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Tulsans across the city are mourning the loss of Quentin Liggins. Quentin, a husband, father, friend and community leader passed away on Wednesday, March 2nd after a courageous battle with a rare form of brain cancer.
Quenin, 33, married Darla, the love of his life, in June 2019. The couple welcomed their incredible daughter Savannah into the world on November 1, 2020.
Anchored in a love for people, life, God and service to others, Quentin devoted himself to building a better world.
A native of Minneapolis, Quentin grew up in Minnesota before attending school at College of the Holy Cross in Massachusetts. His work would take him from Wall Street to Washington, but the calling of his family’s North Tulsa roots drew him to Tulsa.
Quentin Liggins’s roots as a fourth generation North Tulsan ran just as deep as his devotion to the community. He could have raised a family in any corner of the country, leveraging his unparalleled skills, knowledge and work ethic to build a successful career in whatever field he chose.
But North Tulsa, and the children and families who call the city home, had a calling on Quentin’s heart. And, as a person of deep and abiding faith, it was a calling Quentin gladly answered.
He moved to Tulsa in 2017 as a Broad Resident and began work at Tulsa Public Schools. There, Quentin’s wisdom and passion flourished.
For Quentin, his work at TPS was far more than just a job, it was personal.
It was at DeLaSalle High School in Minneapolis that Quentin met the man he credits with “saving his life”. Brother Michael Collins, the longtime school president, instilled in Quentin the knowledge of what’s possible with education and unwavering support.
Quentin’s passion and love for his work, his life and his loved ones was unmistakable
So it’s easy to see why Quentin Liggins dove head first into striving to build equitable hiring systems. He wanted every child in the district to have access to educators who believed in them, encouraged them and would move mountains to ensure they succeeded.
Most evenings at the Education Service Center, long after most people had gone home for the day, one office light on the third floor was still on, illuminating a darkened hallway. Anyone walking the floor who peaked in the door would see Quentin making calls, sending emails or preparing for meetings. He knew, in his soul, the importance of each moment of his work. He was determined to get it right.
But Quentin was far more that just the programs he created or his relentless determination.
He was the person who lifted spirits and brightened days simply by entering a room.
The co-worker who cheered teammates on at a company softball game.
The mentor who gave a dose of wisdom that was at once simple and profound.
The friend who always knew how to support without even asking.
The brother, son, nephew and cousin who always looked out for his own.
And, above all, he was the husband and father who loved his wife and daughter with such devotion it escapes words.
Quentin Liggins leaves an enduring legacy that will live on
There will never be another Quentin Liggins. But, perhaps because of his profound spirit or perhaps because of his monumental type of love, Quentin Liggins will never be gone.
Instilled in each person who knew him is a piece of his passion, his wisdom, his devotion and his unwavering love.
Like the light that stayed on in the office floor hallway late at night, Quentin’s legacy still illuminates this world.
To his daughter Savannah, his wife Darla, and every person who loved Quentin deeply, The Black Wall Street Times sends our prayers and our condolences.
Quentin made us all better.
Services for Quentin DeAngelo Liggins will take place on Saturday, March 12 at noon at Metropolitan Baptist Church. The service will be live streamed online. Details, as well as ways to send condolences and flowers to Quentin’s family, can be found here.