SFDS-SEMA Reunion 2013

Reunion 2013

St. Francis de Sales High School

St. Emma Military Academy

ST.FRANCISdeSALESHIGHSCHOOL

ST.EMMAMILITARYACADEMY

St. Emma Military Academy

St. Francis de Sales High School

Introduction

Positioned on a hill, with not only a view of the meandering James River but with views of acres

and acres of meadows and rolling hills, sits the St. Emma’s Military Academy at Belmead.

Colonel Edward Morrell and his wife Louise Drexel Morrell of Philadelphia purchased Belmead

in 1893. After purchase they created St. Emma’s Industrial and Agricultural School, a high

school for African American men which opened in 1895. The school later evolved into a military

academy and became St. Emma Military Academy which remained a successful learning

institution until the early 1970’s.

Located on an adjacent plantation and separated by Deep Creek, by a dam and also by a bridge,

sits the majestic castle of St. Francis de Sales at Mt. Pleasant. Louise Drexel Morrell’s sister, St.

Katherine Drexel, purchased Mt. Pleasant and in 1899 established St Francis de Sales, a high

school for African American and Native American women. Like St. Emma Military Academy, St.

Francis de Sales continued as a successful learning institution until the early 1970’s.

The school curriculum, at that time, was established by the Philadelphia Institute of Technology

which is now called Drexel University. St. Emma students studied farming, engineering,

accounting, cannery, equipment repair and management. The military academy was nationally

honored and received awards for high military achievement as the students participated in

military drills, received knowledge of army regulations and disciplines and maintained a

nationally honored Rifle Team.

St. Francis de Sales offered a competitive curriculum to prepare young women to become

certified teachers, as well as a challenging nursing curriculum, homemaking skills and general

business skills. The school choir was highly commended and applauded as they participated in

national events and as they performed for the public through radio broadcasts. In addition to

academics and music the basketball team rallied and became champions. The school was

accredited with the Commonwealth of Virginia in the 1920’s and affiliated with Catholic

University in Washington, DC in the 1940’s.

The two institutions continue to regally perch above the James River and above the fields and

meadows situated below. However, it has not been the end of a rewarding educational and

inspirational experience for many of these young women and men who attended the

institutions because both St. Francis de Sales and St. Emma Military Academy motivated and

encouraged them to take their enriching learning experiences with them to make a positive

difference in the world.

Directory

Banister, Barbara Shannon, Ph.D ‐ Class of 1953

“Dr. Banister is originally from New Orleans, LA and as an elementary school student attended Xavier

Junior School of Music. She directed the St. Francis de Sales Glee Club.”

17104 E. Amherst Dr.

Aurora, CO 80013

Email address: [email protected] (H) 303‐693‐8348 (C) 303‐898‐7227

Occupation – Manager

Guest: Gaurdie Banister, Sr.

Beatty, Chris A. – Class of 1966

7370 LaSalle Blvd.

Detroit, MI 48206


Retired

Guest: Sherry Beatty

Beatty, Lou Jr. ‐ Class of 1963

28650 Lapine Avenue

Santa Clarita, CA 91390

Email address: [email protected]

Actor

Guest: Jezelle Beatty

Comments

“About my years at St. Emma, I can't say how things would have turned out for me if I had gone

to regular high school in Detroit. But I have often said that going to "The Rock" probably saved

my life. There were so many distractions from school in my old neighborhood that I don't see

how I could have avoided all of them.

At St. Emma I made friends for life that I truly cherish. I learned Esprit de Corps and that alone

was worth my 4 years there. One can't always express what they feel about an institution, yet I

will say that I am a part of ‘The Rock’ and the bond will never be broken.”

Lou Beatty Jr. from "Betty White's off Their Rockers" is one of the senior pranksters in the NBC

hidden‐camera series. Lou Beatty Jr. starred in lead roles in the independent films "K‐11,"

"Black Dove" and "Geezers," guest‐starred on "Animal Practice," and was featured in a season‐

ending episode of "Grey's Anatomy." In addition, Beatty has guest starred on "NCIS," "Boston

Legal," "Without a Trace," "CSI: Miami," "Bones," "Cold Case," "Las Vegas" and numerous other

television shows and commercials over the last two decades. He has a lead role in the film,

Finding Normal due out on cable Christian channels in May 2013.

Campbell (Booker), Faye – Class of 1957 Campbell, Plater – Class of 1946

7122 Piney Woods Place – Laurel, MD 20707 (H) 240‐264‐1579 (C) 202‐262‐5636

Email address: [email protected] Retired

Contee, Leroy Jr. – Class of 1970

45‐697 Kamehameha Hwy #201 Kaneohe, HI 96744


Comments

Retired from the US Marine Corps in 1991 after 20 years of service and then became a police

officer. Leroy retired from the Honolulu Police Department in 2008. He has three adult

children and three grandchildren.

