Subject: Agingpage 2

At Christmas

Estee Benjamin Wells, Sr.

Rear unknown, Ruth Lancaster, unknown, unknown Front unknown, Mrs. Silvia Stevens, Agnes Gross

Berdell Mary Jones passed on March 12, 2007, at the age of 74, at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda Maryland. In her passing, she left behind beloved family and friends. Details of her service are included in the clipping.

Lakeland Citizen's Club

Emma Harrison Braxton, Agnes Harrison Gross and Sarah Harrison Braxton

As a young woman, Margaret Gross Gray moved to New York City and married; yet she still maintained ties to Lakeland. Her visits were frequent and her children and grandchildren came for long holidays “in the country.” One visit with Gray’s grandmother, Harriet Hughes of Lakeland Road (seated, center), is captured here circa 1942. From left to right, standing, are Beatrice Hughes Thomas, Cora Gross, George Gray, and Margaret Gross Gray. Seated on the ground are Jean Gray (right) and Amelia Wilson (left). (Courtesy of the Gross family.)

Interview transcript Delphine Gross with her grandmother, Agnes Gross for a class in the 1980s Agnes Gross' house was on the land of the College Park Community Center, but was taken bc of eminent domain. They then relocated to a property in on 54th Ave. Agnes Gross is the youngest of 14 siblings. The interview is marked up with notes from the teacher. The first page is the interviewer asking Mrs. Gross about her family, her hometown, and when she was born, more about her background in Murkirk - her schooling, the church she attended, etc. Asking about a nearby school, Mrs. Gross's father's land, and Mrs. Gross's work history. Going into detail about Mrs. Gross's family, what she stored during WWII, and her siblings., More about Mrs. Gross's siblings - then more of her work history. When doing domestic work, she was paid as little as a quarter an hour. Mrs. Gross raised her baby-sitting rate to a flat five dollars, which was somewhat expensive at the time. For context, she also says that you could get the best pork chops for fifty cents. She also speaks on how some things, mainly convenience, are better now than they were when she was younger, and how some things are worse (such as crime). Speaking of how times have changed, such as the segregation in public spaces she faced when she was younger. Also speaking about life during the Depression - you would help anybody who came to your door., Working conditions - people, especially black people, were paid very low wages. Often they'd work until they physically couldn't anymore - she speaks of old women who would "pull themselves up on the streetcar" because they needed the money from working.

Handwritten family tree with drawn family portrait.