Wall of Fame
In Recognition
Saint Paul’s College in Lawrenceville, VA, from its inception has provided quality education for students who passed through its doors. Many have gone on to higher level institutions and some have gone on to high level industries and made their mark as being among the best in their field. The same has been the case for students who went to the James Solomon Russell High School.
The James Solomon Russell-Saint Paul’s College Museum & Archives recognized that those high-level achievers, who made exceptional sacrifices and commitments, should be recognized for their efforts.
The museum committee has set up high standards for all applicants participating in this program.
An important requirement is for the applicant to be recognized on a regional or higher level.
Nominees will have to apply by December 1, of each year and will receive their results around the end of February of the following year. The celebration will be in May or other pre-determined date. We encourage all alumni members to participate.
Wall of Fame Application
Wall of Fame 2025 Inductees
John L. Ghee was born in Kenbridge, Virginia on May 28, 1942, to the late Frank F. Ghee and Julia B. Ghee, the sixth of nine children. He grew up in a rural farm community, where he attended Lunenburg County Public Schools and joined the Bethlehem RZUA Church. He was ordained as an Elder in the RZUA Church in August 1966. He served the RZUA connectional church as President of the Rising Youth Convocation and pastored five different congregations (Prospect, St.Stephens, Salem Union, Winfield Salem, and Mercy Seat) in Virginia’s Mecklenburg and Brunswick counties. John is a graduate of Saint Paul’s College. Beginning in January 1976, he went on a 30-years-long loan from the RZUA Church to the Christian Methodist Episcopal (CME) Church. In the CME Church, he served as an Associate Pastor, Military Chaplain, Senior Pastor and Presiding Elder. He is the founding pastor of the Community CME Church in Columbia, SC and Commissioning Presiding Elder of the Hoyt Tabernacle, CME Church of Claymont, Delaware. In June 1976, he was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the US Army Chaplains Corp Staff Specialist Program. He retired from the US Army in September 1998 as a Lt Colonel. After his retirement from the US Army, he became Chaplain for the Community Memorial Hospital, South Hill, VA., where he also served as Chair of the Ethics Committee. Bishop Ghee was elected and consecrated 15 th Bishop of the RZUA Churches of America at its General Conference on October 22, 2014. James Solomon Russell’s legacy is a natural association with Bishop Ghee as Dr. Russell started his education and Christian ministry as Secretary of the RZUA Churches where both doctrines are intertwined.
Sgt. Ann E. Lamb was born on March 19, 1928, to a college professor and minister and a mother who was a midwife. Ann was an intelligent young woman with a bright future ahead of her. The youngest of seven children, she graduated from the high school of St. Paul’s Polytechnical Institute in Lawrenceville, Va., at age 15. After working in a clerical job with the federal government, she joined the Marine Corps at 21, on September 9, 1949, in New York City—a little more than one year after the passage of the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act of June 12, 1948, which allowed women to join the active roles of the armed services She was the second Black woman to enlist in the Marine Corps. Her friend Annie E. Graham, who would remain her lifelong friend, was the first Black woman Marine, enlisting at Detroit, Michigan, one day earlier. As a Marine, Sgt. Ann Ellis was a tall, slim black woman who worked at Camp Lejeune as an electrical accounting machine operator in the Data Processing Center working in the Base Property Office. After one year’s courtship, she married Charles Lamb. Three years later this event enhanced Ann’s journey as a forerunner to future black women enlisting in the Marines Corps and her husband also enlisted. Educator Mary McCleod Bethune was part of her friend’s list. Anne was interviewed by the Newspaper “The Boot” and she related what being one of the first black woman Marines meant to her, “I had no idea that we were starting something new. We really didn’t know until we got to Parris Island”. History was being made, and new opportunities were being established. She was discharged from the Marine Corps in 1952 and after 39 years of marriage, two sons, and one daughter, she passed in 1992, at age 64.
