Jackson Free Press

AIDS activist Henry "Trey" Mangum died Friday in New Orleans, leaving behind a particularly heartfelt legacy of hope.

"Trey had such a fervor for the HIV community, and he did it not because it was an obligation, but because it was a passion, and that makes a difference in people lives,," said Teresa Viramontez, operations director for Grace House, a Jackson boarding home for people infected with HIV/AIDS. "He was an awesome human being."

Mangum was executive director of Grace House from 2005 to January 2010. During that time, he obtained a $1.2 million Housing Opportunity for People with AIDS (HOPWA) grant, HUD money that allowed the organization to expand and open the first permanent housing in Mississippi for people with HIV/AIDS.
Viramontez added that Mangum fought hard against the stigma that still surrounds this deadly disease.

"Just last year, we had a young woman that was dropped off at St. Dominic (Hospital) because the personal care home she had been placed in found out she was HIV positive. They just dropped her off, and we picked her up and brought her here," Viramontez said. "Brother, things haven't changed much since the 1980s."

Mangum, 36, is a Jackson native who spent a lot of time traveling back and forth from New Orleans, where he served as director of Housing for NO/AIDS Task Force. He is a graduate of Millsaps College and achieved a master's of social work from the University of Texas, and a doctorate in social work from Jackson State University in May, according to his friend Robin Webb.

"He was one of my best friends," said Webb, a Jackson composer and pianist. "Not only was he a friend, but he was a real professional when it came to helping people. He could come in and fix your life. He had the credentials and the talent to really help you."

Mangum's partner, Keith Bliven of Jackson, would not comment on the cause of death. Webb and Viramontez say Mangum did not have AIDS.

Previous Comments

ID

163847

Comment

Was the last line necessary? With that attitude, all blacks are thugs, murders and rapists, all gay people have AIDS, lesbians wear nothing but flannel, Mexicans are lazy, and all whites are racist. Come on Free Press, I think y'all can do better than this

Author

glex3

Date

2011-06-20T15:30:17-06:00

ID

163848

Comment

Hey all, I didn't write the piece, but I'm happy to respond. It's easy to forget in situations like this, but we are a news organization. And when someone dies at age 36, which is unusually and tragically young, it is typical to include how they died (and I had been told separately he died of a heart attack). Adam isn't here at the moment to ask, but I'm sure he included that point to ensure that people do not assume or spread the rumor that Trey died from AIDS-related causes, which too many people might assume because he works with AIDS organizations--and especially being that no one would confirm how he died. Neither he nor the JFP meant to offend anyone, and we apologize to anyone who was offended by that sentence. I saw it on the edit, paused, but left it in there because I didn't want anyone to assume he died of AIDS when he didn't. And, sadly, too many people would. Beyond that, I find his death devastating and shocking. He was an amazing person, and he helped many people -- much more than most people who live three times longer will do. So please don't be offended at the mention of AIDS: It was his life's work, and nothing was meant to offend. Adam was just trying to do his job and be sure that the wrong information didn't start flying around -- which would seem to be the greater injustice. Sometimes neither choice for a newspaper is ideal, but we must pick one. Thanks for posting. And may Trey rest in peace.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2011-06-20T15:49:25-06:00

ID

163855

Comment

The funeral was beautiful and fitting (theme from Star Trek and Tori Amos COMPLETELY FITTING) and sent him out in style. In his last act, we joked that he managed to get a whole lot of atheists and gays into an actual CHURCH. We loved you, Trey.

Author

Lori G

Date

2011-06-21T12:40:15-06:00