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Wed, May 16, 2012

Home > Special Sections > Black History Month: Living Treasures

Editor's note:
To mark Black History Month, our Slice of Life stories in February will focus on African-American Frederick County residents age 90 and older. The African American Resources — Cultural and Heritage Society honored these residents last month as “Living Treasures.” Their life stories highlight the evolution of the county’s black population over a tumultuous century.

Knoxville woman recalls lifelong love of music Mary Harris Gross remembers singing her first hymn, "Over the River," when she was about 2 1/2 years old. Time was always right for tea in Naylor family Good food and iced tea have been glue for Naomi Naylor's family and friends for her 92 years. Part of the fabric MIDDLETOWN -- Audrey Cox's world stretches well beyond the fields and mountains she can see from the home she has lived in since she was a little girl. Wedge remembers a simpler time in Sunnyside Florence Wedge was born in 1918 not too far from where she now lives on Mountville Road in Sunnyside. 90-year-old Frederick resident was a neighborhood mom From early on, Anna Mary Ambush wanted to be a nurse. 95-year-old Fort Detrick retiree also ran a family catering business Richard Gant Sr., born March 6, 1914, retired as a lab technician from Fort Detrick in the late 1970s. But it was his other lifelong career, as a part-time caterer, that was his joy. Harris instilled values of honesty, hard work in her family Catherine Harris has provided her family with a legacy of values -- get along with others, honesty, ethics and hard work. 95-year-old loves hats, traveling almost as much as family Ann King called her life "nothing special," but her family and friends remember it differently. Memories of work, singing make Henry Brown Jr. smile Two weeks shy of his 95th birthday, Henry Brown Jr. knows how to work a room. Lord Nickens, Frederick shaped each other's histories Black history in Frederick has been profoundly influenced by Lord Nickens, a longtime civil rights activist and former president of the Frederick Chapter of the NAACP. As much as Nickens changed race relations in Frederick, the city also changed Nickens and the path his life took. Mildred Foreman has lived a long, happy life in Frederick Mildred Pryor Foreman grew up in New London, a tiny African-American community in Frederick County, and left her family at the age of 15 to become a cook and housekeeper in Baltimore. Lee takes a swing at racism without even knowing it Frederick resident Gladys Lee enjoys a round of golf. Leaving rural life behind, Jones continued work in the big city Picking cotton in the Mississippi Delta was not the life for Carrie Jones. Landscaper danced into his 80s John Brown's doctor predicted he would not live past the age of 18. That doctor is now deceased and Brown is still alive at 93, said his sister, Mary Harris Gross.		A life of learning on the job leads to fulfillment William Clarence Hardy Sr., 94, liked all the jobs he had over the course of some 56 working years, but segregated schools may have cost him the job he wanted most. 'Mayor of Madison Street' helped raise future senator Edith Jackson worked as a live-in nanny for the Richard Potts family in Frederick for 25 years, helping raise their son, Arthur, and his boyhood buddy, Charles "Mac" Mathias since they were 6 years old. Give of yourself to the community The best advice for young people today, regardless of race, education or other factors, is to give of yourself to the community. That is the advice of Chris R. Tyree, who will be 93 in March. Tyree's life is one of challenges and opportunities, but he has spent much of his time volunteering with organizations from those who oversee human relations to politics and retired federal employees. Teacher remembers integration, changes Margaret Brown was born Margaret Brown and, despite two marriages, she will die Margaret Brown. Pioneers run in her family Dr. Blanche Bourne-Tyree was the first woman in Frederick County to obtain a medical license, but she doesn't consider herself a pioneer. Family, religion key to woman's longevity Louise Harris loves her family and her religion, and she credits the two with keeping her healthy and happy into her 90s. Matriarch looks back as new home awaits PETERSVILLE -- Agnes Smallwood was blessed to share her life with her husband for almost 69 years. A life of service Catherine Sappington has led a blessed life filled with friends and family members. Army technician ran beer halls on side Ruben Burnett wants to see the world. Segregation didn't stop Dorsey from getting a good education Warren G. Dorsey's parents knew their son was destined for an accomplished life when they agreed to name him after the 29th president, Warren Gamaliel Harding. Man, 93, began working at 11 Race relations have come a long way since Thomas Benjamin Ambush Sr. was a boy. Family is focus of Mary Key's long life URBANA -- The sounds of children no longer ripple through the farmhouse where Mary Key has lived with her husband, John, for 64 years. Hall says greatest legacy is her children For Adelaide Hall, the most important legacy she leaves to the community are her children. 95-year-old still cooks weekly feast for family Ruth Onley spends her Sunday mornings preparing a feast for about 14 family members at her Frederick home.