Malinda Domineck Pharr
July 3, 1936 – April 1, 2022
The Atlanta Inquirer family mourns the passing of Inquirer former Society Editor and educator, Malinda Domineck Pharr, who passed away peacefully at home on April 1, 2022.
Malinda (“Lin”) Pharr attended Atlanta’s Oglethorpe Elementary School and graduated from Booker T. Washington High School. She then attended Spelman College, graduating in 1962 with a degree in Speech and Drama.
She had been a member of Cosmopolitan AME Church and served on the Alice Brown Usher Board, the Senior Choir, and was an active member of the Senior Ministry.
Pharr began her journalist career alongside her late husband, award winning, longtime Atlanta Inquirer editor, Ernest Marcellus Pharr. The two were married in November 1962 and remained married for more than 46 years, until his death in 2008. They raised two daughters, Valecia [Bello] and Danya [Blount].
Mrs. Pharr was the Society Editor for several years at The Atlanta Inquirer, beginning in the 1960s, reporting on newsworthy social events, interviewing local, regional, national and global celebrities in her weekly column “Lin’s Corner.”
Mrs. Pharr interviewed famous celebrities such as entertainer Josephine Baker, jazz musician Cannonball Adderley, musical singing family The Silvers and many others. Mrs. Pharr also had the distinguish honor of being a former member of the Atlanta Chapter of the Association of Media Women and an Academy of Communications Excellence inductee. In addition, Mrs. Pharr was also a radio personality for WAOK radio.
Mrs. Pharr coordinated and directed many beautiful weddings and social events in and around the Atlanta Metro area. Mrs. Pharr also received special recognition for her outstanding fundraising work for the United Negro College Fund.
Mrs. Pharr attended and helped facilitate yearly Black newspaper conferences and workshops across the United States and local events throughout Atlanta as well, while working as the Society Editor of The Atlanta Inquirer.
Mrs. Pharr was also an educator for over 25+ years. Mrs. Pharr began educating students in Carrollton, Georgia School System and then moved on to the Atlanta Public School System. Mrs. Pharr was a science and general education educator and many of her students went on to obtain higher education degrees and successful careers with one working for NASA and the FBI to name a few.
Pharr’s husband, Ernest, died in March 2008; and daughter, Donya, died in November 2021.
Mrs. Pharr leaves to cherish her memory, daughter Valecia L. Bello (Joseph), granddaughters, Victoria OlaYinka and Dominique YeTunde Bello, Raya Cherrelle Blount and grandson, Evan Marcellus Eggleston. Five great-grand children (Rickie Resilio Bond, Jr., Jevon Oluwaseyi Bello, J’Nea Oluwaremilekun Bello-Snow, Zaria Courtnee Hall and Courtney Zoei Hall), brother-in-law Robert Pharr (Christine), sister-in-laws Audrey Pharr Porter, and Jennifer Pharr Davis and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Last updated on April 8, 2022
