Valgene Armstead

Valgene Armstead was born August 16,1945 in Manhattan New York at Metropolitan hospital. He was the second born to the late Martha Armstead and the late Eugene White. Older sister Dolores and his younger brother Ronald, who preceded him in death, were also born of this union. They lived in lower Manhattan until moving to the East River Houses. While living in East River Houses, he participated in the many activities at the Ascension Presbyterian Church located on 106th St at the time. As a teenager he loved Latin music and could "Latin" with the best of them. He, his best friend Vincent Ware (who preceded him in death) and 2 other friends were heard regularly singing doo wop in the middle of the projects. Val had a great sense of humor and always loved to tell jokes.

Val attended Fashion Industry High School in Manhattan. After graduating he met and married his High School sweetheart, Deborah Kennedy in 1965. He was then drafted into the U.S. Marine Corp and served a year in Vietnam. From this union was born Renee Michele Armstead and Ahmed Jemal Armstead. They were divorced in 1973.

After returning home from service, he applied for and qualified for an internship at Beth Israel Hospital as an Inhalation Technician. Passing the necessary New York State requirements, he became a Certified Inhalation Technician. He worked for a time at Beth Israel and St Lukes Hospital in that capacity for some years before entering the field of court officer.

He later met Judy Harris. His second son Jemoaiye Harris was born April 25, 1974. After 13 years Valgene and Judy separated in 1986.

In Connecticut in 1986, Val when on to meet Barbara Helit. The couple would later move to Colorado in 1988 where they soon began a family together, having the couple's first son in the winter of 1989. They married in 1994 and had a total of 4 children in this union before divorcing in 2002.

Valgene leaves behind his children, Renee Armstead McNeill, Ahmed Armstead (Sylvia Armstead), Jemoaiye Harris, Cristopher Helit-Armstead, Jordan Helit-Armstead, Travis Helit-Armstead and Taylor Helit-Armstead who preceded him in death. His grandchildren, Jahmar Armstead, William McNeill, Corey McNeill, Jasmin McNeill, Justin Armstead, Jaelin Leilani Helit-Armstead, Kaidyn Nichole Laughlin, Kairyn David Laughlin, Zakary Karter Laughlin, and Logyn Taylor Rayne Helit-Armstead. His siblings Dolores Davis, Ronald Armstead (preceded him in death), Violet Armstead, Nathan Armstead (Yvette Armstead), Mary Armstead and a host of nieces, nephews and devoted friends.