Programs Operations Chief for Hawaii National Guard Youth Challenge Academy

Etienne, Patricia Brauer – Class of 1951

2704 Cimarron Drive

Columbia, MO 65203

Haynes, Linda Turner – Class of 1965

2819 E. Dublin Granville Rd. #302

Columbus, OH 43231

(H) 614‐948‐3021

Retired

Comments

“My parents gave me the opportunity to see a whole other lifestyle besides what I had known.

St. Francis gave me a whole new world. It also made me a person of worth. Over the years I

have shared my experience with others, solely to let people know what a great opportunity I

was given. Also, it was good to say it out loud. This is my way of saying ‘Thank You’ to my

loving parents. And I feel great to have received such a gift.”

Grubb, Loretta Bond – Class of 1965

1026 S. 12th Ave

Maywood, IL 60153


Retired: Laboratory Manager (Medical Technologist)

Comments

“I really enjoyed my time at St. Francis. It did prepare me for my future and gave me a new

outlook into the Catholic faith. I also gained new friends from across the country which I still

feel close to and opened my world to patience and tolerance and knowledge of others.

I would like to get together a reunion for 2015 which would be our class of 1965‘s 50th year. If I

could get some help from anyone interested in getting this together and ideas for locations or

venues please contact myself, Robert Clayton (1965) 334‐201‐9273 or Kermit Patty 225‐301‐

9963.”

Howard, Janice Lee – Class of 1963

2207 Fort Ward Place

Alexandria, VA 22304


Attorney

Guest: Robert Howard

Comments

“I attended St. Francis de Sales Academy from 1959 – 1960. I attended St. Francis Academy and

graduated in 1963. I attended Morgan State University, however I graduated from The District

of Columbia Teacher’s College and taught math in the DC Public School system for five years. I

married Robert Howard, Esq., and graduated from Howard University School of Law in 1980.

Our law firm, Howard and Howard, LLC maintained law offices in the District of Columbia,

Virginia and Maryland. I am now retired from the practice of law and operate a small business.

My brother Emmett C. Lee, (pictured below) deceased, attended St. Emma Military Academy in

1957 and graduated in 1961. He graduated from Avery College in Danville, VA, and received his

Masters degree from the University of Virginia. He taught in the Danville Public School system

until his retirement. He died in November, 2009.”

Lee, Emmett C. – Class of 1961

Johnson, John W. ‐ Class of 1950

3262 Jericho St. ‘A’ Las Vegas, NV 89102

(H) 702‐220‐7375 (C) 702‐525‐7331

Jones, Nadine Y. – Class of 1970

8007 Carmel Drive

Forestville, MD 20747


Administrative Coordinator

Guest: Delta Rose

Comments

“Captain of the Girl’s Basketball Team and All Star Speedball award. My Big Sisters were:

Harriett “Putt” Morgan and Deborah Jackson. My Junior Year I attended the Officers Ball and

SEMA’S Sr. Prom with then Sr. Officer James Mercer. Sidebar… Just because I hand‐danced with

some of the cadets at a social, I had absolutely nothing to do with the cadets sneaking into the

girl’s dormitory late that night. Billy Banner – I want my class ring and yearbook back. Tried

hard to be a Fun Cheerleader.”

Montgomery, Benjamin – Class of 1963

2947 W. Eastman Drive

Anthem, AZ 85086


Travel Consultant

Guests:

Gail Montgomery

Duke Montgomery

Darci Cunningham

Comments

“I remember my years at St. Emma very vividly and with no regrets. As a child I did foolish

things and I grew into adulthood on the Rock. My first and second years were occupied with

staying off Father Figaro and Father Timothy’s radar. I was always accused of being the carrier

between both schools of: notes; letters; gifts, etc. Never happened!

All of the experiences I gained helped me to gain military rank after St. Emma (never got it at St.

Emma) and leadership with various organizations nationally and in professional corporate

employment. I never forgot the lessons learned and used them in survival training and other

places after St. Emma. Of course my father and grandfather passed on some very hard lessons.

When I heard their loud voice I just said, ‘Sh..! I was in trouble.’

I retired as a Vice President in the Commercial Division of Chevy Chase Bank in Bethesda, MD. I

also retired as one of the Chief Election Officers for Montgomery County, MD.”