Jeanette A. Lee began coaching and teaching physical education at Saint Paul’s College in Lawrenceville, Virginia. She received both her undergraduate and graduate degrees from North Carolina Central University. Initially, Lee’s mentor and coach/instructor, the legendary John B. McLendon, sent her to Saint Paul’s College “to get a little experience and move on to bigger adventures”. Lee had over 30 years of adventures at the liberal arts college, and her impact lasted many years to come and reached beyond the hills of SPC. On the conference level, Lee played a strong leadership role in developing the Women’s Athletic Division of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association known as the (CIAA). By corralling the league’s women’s leadership and gaining buy-in from the male power brokers, the CIAA had its first women’s basketball tournament in 1980. On the Battlefield for Title IX, Lee made inspirational presentations both nationally and statewide on hearing panels and committees on behalf of women’s athletic and educational benefits of health education for young people. Always the pioneering trailblazer, Ms. Lee became the first female athletic director in 1990 who oversaw both men’s and women’s programs in the CIAA and the fifth woman to be inducted into the CIAA Hall of Fame. Known as a strong leader, she was a woman of her word, a believer in inclusion for all students, not just the student-athlete. Each year the CIAA recognizes the athletic director who exemplifies these qualities in his/her administration by giving them the Jeannette A. Lee Athletic Administrator of the Year Award. In 2005, the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletics Administrators (NACWAA) honored Jeanette A. Lee [posthumously] as one of its Lifetime Achievement participants at the National Convention in Kansas City, MO.
Dora G. Wynn was born in Adsit, Virginia, and later moved to New Jersey where she attended the Weequahic High School in Newark. She then returned to Brunswick County where she enrolled at Saint Paul’s College and received her Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education. Her post-graduate work was completed at George Washington University culminating in a Master of Arts Degree in Education and Human Development (Magna Cum Laude). She has also supplemented her education through coursework from the University of Virginia, Old Dominion University, Virginia State University, and Southside Virginia Community College. She began working in Brunswick County Public Schools as a teacher’s aide, bus driver, and substitute teacher from 1969-1978. She moved up the ranks after receiving her degree from Saint Paul’s College in 1978, serving as a reading teacher at Park View Middle School: was named Principal at Totaro Elementary School in 1979: was hired as Brunswick’s Assistant School Superintendent in 1998, was appointed Superintendent for Lunenburg County Public Schools before returning to Brunswick County in 2014 as School Superintendent. Mrs. Wynn also served as Interim Superintendent, Director of Human Resources, Division Director of Testing, Division Talented and Gifted (TAG) Coordinator, Title 1 Reading Teacher and Adjunct Faculty with the Department of Education in Early Childhood Curriculum at Saint Paul’s College.
Wall of Fame 2024 Inductees
Nicci Carr attended the Barack Obama Elementary School in Richmond, VA., in the early 1980s, where she was introduced to SPARC (Youth Performing Arts) where she participated in various plays annually. Ms. Carr attended Henderson Middle School and John Marshall High School where she was awarded for her acting and dancing. Before finishing at John Marshall High School, she ventured into the work field and then decided to finish at Thomas Jefferson High School. Afterwards, she went on to Saint Paul’s College, graduating in 1994. Her father, who lived in Brooklyn, NY worked for Warner Music Group, WEA Records, and had introduced her to many entertainers and people in the industry, including Mick Jagger, Captain & Tennille and actor/director Penny Marshall. She recalled being surrounded by music earlier when she was in New York. Her family was driven by education, and Nicci had relatives who were educators, principals, doctors, and other professionals. She was the entertainer of her family. After Saint Paul’s College, she moved from Richmond to Washington, DC., in 1996, and she started working as a second-grade teacher in DC’s Northeast area. She enjoyed and excelled in this position using her acting skills to keep the students excited about learning. One of her student’s fathers introduced her to his brother, who was an actor in Los Angeles. His brother was impressed and suggested that she head out to the West Coast to pursue acting. In 2005, things began to happen. She earned a series of acting roles in television, commercials, and print advertising. The next decade was bumpy with a move to Atlanta. She spent her time coordinating STEM at Georgia State University and seeking new opportunities in acting. She said “God has been on my side this entire journey”, reflecting on her newfound fame. She had the opportunity to connect with the Martin Agency in Richmond for the “Scoop there it is” GEICO commercial with Tag Team which aired during the 2021 Super Bowl. The Richmond Free Press stated, “Nicci Carr has become a phenom, dancing in her robe as Tasha in a hugely popular GEICO commercial”. The commercial garnered 15 million views on YouTube and became the #1 ad in America, according to industry publications. Nicci Carr’s latest work stems from producing a renowned documentary on “The Life of James Solomon Russell” This documentary has been nominated for the Virginia Black Film Festival award.
