Author: cmb12

FindingthingsforU, LLC is owned/founded by Char McCargo-Bah. She is the author of two books, and you can find those books on amazon.com by putting a search on her name. She became a Living Legend in Alexandria, Virginia, in 2014.

Alexandria African American World War I Draft Registrations – Part 4: “D”

Julian Diggs’ World War I Draft Registration Card

During World War I, the United States armed forces remained segregated. Many African Americans registered for the draft as well as served in WWI. Over a quarter of a million African Americans served in WWI. Many of them were relegated to support roles and did not see combat. However, there were some distinguished units among the African American soldiers, for example the 369th Infantry Regiment known as “Harlem Hell fighters,” stayed on the front lines during the war for six months. One-hundred and seventy-one members of the 369th were awarded the Legion of Merit.

There were other outstanding African American units that served in WWI”

92nd Infantry Division
•   366th Infantry Regiment
93rd Infantry Division
•   369th Infantry Regiment (“Harlem Hell fighters;” formerly the 15th New York National Guard)
•   370th Infantry Regiment (formerly the 8th Illinois)
•   371st Infantry Regiment
•   372nd Infantry Regiment

A complete list of African American units that served in World War I is in Robert J. Dalessandro’s book “Willing Patriots: Men of Color in the First World War.”

Below are the African American Alexandrians with the “D” surnames.

Dabney, Major – born in 1880
Dabney, William B – born February 12, 1888
Dade, Henry – born April 19, 1881
Dade, Hopson Odell – born August 22, 1898
Davis, Albert – born November 15, 1898
Davis, Booth Royal – born November 11, 1883
Davis, Dewey Otis – born September 19, 1899
Davis, George – born July 19, 1899
Davis, George – born June 4, 1875
Davis, Hal Pauli – born August 13, 1900
Davis, Henry – born June 14, 1888
Davis, Marshall – born March 2, 1877
Davis, Milton Dulaney – born August 31, 1881
Davis, Oscar Blackwell – born March 2, 1876
Davis, Perry Walker – born September 18, 1889
Davis, Thomas – born July 4, 1880
Davis, William – born July 22, 1880
Dawson, Arthur – born October 16, 1897
Dawson, Joe – birth not given
Day, Ferdinand T – born October 27, 1894
Day, Robert W – born September 27, 1888
Dean, Charles – born June 15, 1894
Dean, Clarence – born October 6, 1899
Dean, Washington – born May 5, 1878
Derr, Ralph Mayfield – born September 20, 1897
Diggs, James Henry – born May 8, 1888
Diggs, Julian – born September 30, 1894
Diggs, Richard – born September 10, 1881
Diggs, William Henry – born April 25, 1899
Dinkina, James – born January 18, 1892
Dixon, Edward – born January 18, 1880
Dixon, Ernest – born October 19, 1880
Dixon, Herbert O – born February 2, 1896
Dixon, James Henry – born January 20, 1883
Dixon, John – born April 1, 1880
Dixon, Lucian Odell – born June 27, 1896
Dixon, Moses – born April 16, 1873
Dixon, William – born August 10, 1894
Dobbins, Charles Henry – born December 16, 1877
Dodson, Malachi – born November 2, 1898
Dogan, William Sanford – born October 17, 1875
Dorsey, Vincent – born November 7, 1890
Doss, James Lacey – born December 1, 1893
Douglas, Harrison – born December 8, 1888
Douglas, John Clarence – born November 17, 1899
Drayton, Charles H – born October 25, 1891
Duckett, Joseph DeSilva – born August 29, 1900
Dudley, Benjamin – birth not given
Dudley, Irvine – born November 22, 1889
Dudley, Isham – born May 2, 1896
Dudley, James Samuel – born October 10, 1899
Dudley, Joseph J – born May 7, 1894
Dulaney, Robert – born April 26, 1891
Duncan, Thomas – born June 4, 1897
Duncan, William H – born July 25, 1886

Mrs. Norma (Jennings) Turner’s Memories of Parker-Gray High School – Class of 1947

Left: Mrs. Norma (Jennings) Turner – Right: Mrs. Turner’s favorite teacher, Mrs. Flora Walden Chase

Mrs. Norma J. Turner was born in the District of Columbia but resided in Alexandria, VA. She spent her formative years with her grandparents, Jesse and Mattie (Hackley) Speakes at 429 North Patrick Street in Alexandria, VA. She is the oldest child of Alexander and Esther (Speakes) Jennings.

Mrs. Turner has many fond memories of Parker-Gray High School. The teachers were interested in one’s progress, and even gave one additional opportunities to excel if one desired to do so. Before Norma entered school, her grandmother asked the then first grade teacher, for some books, to teach her how to read. Miss Laura M. Dorsey gave Norma’s grandmother the books and Norma was taught how to read before she entered the first grade. Miss Dorsey was one of the most popular first grade teachers at Parker-Gray.

