Dylan Demetyre Pritchett Sr. loved to keep history alive, whether it was African American history or family history.
“It was really important that we knew where we came from and we knew our history,” said Shannan Morgan, Pritchett’s daughter. “So he always instilled that in my brother and me. Just making sure that we knew our family.”
Pritchett, a popular storyteller throughout Hampton Roads and beyond, died on Aug. 16 at the age of 66. He was The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation’s first African American program specialist.
As a professional storyteller, the Williamsburg native dedicated his life to sharing stories of the African American experience to children and adults across the country. Along with traveling to various schools and museums, his work saw him partner with notable organizations, including the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, PBS, the Smithsonian Museums and Arts for Learning Virginia/Young Audiences of Virginia.
Along with being a published author of two children’s books, Pritchett served as past president of the National Association of Black Storytellers. Despite all the recognition, Pritchett was still “just dad” to Morgan, whether visiting or sitting down with him at the table for Thanksgiving.
“It’s always a shock to be like, ‘Wow, he’s a big deal,’” Morgan said.
Morgan, one of Pritchett’s two children, remembers watching her father perform during a school program when she was about 4 or 5. She was sitting on the stairs next to him.
“He was doing his thing, he was telling his stories and he would glance over at me and smile, and give me a thumbs up,” she said.
Dylan Pritchett Jr. said he remembers how his father could captivate an audience. Seeing him perform as a child was like seeing a superhero, he said.
“You see somebody doing something that they love to do, but that’s also your parent. And that’s your dad,” Pritchett Jr. said. “Seeing that everybody’s loving my dad and loving the moment, and at the end of it, he would bring us up or he would acknowledge us in the crowd.”
Dylan Pritchett performs at the Hennage Auditorium in the 1980s. Courtesy of Dylan Pritchett
During his childhood, Pritchett joined The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation’s Fife and Drum Corps at age 13. He continued with the corps after graduating high school and during the summer while attending Hampton University. Eventually taking a full-time administrative job with Fife and Drums, he became a key part of Colonial Williamsburg as its first African American program specialist in 1984.
The role saw Pritchett give performances at the foundation on the African American experience while also writing programs and supervising fellow department staff members.
Janice Canaday, Colonial Williamsburg’s African American community engagement manager, said Pritchett’s work was very impactful. She spoke of his integrity to not compromise the story of their ancestors while challenging people to see their story in an uncomfortable, but still truthful manner.
“He was a foundation layer,” Canaday said. “He helped to open the path for us to do what we’re doing now. And to coax people into relaxing and hearing our truth — which is connected to their truth — and not feeling intimidated by it.”
Her son, Adam Canaday, a Colonial Williamsburg carriage driver and coachman historian, said he first met Pritchett when he was about 7 or 8. Then serving as a junior interpreter, Adam Canaday said Pritchett came for a 10-15 minute discussion during an orientation, but Canaday saw him again at Clara Byrd Baker Elementary School as a Black History Month storyteller. Canaday said it was like seeing a local celebrity.
“He was one of the first individuals that I saw (who) was also a Black individual, (who) looked like somebody to me that was a superhero,” he said.
Noting Pritchett’s humor, creativity and energy, Janice Canaday said he was a positive role model for both children and adults. She also spoke of his ability to have a story address any need or concern he thought was there.
Adam Canaday lauded Pritchett’s courage to be Colonial Williamsburg’s first African American program specialist and rising to the challenge of representing the Black population as he shared stories across the country.
Although her father was on the road a lot while growing up, Morgan said he always brought home knickknacks and stories from his travels. One gift was a denim bookbag with the face of an African American doll, which also included hair. His son remembers his father bringing him magnets, baseball hats and various other souvenirs.
“He never missed an event unless he was out of town or he was traveling,” he said. “I just always remember him being present. He was always supportive of whatever activities that we were involved in.”
Pritchett often took his family traveling and had family vacations each year, always finding new places for them to visit while he was working, such as Black-owned restaurants in New Orleans, his children recalled. “He just told us there was more to this world than just little old Virginia,” Morgan said.
Up to his death , Pritchett was planning a November trip to the National Association of Black Storytellers Conference, Morgan said.
“He was a trailblazer and an inspiring educator. As a human being, he was a kind and beautiful soul,” said Robert Currie, Colonial Williamsburg associate vice president of performing arts & events, on Pritchett.
Robert Currie, associate vice president of performing arts and events at Colonial Williamsburg, called Pritchett“a force of nature” and a master of his craft, while Robin N. Phillips, the vice chair of Williamsburg Area Arts Commission, recalled the “amazing positive energy” Pritchett brought to everything he did.
“As an interpreter of African American history, he was a trailblazer and an inspiring educator. As a human being, he was a kind and beautiful soul,” Currie said. “Dylan’s influence on the work we do here at Colonial Williamsburg will live on. He will be greatly missed but never forgotten.”
Assistant James City County Administrator Jason Purse said Pritchett’s passing is a “huge loss” to the community. Pritchett was a fixture at the county’s Freedom Park and at various Black History Month celebrations and served on the county’s Black History Committee.
Pritchett’s storytelling skills to bridge cultural boundaries were unmatched, Purse said.
“Using music and oral histories to share messages of perseverance, teamwork and the importance of the arts was meaningful to everyone who heard him speak,” he said. “I know many of our county staff wish to share our sympathies with his family, during this difficult time.”
On what Pritchett Jr. wants the community to know most about his father, he spoke of Pritchett’s strong faith in God and his love for his family. Morgan also shared a phrase that Pritchett would often say.
“‘You put God first and family next,’” she said. “‘And never forget where you came from.’”
A celebration of life for Pritchett will be held at 3 p.m. on Sept. 26 at St. John Baptist Church in Williamsburg.
James W. Robinson, 757-799-0621, james.robinson@virginiamedia.com