Dr. Erma Freeman was born in Chase City, VA, where she received her early education. She continued at Saint Paul’s College where she graduated in 1968, and went on to Virginia State College in Petersburg, VA, to obtain her master’s degree in biology in 1969. After she had obtained her bachelor’s and master’s degrees, she began teaching at Linkhorne Jr. High School in Lynchburg, VA., when a professor from her graduate school at VSC told her about an opportunity for minority students at MCV’s dental school. She applied and was accepted. Dr. Freeman received her dental surgery degree from MCV in 1977. Dr. Freeman recalls her early days in school: She felt her college school days were challenging, lonely, scary, fast-paced, highly visible, and also fun. She reveals that she was constantly in a glass jar on display for everyone to see. She made friends in her lab, where they were assigned alphabetically and remained for four years. Dr. Freeman wanted to be a dentist for fairly simple reasons: good work, good money, and time for the family. She wanted to help patients in pain, boost their self-esteem, and help them to recognize their dental needs. Dr. Freeman says she feels more people of color, especially women, should consider dentistry because it continues to offer many more practice options, more scheduling flexibility than many other professions, and the potential for lucrative incomes. She says that the cost currently may be prohibitive and the entrance requirements are very high. The competition for available slots is tremendous. The benefits of her decision to become a dentist have carried over for decades as Dr. Freeman had a private dental practice in Ettrick, VA, for 20 years, and was appointed by former Gov. L. Douglas Wilder to the Virginia Board of Dentistry in 1993 and worked for 13 years as a dentist with the state Department of Corrections before retiring and spent hours in volunteer service. Dr. Freeman has won many awards, including the Trailblazer Award as the Richmond dental school’s first black female as part of the school’s “First 100 Dentists of Color” initiative. She said “I was sailing high, soaring for a while from the honor, but, it was a long road to reach that point.” She was recently honored with the “Dominion Energy/Library of Virginia Strong Men & Women of Virginia” award. Dr Erma Freeman is now retired and resides in South Hill, VA.
Reverend Harmon was born in Cape Palmas, Liberia, West Africa. His undergraduate education was completed at Saint Paul’s College. He then continued his religious education at Virginia Theological Seminary and Union Theological Seminary & Presbyterian School of Christian Education. For ten years, he served as a member of the spiritual faculty of the CREDO Institute. Before he was called as Rector and Pastor of Trinity Church in Washington, DC, he served as Rector of St. Stephens, Petersburg, VA; Assistant Rector of Grace Episcopal Church, Norfolk, VA, and was the Episcopal Chaplain at Norfolk State and Virginia State Universities. He served as the Provincial Chaplain to the Order of Daughter of the King for six years. He represented both the Dioceses of Washington (DC) and the Southern Diocese of Southern Virginia as a Deputy and Alternate to several General Conventions. He served also as a member of the Standing Committee and Committee on Ministry in the Dioceses of Washington and Southern Virginia. He was the founding Rector of TEAMM, a music ministry for children. He was also the founder and President of the Trinity Development Corporation whose purpose is to help empower the underserved of Washington, DC, areas to achieve self-sufficiency through counseling and education and improving access to adequate health care. Trinity Development Corporation is also a leading provider of HIV/AIDS education and prevention services and operates six centers in various wards of the District of Columbia. This ministry that addresses health disparities has realized almost two million in funding from local and federal sources. He served previously as Rector of St. Stephen’s Church and founder and Chief Executive Officer of “Preserving Life, Ensuring Future Generation Ministry,” a parish-based HIV/AIDS education and prevention program that received $100,000 in grants. The program reached over 2,000 high schools and college students in Petersburg, VA. Bishop Harmon believes that every gathering of the people of God is an opportunity to be witnesses to the presence of God surrounding us. He has also led and supported relief efforts in the United States, the Caribbean, and Africa. He was installed as Bishop of Arkansas on January 6, 2024. He is married to Keeva Patterson Harmon, and they are proud parents of three young adults; Joshua, Jarena, and Justin.
Dr. Henighan began her education at the Saint Paul’s Practice School graduating in 1959 and graduated from James Solomon Russell High School in 1964. She entered Saint Paul’s College and graduated in 1983, Summa Cum Laude. Dr. Henighan furthered her education at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine graduating in 1987. She went on to complete her Internship in Medicine in 1987, her Residency in Psychiatry in 1992, and a Fellowship in Forensic Psychiatry in 1994. In her career as a physician, she was involved in all phases of the medical industry. This included the Behavioral Health Managed Care Organization, 37 years as a licensed physician in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, a Diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, a Diplomate of the American Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners, a Life Fellow in the American Psychiatric Association. One of her most rewarding experiences came after she accepted the invitation from Dr. Bud Gardiner to join the CBH (Community Behavioral Health) as a Physician Advisor in 2014. This position involved witnessing how Philadelphia citizens who were suffering from mental and addictive illnesses were being treated and allowed her to use her life experiences and knowledge to benefit these members to receive quality care. Her organizational membership includes Life Member, Saint Paul’s College-National Alumni Association, Life Member, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine Alumni Association, Member of the American Osteopathic Association, Member of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and a member of the Canaan Baptist Church. Throughout her career, she served as a teacher, clinical advisor, lecturer, author, and editor.
