2007 Mail

Thank you so very much for the wonderful article about Memorial Days Past. Even though I am no longer a resident of Harrisburg, I visit your wonderful Afrolumens website quite often. It gives me some connection to what I will always call "home". I have lived in Southern California for the past 40 years, but visit Harrisburg as often as I can.

Last week as I was reading various articles on your site I came across the one regarding Memorial Days of the Past. Much to my surprise I saw the photo and article about my great aunt, Maude B. Coleman.  What a joy it was to see her picture and to read about the things she'd done. My mother (Alma Jackson) and my grandmother (Elizabeth Green) used to tell me about some of the things Aunt Maude participated in. But I guess at my age, I wasn't paying attention too closely.

Aunt Maude had one daughter who died in infancy. I became her surrogate daughter and attended many social functions with her. I always enjoyed visiting her and her husband (Uncle John) at their home on Boas St.  I knew about her founding the Phyllis Wheatley YWCA. In fact, I still have the photograph of her which once hung in the lobby. As a child I participated in many activities at the "Y".  Each summer I'd attend a two week summer day camp there. And since there was no pool, each afternoon we'd walk to the Forster St. African American YMCA to go swimming.

I also attended many Mother and Daughter Teas there with Aunt Maude.  Aunt Maude died when I was in third grade. And each Memorial Day after her passing, my mother, grandmother, brother, and I would go to the Wm. Howard Day Cemetery to place flowers on her grave site. I participated in this yearly tradition until I moved to California in 1967.

I really appreciate your article and your enabling me to gain more knowledge about a wonderful family member.
I have printed a copy of the article and mailed it to one of my closest family friends, Mrs. Myrtle Hicks. She has been like a second mother to me throughout my life. And I know that she'll enjoy reading about Aunt Maude because she knew her quite well. Actually, Mrs. Hicks is also a "Harrisburg legend". She's a very special lady.

Sincerely,
Gail Jackson Quarles

Responses

Calobe Jackson, Jr., 25 July 2007

See Also

• Roll of Colored Graduates of Steelton H. S.
• Former Teachers in the Hygienic School
• George H. Imes and Aura Imes, Hygienic School Teachers
• George Lake Imes
• Numa P.G. Adams
• Emmanuel Church of God in Christ on Main Street Steelton, PA
• Historic Midland Cemetery

Further Reading