably impacted his ability to navigate his successful law practice that was unduly stressful because his empathy and commitment to justice led him to quite literally carry and manage the burdens of the people he zealously represented. Prior to leaving the practice of law, Mr. Lane became Chief Administrative Officer for Perkins International Inc. Until his soul departed from this realm, Mr. Lane continued to fulfil that corporate leadership role while also serving as a Legal Analyst for well-respected trial and appellate law firms, partnering with his wife in their mortgage lending business to facilitate homeownership nationwide, serving as a Duke University School of Law trained arbitrator, and as Chief Administrative Officer for Black Titan Investment Corporation. Mr. Lane was a cherished Connecting Link through his wife’s Fayetteville (NC) Chapter of The Links, Inc. Mr. Lane and his wife were sometimes called a power couple, but Mr. Lane always knew and taught that all good things come directly from the all-powerful Almighty and that he and his wife were blessed with love for one another through service of God. The couple’s mutual devotion and uncompromising love for God and for one another helped his wife to remain at Mr. Lane’s bedside while providing ceaseless support, comfort and prayer. Mr. Lane peacefully transitioned without pain or life regrets and he eventually released his loving wife’s tightly held left hand when his last heartbeat, brainwave and breath escaped his mortal body. As he did so, his left thumb caressed his wedding band that was then worn on his wife’s left thumb (in safe-keeping for what the couple hoped would be a miraculous recovery). Mr. Lane’s family held two private services in his honor shortly after his passing. In honor of the day this world was first blessed with his exquisite way of moving through life with Jesus-like qualities, a Celebration of Life has been scheduled to commence at 1:00 pm on 15 February 2025 at Colvin Chapel, 2010 Murchison Road, Fayetteville, North Carolina. In lieu of Flowers, Donations may be made to Pharaohs Foundation, Inc. to help sponsor underprivileged youth for membership, college tours, introduction to trades and entrepreneurship and travel with National Pharaohs Society. Checks may be mailed to 3505 Thamesford Road, Fayetteville NC 28311. Electronic payments may be made via CashApp to $PharaohsFoundation or via PayPal to Me/PharaohsFoundation. Electronic condolences may be sent to contact@pharaohsfoundation.com.

Mr. Freddie Lane Jr.

February 10, 1969 - December 14, 2024