Subject: Youth

Images from Lakeland students of Fairmont Heights High School

Youth fundraising event at Embry AME Church circa 1949

In the late 1960s, it became clear that the fifty-year old building housing Lakeland Elementary school no longer met the needs of the community's children. Community leaders fought long and hard to have a new school built in Lakeland. This commitment was maintained despite the school board’s selection of a site occupied by several houses. Even some of those who would be losing their homes worked actively for a new school in Lakeland. They were triumphant, and Paint Branch Elementary School opened in 1972 as an integrated elementary school with students from Lakeland and neighboring majority-white communities. Shown above is Miss Norris’s pre-kindergarten class in 1974-75. Today, the school serves more than 350 students from pre-kindergarten through sixth grade.

Embry AME Church during Lakeland Heritage Event

Class with principal, Edgar Smith

As a freshman at Morgan State University in Baltimore in 1974, Robert Peterson participated in the Maryland Marathon, completing the Olympic distance of 26 miles, 385 yards in 3 hours, 19 minutes, 31 seconds. The next spring, Peterson ran the Boston Marathon.

Members of the Lakeland High School Dance Group in 1946. Group President Mary Day and secretary LaVerne Tolson are pictured, as are other members. They are shown in the school hallway. Dance, music, and athletics were offered at the school. Teachers donated time to the community and often taught extracurricular programs after school. Educators defined their roles as providing more than classroom learning; they worked to expand the cultural horizons of students, as well.

Standing at entrance to Embry AME Church

Studio Portrait

During benefit concert at Memorial Chapel, University of Maryland. This young man was a student of Ottley Music School, Hyattsville

Parkdale, Fairmont Heights, Rockville, Win State Titles

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)

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.

High School Graduation picture

school photo

Friday evening during Heritage Weekend

Middle is Tommy Oldberg, Erlene's brother. Jerry McMillian and Jerry Mason. and Guy on the bottom. Taken when they were in their 20s. Played a lot of sports. Back of photo reads: "I'm[sic] vacation for 5 days. Why don't you get some sleep. Not feel sleep. Day LSD." On the sides are written "I'm sleep" and "Glen too.""

Earlene Williams, Marva McGee and friend

The Embry Youth Choir was organized in 1979 under the guidance of the pastor, Rev. Dessie L. Carter. Pictured are, from left to right, Talaya Boardley, Kimberly Gillens, Sharon Seldon, Linda Kim Lockerman, Monique Thomas, adviser Jean Gray Matthews, Rev. Carter, Lisa Gray, Kamille Gillens, Karon Seldon, Dean Matthews, and Paul Thomas. Members not shown are Lisa Carter, Barrett Matthews, Denise Penn, Nicole Thomas, and Pamela Tolson. (Courtesy of Embry A.M.E. Church.)

Children playing ball in a Lakeland street

Ninth Grade shown on page of Lakelander yearbook

1947 Lakelander yearbook page

Cast photo is found in collection

Youth of First Baptist Church; also shown is Pastor Covington. Bottom left is Miss Sandidge teaching a Sunday School Class and next to that an image of the crowning of Miss First Baptist Church, Gwen Williams. First Baptist Church of College Park crowned Gwen Williams Miss First Baptist during a fundraising 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.)

DeWana Gray with friends at Bowie State College

Young boy on bicycle

In studio portrait as schoolgirl niece of Agnes Harrison Gross

During World War II are shown mother and daughter Mary Day and her daughter Mary Day are shown in front of the family home on Navahoe Street. In the far right are seen two stars showing from a window or door.

Earlene Weems shown in the driveway of home

(cropped)---1947 Lakelander Yearbook

African Americans could not attend the University of Maryland until 1954, and few undergraduates of color were admitted until the 1970s. Lakelander Constance Sandidge graduated from the University of Maryland at College Park in 1969. About her graduation she wrote, “I had no idea that I was doing anything out of the ordinary. Our parents instilled in my sisters and me that we could be successful at anything, and they made unbelievable sacrifices to ensure that we would get a firm academic foundation.”

Page from Lakelander yearbook

The annual May Day celebration was a high point of the Lakeland school year for many decades. Parents came to witness the day-long festivities, which included sporting matches and a musical program. The day’s highlight was the children dancing around the May Pole. Here, the May Queen was crowned circa 1960.

Heritage Weekend Friday Night

Officer took part in the Lakeland Stars basketball program including games on Friday night of Heritage Weekend

In 1956, Rev. Preston Britton and members of Embry AME Church were the Annual Ushers Day guests of Macedonia United Methodist Church in Odenton, MD. Britton gave the sermon, and Embry's Youth choir performed under the direction of Dessie Randall Thomas.

The Embry Youth Choir was organized in 1979 under the guidance of the pastor, Rev. Dessie L. Carter. Pictured are, from left to right, Talaya Boardley, Kimberly Gillens, Sharon Seldon, Linda Kim Lockerman, Monique Thomas, adviser Jean Gray Matthews, Reverend Carter, Lisa Gray, Kamille Gillens, Karon Seldon, Dean Matthews, and Paul Thomas. Members not shown are Lisa Carter, Barrett Matthews, Denise Penn, Nicole Thomas, and Pamela Tolson.

Violetta Sharps, Miss Lakeland 1963, greets the crowd during that year’s Elks Day Parade. Among the groups marching that day was Lakeland’s own majorettes. This parade was one of many that took place over the years in the Lakeland community. The Elks’ parades promoted healthy competition between lodges throughout the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia. Captured in the photo below, marching down Lakeland Road, is one of several marching bands invited to participate. (Courtesy Pearl Lee Campbell and James Edwards III.) .

At Embry AME Church

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