Subject: Religion

Stewart Board Front left Agnes Gross, Pauline Gray, Martha Edwards, Arthur Brooks Rear Mr. Conway, Milton Weems, Rev. R.H. Baddy, Delaris Dory

Evening Event - Dollar Tree front Ila McFerren Conley, Willie Mae Potts Smith, Mary Daisey Briscoe, Harry Braxton Sr, Mary Weems Braxton, Dessie Randall Thomas Rear Flora Conway Thomas, Maria Lomax, Eliza Gray, Saxaline Briscoe Campbell.

Dancers from St. Andrew Kim Catholic Mission Dedication Lakeland Park

Event honored William Gray and Pauline Gray

Youth fundraising event at Embry AME Church circa 1949

preached event at 1st Baptist

At Embry AME Church

Contains a cover page - memorial service was held on Aug 7 1992 at Embry African Methodist Episcopal Church. Also contains an obituary - he's William Campbell's son (whose memorial service brochure is also scanned in this donation). Lastly, contains the order of service; list of pallbearers; acknowledgements; and a passage from scripture.

Rev. Milton Covington of the First Baptist Church is pictured here with parishioners on Women’s Day in the 1960s. Seated from left to right are (first row) Elsie Moody, Mary Brooks Brewer, Rev. Covington, Mary Arthur Brooks, unidentified, and Maria Dory; (second row) Alberta Tolson, Viola Gross, Harriet Lee Morgan, Charles Adams, Mr. Peale, Phoebe Fair, John Fair, and Rosie Cager.

Rev. Carter, unknown, Amy Potts, Christine Gray, Agnes Randall First row Julia Mack Carroll, Bernice Walls. Deloris Parker

James Clemmons, Ellen Randall Gray, and Dora Robinson during Sunday School picnic

