Subject: Familypage 2

The donors.

Soldier's letter home during World War II. Written by Harry Braxton in Germany to his godson, and first cousin, Elwood Gross

They married in 1995.

Attendants of the celebrations - childhood friends who left and returned, multigenerational family members, etc. Some attended Lakeland schools and still live in Lakeland.

Donors' daughter holding a baby.

Attendants of the celebrations - childhood friends who left and returned, multigenerational family members, etc. Some attended Lakeland schools and still live in Lakeland.

The Christmas season served as portrait-taking time for Diane Weems and her younger brother, Donald Weems (Kuwasi Balagoon). This picture was taken around 1950 in the living room of the family home on Navahoe Street.

Beatrice Hughes Thomas

Joanne and Harry Braxton, Jr at Christmas in their Cleveland Ave Home,

Haliburton and Essex family photos. School photo. Back reads "This is my 7th grd picture"

In 1957, debutante DeWana E. Gray is escorted by Eugene Jordan and accompanied by her parents, Christine and Clarence Gray. The debutante ball was sponsored by The Links, an African-African women’s service organization. Gray was presented by Dr. David Hinton and ViCurtis Gray Hinton. (Courtesy of the Gray Family.)

Mary Walls Day and daughter Mary Day

Donor's daughter speaking again.

During the 25th anniversary celebration of her brother George Henry and his wife Agnes at their home on Cloud Avenue

Grandson of Bill and Lucille Sharps pictured on the grounds of his grandparent's home in the eastern area of Lakeland

On a summer Sunday morning in 1942, from left to right, Martha Edwards, Evelyn Giles Tyner, and Tyner’s sister, Lucille Giles, ushers for Embry A.M.E. Church, walked to church with Tyner’s daughters, Edna and Shirley. The Edwards garden is visible on the left; the Giles house is off to the right.

Haliburton and Essex family - various notes and cards.

Lola Giles Brooks Cyrous with baby Violetta Sharps Jones

In the summer of 1944, neighbors enjoyed a day relaxing in the rural countryside of Lakeland. In this photograph, longtime neighbors proudly show off their newest neighbor, infant James "Little Jimmy" Edwards III. Sitting in the cornfield, from left to right, are Lola Giles, Viola Brooks, Cecelia Brooks, Gertrude Brooks, and Morris Crump. (Courtesy of Mary Hamlett Harding.)

Mary Ann is shown placing a flower on the lapel of her father Maseo in preparation for her wedding. The image was taken at their home on Navahoe Street. The wedding service and reception took place just a few blocks away at Embry AME Church

Through the early 1970s, the home was the center of extended-family festivities, including Christmas dinners and Fourth of July fireworks. Pictured are, left to right, Barnett, Mildred holding Lester, Linda, DeWana, Myron, Jean holding Cheryl, and Clarence Jr. By 1954, this branch of the Gray family tree also included Tanya, Zandra, James, and Benay.

In 1947, James Henry Gray sat for this formal photo with, from left to right, his eldest son, William H. McKinley Gray (Will); grandson William H. McKinley Gray II; and great-grandson William H. McKinley Gray III (Butch). James H. Gray died in 1957. His family maintained the home on Pierce Street for two more decades. Will, following in his father’s path, was a successful interior painter and paperhanger in the District of Columbia. A World War I veteran, he is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. McKinley owned PauMac Photographers in the District of Columbia and built an extensive archive of images. Butch died in childhood following surgery. (Courtesy of the Gray family.)

First Gray Family Reunion

Maxine and Delphine Gross in the intersection of 54th Avenue and Pierce Avenue in the background is the family home. The Turner home on 54th Avenue is seen as well.

Grandchildren of Elizabeth Campbell Adams. Rear from left are Brigette Smith Day, Monica Edwards, George Smith, Jr. front is James Edwards IV

Standing is Wallace Sharps to his left is Violetta Sharps, and Lucille Sharps. Seated are Janet Christian, Pamela Sharps and friends of Mr. Sharps

Closeup of their original wedding topper from 1964.