Dr. Carolyn Hines began her education graduating from Saint Paul’s Practice School in 1958 and James Solomon Russell High School in 1963, where she was named Miss JSR in 1962. She graduated from Saint Paul’s College in 1967, where she was also Miss Saint Paul’s 1966-67. Dr. Hines continued her education at the College of William and Mary, where she received three graduate degrees, including a Doctorate in Counseling and Higher Education Administration. From this, she was instrumental in bringing The Single Parents Support Program to Saint Paul’s College. From the beginning, Dr. Hines stressed the fact that she and Lt Col. William Hines would be partners in all their future endeavors. After graduation Dr. Hines went on to put her knowledge to work. Among her many endeavors, she became President of C.W. Hines & Associates, became a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, completed advanced training through The Center for Creative Leadership, became a Mediator & Arbitrator for the Virginia Supreme Court & The National Association of Securities Dealers and served as Diplomate for the Psychotherapy Association. Dr. Hines memberships included: Board of Visitors-Christopher Newport University, Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army, Board-Civilian Marksmanship Program, Saint Paul’s College Board of Trustees, and the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and the Links, Inc. She also was the recipient of the National Conference for Community and Justice Humanitarian Award. Lt. Col. William A. Hines graduated from Saint Paul’s Practice School in 1956 and from James Solomon Russell High School in 1961. He was accepted at Saint Paul’s College on a basketball scholarship where he was an all-time leading scorer and his basketball jersey now hangs in the Brunswick High School gym. He then was drafted into the United States Army. Lt. Col. Hines continued his career becoming Vice-President & CFO of C.W. Hines & Associates, Inc. He graduated from Officer Candidate School at Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Maryland, and then graduated from Hampton Institute while serving in the Army. He also received his Master’s Degree from George Washington University and continued to graduate from the Peninsula Chamber of Commerce /Christopher Newport University Leadership, The Armed Forces Staff College, Command & General Staff College, and LEAD of Northern Neck Among others, he founded the organization, The Friends of Saint Paul’s College to support the women’s athletic program, he also was the founding President of the VA Peninsula Chapter of the 100 Black Men of America and was a member of the Omega Psi Phi. Fraternity. Together they Coauthored: “Money Muscle, 120 Exercises to Build Spiritual & Financial Strength” and “What to Say and How to Say It; 72 Courageous Conversations for The Workplace”. Both were featured on Lifetime TV. They proceeded to work on many programs and projects together including developing and implementing the Dominion Scholars Program at Saint Paul’s College, service and leadership to the Boys and Girls Club of Northern Neck, working with the Macedonia Community Development Corporation, Faculty to the William R. Harvey Leadership Institute, certified executive/life coaches from The College of Executive Coaching, trainers and executive coaches for The Graduated School, USA, and the National Alliance of Black School Educators’ Scholars in Residence. They were married in May of 1967 at Saint Paul’s Memorial Chapel by the late Fr. Easley. Together they achieved all the goals they set for themselves. They both passed away in 2019.
Greg Jackson was born in Augusta, GA in 1959. He grew up in Columbia, SC, and attended Ridgeview High School. As a sophomore, he averaged 15.8 points per game and 10 rebounds leading Ridgeview to the state Championship. He went on to become the state’s player of the year. Jackson continued his education at Saint Paul’s College in 1976, where he continued to excel in basketball. Jackson was a four-year starter on the men’s basketball team and was an All-CIAA selection in 1980. As a junior, Jackson was named CIAA Co-Player of the Year and earned All-America Honors in 1980 after leading the nation in scoring at 30.5 points per game.He finished his career as the all-time leading scorer in SPC history at 2,249 points and currently ranks 14th on the CIAA all-time scoring list. His Jersey (#23) was the first to be retired in the school’s history. After his playing days, Jackson began his coaching career in 1983 as an Assistant Coach at his alma mater, Saint Paul’s College, under his college coach, Moses Golatt.At, NCCU, Jackson was a two-time CIAA Coach of the Year in 1992 and 1993, led the Eagles to four 20-win seasons, and served as an assistant under Mike Bernard for seven seasons, including the 1988-89 campaign where the Eagles captured the NCAA Division II National Championship. Jackson was also honored as the South Atlantic Region Coach of the Year after leading the Eagles to a 26-4 record and advancing to the Elite Eight, NCCU captured five CIAA division titles in nine seasons and made 3 NCAA Playoff appearances with Jackson at the helm. Jackson was at the helm of Delaware State University from 2000-2014, and was the second winningest coach in the history of the men’s basketball program.His numerous awards include; MEAC Championship-2005,2006,2007. MEAC Coach of the Year 2006, 2007. CIAA Hall of Fame-2022.