Morning worship at First Baptist Church of College Park

An oral history interview conducted with Betty Greene during Lakeland Heritage Weekend 2007. Betty Louise Thomas Greene was born on September 13, 1938 at Freedman’s Hospital in Washington D.C. to Annie Venerva Hebron Thomas and Sam (probably Samuel) E. (possibly Edward) Thomas. Betty, the last of eight children, was born when her mother was in her 50s. Betty married her husband, Ambrose Augustine Greene, on June 29, 1957 at Holy Redeemer Church in College Park, Maryland, after he left the Army. Betty and Ambrose both lived in Lakeland, and developed their relationship by going to weekend dances at the Lakeland Tavern. They had one daughter, Danita Darcel Greene Costley. Betty also has two grandsons and three great grandchildren, whom she enjoys visiting in Arlington, Virginia as often as possible. Betty belonged to several community organizations, including the House of Ruth and the Lakeland Civic Association, and is a charter member of Post 140 John Henry Seaburn, College Park (which merged with the American Legion Auxiliary, Post 275, Glenarden.) She is a proud lifelong member of the Embry A.M.E. Church in Lakeland, which was her parents’ church and where she was baptized as an infant. Betty has fond memories of growing up as a child in Lakeland, emphasizing that while her family did not have much, they were very loving towards one another, and belonged to a community where everyone looked out for each other. The children would generally create their own entertainment by “playing store” and “playing house.” They even emulated the behavior of adults and once had a funeral for a dead bird. Betty and her siblings would also collect discarded glass soda bottles and redeem them for penny candy. They would either walk up the tracks to Berwyn, or patronize Mack’s Store or Black’s Store in Lakeland. Her father worked for a coal and feed business in Berwyn. He did the weekly grocery shopping on Saturday, which was payday; the family could look forward to hot dogs and beans for dinner, and as a special treat for the kids, a box of animal crackers. Betty’s mother, a domestic worker for families in Berwyn, knew how to be creative with food, so the family never went hungry. Betty also recalled that her mother got the best hand-me-down clothes from her employers for her children. Betty explained that there was no lack of discipline in her childhood, and that her parents used a switch to discipline their children. Rather than feeling like it was unnecessary, Betty feels that she’s a better person for having been disciplined, though she does hope that parents have learned other methods of disciplining their children. She also recalls being disciplined by her teacher, Richard Brown, by having her hand smacked with a ruler, while attending school in the two-room schoolhouse in east Lakeland. Betty expressed her disappointment over urban renewal in Lakeland because the program did not live up to the expectations that had been promised. The community did need some subsidized housing, but she notes that most of the apartments and lower income houses that replaced single-family houses and small businesses have become student housing; investors are buying homes for sale in the community and renting to students. She feels that this is a disadvantage for the community. Drugs are a problem in Lakeland now, and Betty attributes this to the fact that young people do not want to work at a minimum wage job, and turn down their noses at manual labor. Betty describes her family’s various housing situations. As a child, Betty lived at 5407 Detroit Avenue, now the site of Lake Artemesia (she mentions that she could walk over to Lake Artemesia today but would not be able to locate where her house had been.) They shared a double house with the Stewart family, renting it from the Kleiner family. Betty’s mother eventually went to live with Betty’s sister in Laurel. After Betty and Ambrose married in 1957, they moved in with Ambrose’s grandmother Elizabeth Greene, whose house was located, along with the houses of the Gray and Gross family, on the current location of Paint Branch Elementary School. After some moving around, including a stay in an apartment on Emerson Street in Hyattsville, Betty and Ambrose settled in a house owned by Ambrose’s mother, at 8001 51st Avenue, where Betty lives today. She raised not only her daughter, but also her brother’s four children, in this home. She cites raising her family while working for twenty-seven years as a cleaner at the Paint Branch Elementary School as her proudest personal accomplishment. Betty’s greatest joy in life comes from her involvement in the church. She has served in practically every capacity and church office, and still participates in church activities and charity events, like feeding the homeless. Her love of God and her faith have sustained her through some difficult times in her life, including the tragic loss of her mother in a house fire, a devastating blow for Betty since her mother had a significant influence on her life. To this day, Betty thanks her mother for all the wisdom she imparted, even if Betty did not appreciate the advice at the time. Wrapping up the interview, Betty recalls that she and her siblings looked forward to church, since it was their time to get away from the house. But, their mother’s wild and joyous behavior at church would embarrass them. With a knowing glance, Betty’s mother told her that one day, she would understand. Betty now finds herself acting just like her mother in church. And she couldn’t be happier.

Testimonial Dinner in honor of Pauline Gray and Arthur Brooks Meal in church parish hall standing center is pastor, Rev. Baddy seated behind him left Agnes Harrison Gross right Emma Harrison Braxton behind them is Shirley Anderson seated standing left is Delarce Dory and right is James Edwards II

For generations Mrs. Dessie Randall Thomas "Miss Dessie" taught children in the Sunday School of Embry AME Church. She is here with a class. This was a typical scene during the 1940s to 1970s

Pointing upward in pulpit of Embry AME Church

Home-going service held at Green Chapel A.M.E Zion Church, Hamlet North Carolina, Saturday April 1, 1989 at 1:00pm. Reverend Fleming Byrd officiating. Cover scanned only - homegoing service was inside scrapbook.

In addition to good, home-cooked food and the opportunity to visit with friends and family members, on this day in 1963 there was the added attraction of pony rides. On the left is Avis Matthews on a pony led by her uncle, Lester Gray; her sister Carol is riding a pony led by Ronald Brooks.

Pastor First Baptist Church of College Park

At the end of the urban renewal process, Lakeland had its first park. Developed along the south side of Lakeland Road, it includes a pavilion, basketball and tennis courts, and a playground. There are trail links to Lake Artemesia, the Paint Branch Trail, and Anacostia trails. On opening day, July 30, 1983, participants came from all parts of the community to celebrate, including members of St. Andrew Kim Catholic Church, which had purchased the historic building that once housed Lakeland High School. Members of the church’s performance group posed with other event participants. In the rear are, from left to right, State Delegate James Rosapepe, Mayor Alvin Kushner, College Park City Councilmembers Joseph Page and Anna Owens, and event organizers Thelma Lomax and Michael Middleton.

