Los Angeles resident Eunice Pye passed away Jan. 4, following a brief illness. She was 84-years-old.
Eunice, who was the wife of Sentinel Sports Editor Emeritus Brad Pye Jr., was admired by many for her beautiful spirit and passionate approach to life. A former entertainment reporter and radio broadcaster, she freely shared her love for God, family, friends and gardening.
A memorial service celebrating her life will be held on Saturday, Jan. 27, at 11 a.m., at Brooks-Kirkland AME Church, 3719 W. Slauson Ave., in Los Angeles. Pastor Mary S. Minor will officiate and Bishop T. Larry Kirkland, Sr., will deliver the eulogy.
A native of Plain Dealing, Louisiana, Eunice was born April 11, 1932 to Leroy and Ethel (Manley) Robinson. Her family relocated to Los Angeles in 1944 and she later graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School.
On Nov. 7, 1951, she married Brad and they became parents to four children. Eunice also worked 20+ years as an administrative assistant with LAUSD. In addition, she was employed as an entertainment correspondent for Scoop newspaper as well as a talk show host on KTYM-AM radio where her tagline was, “No matter how you slice it, this is Pye’s Pieces from Hollywood.”
According to her daughter, Jill, Eunice truly enjoyed sports and was a season ticket holder for both the L.A. Lakers and Raiders games for decades. With her husband being a notable sportswriter, Brad and Eunice developed deep relationships with Lakers owner Jerry Buss and Raiders owner Al Davis.
“Al made sure that they not only went to the Super Bowl games year after year, but they also attended behind-the-scenes events held before and after the games,” recalled Jill, who added that Eunice also loved traveling and jazz festivals.
She and Brad were also close with the late L.A. County Supervisor Kenneth Hahn. Hahn’s daughter, L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn, shared, “Eunice was ahead of her time. She was a working woman, a correspondent; she was involved in many groups and organizations while still being a wife and a mother. I really admire her for that. She spread so much joy wherever she went.”
Eunice possessed a deep faith in God that was demonstrated during her membership at Brookins Community AME Church, said Bishop T. Larry Kirkland, Sr., who was the pastor during Eunice’s tenure.
“She was a faithful member, a ‘treasured vessel’ and she undergirded her family with her strength,” Kirkland said. “I thank God for having known her.”
For the past 20 years, Eunice attended New Vision Ministries led by the Rev. Dr. Frederick O. Murph, who shared similar comments about her.
“She did an outstanding job as the chair of many projects including the church anniversary. She loved the Lord and I have no doubt where she is. She’s gone home to be with the Lord,” noted Murph. “Her physical presence may not be here, but her spirit lives on.”
Eunice was preceded in death by her parents and son, Brad Pye III. Cherishing her memory are her husband, Brad Jr.; daughters, Jan, Jenice, Sharee and Jill; five grandchildren, four great grandchildren and many relatives and friends.
