Karanja Aidoo Ajanaku, a journalist, mentor and community voice whose legacy shaped generations of storytellers in Memphis and beyond, will be remembered at a memorial service Saturday, July 26, at 10 a.m. at the National Civil Rights Museum’s Hooks Hyde Hall.
Known as “Dr. K” among his peers and loved ones, Ajanaku served as executive editor and associate publisher of The Tri-State Defender until his retirement in December 2023 to battle liver cancer. He died Monday, July 7. He was 70.
Born Leroy Williams Jr., Ajanaku immersed himself in African culture during the 1980s, eventually changing his name in 1986 to reflect his emerging sense of Afrocentricity. He explained his name — and arguably, his mission — as he wrote about it in 2010 on his personal blog.
“Karanja means ‘guide,’” he wrote. “My middle name is ‘Aidoo.’ It means ‘one who puts things in place; sets things in order.’ Ajanaku (as redefined here in Memphis) means ‘free and wealthy people.’
“So I am the guide who sets things in order for free and wealthy people,” he continued.
Known for his deep cultural grounding, unwavering editorial standards and commitment to mentoring emerging journalists, Ajanaku left an indelible mark not only on the TSD, but on the broader landscape of Memphis journalism. His impact reverberated throughout the newsroom and into the lives of many he mentored.
Among them was Montee Lopez, who took on reporting and writing for the TSD while still performing non-competing duties at his then-employer ABC24. Lopez pitched a series called “Positive While POZitive,” highlighting the lives of Memphians living with HIV/AIDS.
“Dr. K, your belief in my aptitude as a journalist grew after nominating me for an award with my ‘Positive While POZitive’ series,” Lopez wrote in an open letter on MLK50. “It was hard labor doing TV news and freelance print work — and I wouldn’t take any of it back. And it was all thanks to you, Dr. K.”
Laura Kebede-Twumasi spent years reporting for Chalkbeat Tennessee before becoming Distinguished Journalist in Residence at the Institute for Public Service Reporting at the University of Memphis.
“His encouragement was the kind that never let you rest on your laurels but pushed you to keep going,” she wrote on Facebook. “Every conversation re-centered me. And he was my birthday twin, so I always hoped that I could be like him one day. He certainly showed the way.”
After mainstream newspapers turned down Kristen L. Cheers, she found a place and career writing stories for the TSD under Ajanak for “$50 a pop.”
“That $50 a pop led to bylines in Huffington Post, The Root, and Revolt. That $50 a pop allowed me to sit at tables with leaders and decision-makers,” she wrote on Facebook. “You gave me more than a byline — you gave me confidence, community, and the courage to tell our stories boldly and truthfully.
“Your legacy lives on in every word I write, every story I chase and every young writer I now try to encourage in your honor,” she continued.
Ajanaku is survived by his daughter, Jamila Abeo Ajanaku; son, Karanja Ade Mosi Ajanaku; sister, Jackie Williams; brothers, Ronald Williams and Robert Williams; eight grandchildren; and a host of relatives and friends. Arrangements are by N.H. Owens and Son Funeral Home.
The family invites those wishing to honor Ajanaku’s memory to attend the service at:
Hooks Hyde Hall – National Civil Rights Museum
- 450 Mulberry Street
- Memphis, TN 38103
- Saturday, July 26, 2025 | 10 AM
To send flowers or share condolences, visit the N.H. Owens Funeral Home sympathy page.
