Eliza Gray

Embry stewardess board. they helped to run church. The church also had a group called communion stewardess board. Their function was to prepare for and assist in the communion service.

Sunday on the Grounds of Embry AME Church

Members of the 1975 Banquet Planning Committee honoring civic leader Hattie Sandidge included many steadfast members of the Lakeland Civic Association and longtime Lakeland residents. They are, from left to right, (first row) Lois Copeland, Mary Lyons, Mary Weems Braxton, and Julia Mack Carroll; (second row) Harry Braxton Sr., Thelma Lomax, Julia Pitts, and James Claiborne. The Lakeland Civic Association has been active continuously since the 1930s. George Brooks Sr. served as president for twenty-five years. He was succeeded by James Claiborne, Leonard Smith, Elwood Gross, Julia Carroll, Hattie Sandidge, Dervey Lomax, James Weems, James Adams, Fannie Featherstone, Karen Roberts, Maxine Gross, Diane Weems Ligon, Monroe Dennis, and Robert Thurston. The Lakeland Civic Association continues to work to preserve and improve Lakeland as a residential community and to protect its unique heritage.

duchess club white gowns with sashes (Source: master photo log.xls)

The Baltimore Afro American April 14, 1928 Lakeland, Maryland A Thanksgiving service was held at First Baptist Church for Harmony Temple No. 349 of Bladensburg on Sunday evening at 3:30. The pastor of First Baptist, Rev. Abbot preached. At Embry AME Church Sunday School was held at 9:30 and Rev. Wing preached at 8:00 in the evening. The son of Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Johnson, Charles has been at home for two weeks due to a lacerated tooth. On Tuesday evening Eunice Johnson was given a surprise party. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Moody, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Brooks, Mr. and Mrs. James A. Gray, Emma Conway, Susie Briscoe, Eliza Gray, Gertrude Walls, Pauline Gray, Louis Gray, Elmo Poole, Henry Henson and Charles Stewart attended the event. Miss Johnson was given many gifts. Mr. and Mrs. Victor Randall hosted her mother, Emma Rollins and younger siblings over the Easter holiday. The Gays had visitors on Easter Sunday. They were two sons with their families, M. Willis, Miss Brooks, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Turner from Washington and their children and Elizabeth Tilghman from New York. Julia Mack is at home for the holiday with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. J.W.C. Mack. Miss Mack is a student at Bowie Normal School. On Thursday many parents and children attended the annual field meet in Marlbora(o). On Sunday James H. Gray, Louis Gray, Arthur Brooks, Joseph Thomas, George Robinson, and Raymond Jones went to Blue Plains on a visit to the Old Folk’s Home. On Sunday Rex Isaac, from Laurel, MD visited Mrs. Arthur Brooks.

On a Sunday afternoon in the 1960s, sisters Eliza and Pauline Gray relax for a moment with some of their nieces and nephews: (left to right), Myron Gray, Paul Butler, Linda Gray Butler, Eliza Gray, Mildred Gray, Pauline Gray, DeWana Gray, a friend of DeWana’s, and Lester Gray. (Courtesy of the Gray family.)

Eliza E. Gray, James Henry Gray's wife. They lived in Berwyn, where their eldest son was born in 1896, after which they moved to Lakeland and became active church members.

Children of James Henry Gray Standing are unknown, Luke, unknown seated are Pauline, William and Eliza.

In the 1940s and 1950s much of the organized entertainment in Lakeland was provided by social clubs. These clubs met monthly at the homes of the members. Dinners were part of the gathering and provided the host an opportunity to showcase both their cooking ability and their tableware. The Duchesses and the Counts social clubs sponsored an annual formal dance at Lakeland Hall and sometimes posed for professional photographs. The Duchesses social club was photographed here during their 1947 evening social event. They are, from left to right, Mary Walls Weems, Cecilia Brooks Stewart, Gertrude Walls Corprew, Evelyn Giles Tyner, Florence Wethers, Martha Edwards, Pearl Brooks Briscoe, and Eliza Gray.