Prescott, Joan Curry

9077 Prospect Court

Jonesboro, GA 30236

Guest: Virginia Armstrong

Rhone, Irving (Buddy) – Class of 1948

Russell, Audrey Rita Thomas (Audrita) ‐ Class of 1949

5910 Third Street, NW

Washington, DC 20011‐ 2117

(H) 202‐882‐7972

Retired

High School: Sisters of the Blessed Sacraments – Holy Providence Bensalem, PA

Guests:

Jasmine P. Russell

Mary J. Edwards

Comments

“To My Dear Sisters and Brothers:

Hello and Best regards to all of my forever friends of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacraments and

Saint Emma Military Academy. I am blessed to have had so many friends from early life into the

golden maturing years. I love you all and I cherish your friendship. As we come together on

this reunion cruise I’m praying that Saint Katherine Drexel will keep us safe and humble in the

spirit of love.”

Audrita

Smith, Edward Jr. ‐ Class of 1966

1280 Jacks Creek Rd.

King William, VA 23086

Email address: [email protected] (H) 804 769‐7278 (C) 804‐441‐4218

U.S. Dept. of the Navy, DOD Police, Detective Lieutenant Retired/Virginia State Supreme Court

Magistrate Retired; Part‐Time King William County Deputy Sheriff (old man still trying to play

the game)

Guest: Janet M. Smith

Thompson, Heywood – Class of 1961

8302 Fulham Drive

Richmond, VA 23227


Retired – New Charter Fishing Service Guest: EarlyneThompson

Wells, Nadine Thornton – Class of 1959

905 Weston Court

Vandalia, OH 45377


Retired Therapist

Guest: Laurie Larson

Comments

“I am so glad to be reunited with all my old friends again. To be able to be with my ‘Young’

friends and reminisce about the good old days is a joy to behold. We have traveled before to

be with each other and now we will float with each other. I wish us nothing but happiness and

good health on our journey and if necessary, plenty of seasick bags.”

LOVE YOU ALL,

Nadine ‘59

Memories

St. Francis de Sales High School 1966

St. Francis de Sales High School 1950

St Francis de Sales High School and St. Emma Military Academy ‐ 1950

Gone But Not Forgotten Bernard Abrams (59) Ronald Abrams (68) Ted Adams (47) Carol Aderhold (61) Barbara Allen (53) Robert Allen (65) Eric Ashley (70) Gloria Askew (63) Freddie Maurice Atchison John C. Andrews Althea Adkins (68) Carl “Jo Jo” Baker (57) Kevin Bass (70) Calvin Bland(69) Edna Bowman Orudomme(49) Brother Bernard Brooks Virginia Brooks ( ) Cleo Brown(61) Gladys J. Brown Majors (36) Warner B.(Bug) Brown(58) Jeanne Brown Riddick (53) Shirley Brandon Cathcart(60) Louis Brown (61) Mary Francis Brown (53) Raynord Bush(60) James Curtis(53) Sandra Butler Davis)(59) Bishop Hugh R. Caines,Ph.D(65) Ernestine Calhoun (63) Aubrey Calloway(55) Donald Carmichael(63) Jacqulyn Cameron (51) Raymond H. Carter (48) Rochelle Chandler (69) Jimmy Chiles ( ) Doris Cole (53) Joel Brock Collins (68)

Bernard Colquitt (65) Beatrice Cox Beulah, Cox (49) John Bullard(66) 'Baby Bull' Austin Crawford (63) Beulah Crawford (62) Sadie Crawford (62) Adam Cromer (65) Wyatt Cumbo(59) William Frank Cumbo ‐ Former Teacher Sema: George Dabney ( ) James Dabney ( ) Ronald Dabney (71) Gladys Davis ( ) Danny Delaney ( ) William Douglas (62) Derrick Dudley (67) Jannice Dukes (53) Glenn Edwards(65) Marion Estes 64) Faith Fancher(68) Cachita Farrar (63) Father Egbert J. Figaro, Cs.Sp.Commandant Of Cadets Naomi Fish (63) Elizabeth Flannagan ( ) Barbara Forney‐Graham (55) Craig Ford (63) Marlene Brigham Foster Pompy (Tony) L. Funderberg (60 ) Ronald Garner(65) Gerald Gatling(68) Denise Gilmer (Wilson) (57) Martin Gough(64) Angela Gerald (64) Helen Gittens Cole ( ) Audrey Goins (69) Justine Goldsmith Daniels( ) Ronald Gray (61) Ruth Grice Nobel( ) Herbert Grimes(68) Ricardo Guilbert (68) Audrey Gunn (61) Ronald "Ron" Handy (60) Marcia Hannibal Mccall (61) John F. Hardy (59) Gerald Harrison (61) James Hayes(54) Mickey Henderson(61) Ronald Hill(66) Charles Morsell Hodges(62) Eugene Holloway (65) Barry Holmes(60)