Standing at entrance to Embry AME Church

Ladies at First Baptist Church posed for this photo during the Church's Anniversary celebration in the late 1950s. The ladies are, from left to right, (first row) Mamie McCorkle, Mary Brooks, Alice Briscoe, and Maria Dory; (second row) Lucy Gordon, Mary Johnson Weems, Rose Cager Adams, Patricia Barber, June Jackson,, Harriet Smith, Mary Rustin, unidentified person, Jeanette Brooks, and Julia Pitts; (third row) Alice Branson, Mattie Cameron, Emma Conway, and Patty Hawkins.

The congregation of the First Baptist Church of College Park gathered for this photograph in June 2006, during the celebration of their 116th year anniversary. Their pastor, Rev. Stephen L. Wright Sr., is second from the left in the second row. His wife, Linda, is to his left. (Courtesy of Eleanor V. Holt)

Embry AME Church Testimonial Dinner in honor of Pauline Gray and Arthur Brooks

During Lakeland Sunday, Lakeland Heritage Weekend event at Lakeland High School site (Washington Brazilian SDA Church)

At Embry AME Church

Campbell- Kennedy wedding at Embry AME Church

Contains: - The cover page contains various icons representative of Lakeland, such as the streetcar trolley sign and the railroad crossing; - The schedule for the weekend, detailing the events for the community party on Saturday and the religious service on Sunday; - An introductory piece, explaining the mission of the weekend and the Lakeland Community Heritage Project; - An overview of Lakeland history. Noted image of a house is the "Hicks house;" - Brief descriptions of Lakeland's churches and Lakeland's clubs.; - A description of the families of Lakeland and how they were forced out of their homes by Urban Renewal. Contains a description of the history and impact of Lake Artemesia; - More descripition of the erasure of a large part of the community, then recognition of how it's come back stronger than before; - A family tree template; - The order of service for the religious service on the Sunday., Empty space for notes and resources with which one could find their family history. On the right side, a map of eastern Lakeland; - The final page of the pamphlet, with thank-yous and acknowledgements.

Rev. R.H. Baddy at pulpit at Embry AME Church

Embry AME Church visit to Macedonia United Methodist Church for Usher’s Day

By Trustees of Embry AME Church

James Edwards III and Pearl Lee Campbell Edwards at Embry AME Church

A card with a flowered boundary bordering a newspaper clipping from the Washington Star on Dec 27 1972. On the back of the card there is a short prayer.

First Baptist Church of College Park crowned Gwen Williams Miss First Baptist during a fund-raising pageant held at the church in the summer of 1970. Williams won by raising more money for the church than the other competitors. The Young People's Volunteer Choir provided music for the evening. (Courtesy of Thelma Lomax)

The oldest Church in Lakeland was organized in 1891. Congregants purchased a building, renovated it, and it became the First Baptist Church of Lakeland. Services were held in the homes of various community members during and before the construction of the church.

Haliburton and Essex family photos.

Embry AME Church After church renovation James Clemons, Ethel Lockerman, unknown, ? Gray, Leon Robinson, Spenser Briscoe, Agnes Gross, unknown, Barbara Seldon,

Rev. Jessie Williams with guests

In 1901, the First Baptist Church purchased a parcel of land from church deacon John C. Johnson, and the church was relocated to its current location on Lakeland Road. This move proved beneficial to the community when the church was able to provide needed classroom space for the overcrowded Lakeland Elementary School. Here, members of the Junior Choir posed in front of the church with their pastor, Rev. J. A. Franklin, center, circa 1945.

Left to Right James Clemmons, J. Chesley Mack, Rev. M.A. Covington at Embry AME Church during testimonial dinner

Newlyweds Kathleen and James Tyrone Kennedy and their families. Shown at Embry AME Church, the site of their wedding service.

Mock weddings such as this one at Embry A.M.E. Church, circa 1949, were popular dramatizations and fundraisers for churches. The church’s youth played the parts of bride, groom, minister, and wedding party. Embry maintained an active Sunday School, providing a Christian foundation and a social outlet for many children in the community. Embry also was active in the A.M.E. Church’s Potomac District Sunday School Council.