At 13, she returned home to her parents. After completing three grades at the Lyles-Crouch Elementary School (on the other end of town), she returned to Parker-Gray. During her high school years, her Mother became ill, and the family had to stay home one to three days a week. One of her favorite high school teachers was Mrs. Flora Walden Chase, who assisted Norma after school by allowing her to complete typing and shorthand assignments. Mrs. Chase was also instrumental in securing an after school job with Mr. Otto Tucker’s office. She typed letters and wrote letters for those who visited the office and for those unable to read or write, but were employed in Alexandria on construction jobs.

There were other favorite teachers in elementary school and in high school that she loved: Mrs. Earline Luckett Hughes (Homeroom), Mrs. Ellen Carter Goods, (3rd Grade) and Mrs. Julia Whiting Pritchett (4th Grade).

Between Parker-Gray and Lyles-Crouch Schools, Norma made great friends who were in her class: Lorraine Parker, Gwendolyn Russell, Jean Taylor and Alice Harris. After she graduated in 1947, Mrs. Turner attended Virginia State College for one year. She was employed in the Federal Government (1949) for the next 39 years.

Due honor is given to her parents, grandparents and her many dedicated teachers who reared her. She has fond memories of Parker-Gray High School. Her family and her many dedicated teachers made her accomplishments possible.

1947 Parker-Gray High School Teachers and 1947 Students

1947 Parker-Gray High School Teachers Night

The Parker-Gray High School year of 1946 – 1947 had one principal and twenty-four teachers.

William H. Pitts, Sr. – Principal
A.W. Adkins – Mathematics
Susie E. Anderson – Science, English
Arthur W. Bracey – Shop
Janie Brown – Third, Fourth
Edith W. Casey – English
Flora W. Chase – Commerical
Helen L. Day – Seventh Grade
Laura M. Dorsey – Third Grade
Ferris Holland – Science
Earleen L. Hughes – English, French
Louis R. W. Johnson – Physical Education
Rubye Johnson – Physical Education
Dorothy P. Key – Librarian
Thelma Mickens – First Grade
Alma P. Murray – Second Grade
Edward Patterson – Music
Bernice J. Perry – Seventh Grade
Charles Price – Social Studies
Julia Pritchett – Seventh Grade
Lucile Smith – Third Grade
Mabel Lee Smith – Mathematics
Ruby E. Smith – Home Economics
Geraldine Stevenson – Seventh Grade
Mary E. Tunstall – English and Social Studies

Parker-Gray High School – 1947 “P” Club

There were forty students in the Class of 1947.

Jessie Mae Willis Adams
Alice Harris Arrington
Earl F. Bailey
William Bentley
John Blackburn
Doris A. Nelson Brown
Horace Burton
Albert Burts
Luther Burts
Majorie Charity Burts
George Carroll
Janice Reed Carroll
Carlton Chase
Gloria Copeland
Irene Copeland
Nevada Hurtt Ellis
Calvin Ferguson
Hiawatha Goff
William Green
Jule A. Bolden Hope
Doris Brown Holland
Dorothy Humphrey
Gwendolyn Russell Malloy
Lewis Nelson
Mildred Salisbury Nelson
Theodore Patterson
Costella Nickens Shackleford
Norman Shanklin
Morris Siebert
Jean Taylor Simms
Howard Stanton
Harold Tate
Claude Tripplett
Norma Jennings Turner
Pearl Waterson Turner
Juanita Wanzer
Frances Tibbs Wheeler
Cynthia Anderson Williams
Lorraine Parker Williams
Carlton R. Willis

Special Announcement of Freedmen’s Cemetery Sculpture

An Opportunity to Participate in the Freedmen’s Cemetery Sculpture

The three artist finalists are busy working on their proposals for the Freedmen’s Cemetery sculpture. The Selection Panel has requested that the artists consider using descendant families as models for the figures. The Office of the Arts would like to gather digital photographs of the descendant families to provide to the artists. If you have existing photographs of grandparents, great-grandparents, or great-great grandparents, the Office is interested in scanning or taking pictures of them so they can be sent to the artists. Additionally, if you or another member of your family is interested in serving as a model, the Office of the Arts staff will be happy to photograph you. Interested descendants may contact Irene Dellet, Alexandria Commission for the Arts intern, at: 703-746-5588 or email ibdellett@gmail.com by Monday, June 18. Irene will also be following up with phone calls to the descendant families. If you are interested in participating, you may bring your photographs to the Durant Arts Center, 1605 Cameron Street, by June 18 or make arrangements for Office of the Arts staff to come to your home. Durant Arts Center hours: Monday – Thursday 9am – 10pm; Friday 9am – 5pm.