Lemuel Horne, Jr.(70) Gerald Horton(59) Carl Huffman (65) Charlet Hughes ( ) Douglas Hunt (60 ) Rosemary Jackson (61) Robert Jarrett(61) Beverly Jasper (64) Louise Jennings (56) Charles Louis Johnson(72) Daniel Johnson () Jean C. Sommerford‐Johnson('58) Robert"Cheese"Johnson (60) Ted Johnson(66) Robert T. Johnson (Tee)(70) Dennis D. Jones (63) James A. Jones (59) Roderick Thomas Jones (68) Gwethalyn Jones Averhardt(65) Jean Jones (56) Obediah Jordon (61) Peter Milton Joseph(55) Ronald Knight (61) William Knight (62) David Knuckles (69) Charles Labron (55) Donald "Don" Lang (58) Reginal Landes(66) John H. Lee Jr. (61) Yolanda Levy (53) Camille Lewis ( ) Landon Lewis (57) Marjorie Liscott (52) Melvin Lowe (63) David Marshall (66) Robert "Tuskegee" Martin (59) Alma Matney Hill (63) David Mcallister(60) Sterling Mccullough (48) Gertrude Mccurdy ( ) Lisa Mcdavid (70) Alfred Mckensie ( ) Lucy Mcknight ( ) Vera D. Mcperson(56) Ernest L. Mims, Jr.(64) Richard Monteith (61) Charles Moore Sr. ( ) Louis Moore(63) Lillian Morris Price Lewis (30) William Morris (61) Sheila Mose Lessane (61) Jules Narcisse(59) Milton Nobel ( )

Alice Parham (Ridgeway)(58) Betty Jo Patterson (61) Edward Patton (53) James Payne (61) Betty Jo Patterson (61) Edward Patton (53) Johnetta Peyton (68) Isobell Powell Sills (42) Donnell Proctor (65) Mary Ann Proctor‐John (65) William Ray (64) George Rawls (66) Florence Redd Pierce James (30) Tommy Reavis (65) John W. Richardson Iii(60) Larry Robinson (61) Elizabeth Ross Moore(59) Clyde Roulette (65) Cheryl Royal (65) Marie Sayles Marino ( ) Esther Sear (63) Charles Sessoms (62) Marie Sheehy (59) Diane Clark Shorter(71) Francis Singelton ( ) Reginald Singelton (59) Bernice Smith Redd(58) Daryl Smith (69) Dollie Stitt (64) Clarence Strickland ( ) Robert Stokes (70) Henry Stuart(60) Cortez Swann (68) Eugene Swann(64) Stanley Steward ( ) Rodger Taitt (63) Florence Testamark Mcketney(48) George Thomas(55) Hazel Thomas (41) Joe Thomas (48) Nicholas Thompson (63) Theresa Louise Valentine(61) Lester Valley (Ali Nkrumah) (62) Vincent Ware (69) Robert(Bob) Warren(59) Christopher Watkins (54) Raymond F. Watkins, Jr. (46) Sharon Wesley (64) Donald West(55) Captain Williams ( ) Barbara Wilis Battle (51) Lance Wilson (59) Yolanda T. Wilson,(66)

Roy Winfrey (50) Lee Winston (69) Ronald Wright(68) Helena Wynn (68) June Yearwood Springhoff (60) Arthur "Chop" Young (69) Dr. Joseph Perkins(65) Moses William Goods, Jr.(66) David Merrill Diggs(72)

Names Added After 2011 List

Arnold, William (Billy) Class of 1959

Atkins‐Perkins, Gayle Angela Class of 1969

Brydie, Joseph Class of 1964

Bullock, Robert Class of 1962

Daniels, Billy

Dashell, James Class of 1955

Duke, Judson

Franklin, Joseph

Freeman, William Anthony (Billy) Class of 1946

Hillsman‐Miller, Laetitia Louise

Holmes, Gary Class of 1958

Lee, Emmett C. Class of 1961

Little, William Class of 1964

Lucas, Ronald La Ro Class of 1950

McFall, George Class of 1965

Pope, James M. Jr. Class of 1964

Robinson, Benert Wilder, Jr. Class of 1962

Sherman, Judith (Judy) Class of 1964

Young, Tommy

SFDS-SEMA Reunion 2013

Documents

Transcript of SFDS-SEMA Reunion 2013