Shirley Diana (Law) Patterson Winn was born in Roanoke, VA, in 1942.She graduated from Lucy Addison High School in 1961, and entered Saint Paul’s College in 1962, on a choir scholarship.She often spoke of her tours to New York City with the choir at Saint Paul’s College. She returned to Roanoke, VA, and continued her education at Phillip’s School of Business. She shared her strong administrative skills with several churches and corporations, including Pilgrim Baptist Church, Allstate in Roanoke, VA, and Nationwide Company in Lynchburg, VA, where she retired after 25 years of service. She met and married Dr. Alfred Allen Winn, and served alongside him in ministry as first lady and music director of many different churches: Wrightsville Baptist Church (Covington, VA), Mt. Carmel Baptist Church (Lynchburg, VA), Baptist Union Baptist Church (Madison Heights, VA), and Harvest Fire FGBC (Lynchburg, VA).As a classically trained lyric soprano, Shirley traveled and sang nationwide, spreading the gospel through song.She often sang on television and radio programs, was a DJ on WTOY 1480 AM, the Soul in Roanoke station, and choirmaster.Shirley was a featured soloist for the Gospel Music Workshop of America (GMWA) and other gospel groups. She desired to minister to the hurting and bring souls to Christ. Her children continued to minister through singing internationally and preaching the gospel. Shirley Winn was called, “The Shirley Caesar of Roanoke”. Affectionally known “Twirley”, she was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, friend, and First Lady. She is forever missed and will never be forgotten.
Lt Col Linda S Wynn was born in Brunswick County, VA, and graduated from Saint Paul’s College, in June 2000 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Organization Management. She entered military service in June 2003 as a Specialist attending basic training at Fort Jackson, SC. She earned her commission as Second Lieutenant on November 20, 2003, after completing Officer Candidate School, Fort Benning, GA. She finalized her commission in the Military Police Corps following the Military Police Basic Course, Fort Leonard Wood, MI, May 2004. LTC Wynn is a graduate of numerous programs and courses. LTC past assignments include: A Company, 3rd Battalion. Ft. Jackson, S.C.-August 2003; Officer Candidate School, Ft. Benning,
GA-, Military Police Officer Basic Course, Ft Leonard Wood, MO-May 2004; Battalion S1 Assistant, Ft. Drum, NY; Platoon Leader/XO Military Police
Company, OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM 2006-08; 49th Quartermaster Group-September 2008; Company Commander, Ft. Lee, VA-May 2009;
OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM/OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM, Ft. Lee, 2010-11; Group Support Operations Officer, Ft. Lee, VA-April 2011; In Fort
Bragg, NC, S3 Plans Chief-September 2012; OPERATION RESOLUTE SUPPORT-2013-14; Brigade S4 -June 2015; OPERATION NEW DAWN -2015-16;
Support Operations Officer, Artillery Brigade-2016-17; Executive Officer, ASC Planner, Army Field Support Battalion-2017-18. Army Sustainment Command, Deputy Support Operations Officer-June2018-20; And, 3rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command Inspector General-2020-21. Linda most recently served in the United States Army Cadet Command, 4th ROTC Brigade, also at Ft. Bragg, NC, as professor of Military Science for North Carolina A & T State University, Grensboro, NC-July 2021-May 2023. She now serves as the 2444th QM BN, Commander, Ft. Gregg Adams, VA. LTC Wynn’s awards are numerous, including the Bronze Star. She is now a licensed minister and an insurance agent. She is married to Michael Wynn of Warfield, VA, and has four children.
Wall of Fame 2023 Inductees
Coach Willard Bailey won more games than any football coach in CIAA history. He was born in Suffolk, Virginia, and graduated from Norfolk State University in 1962 with honors. He received a Master’s in Education and Athletic Administration from New York University. Coach Bailey began his coaching career as a basketball, baseball and track and field coach at Essex County High School in Tappahannock, VA. In 1963 and 1964, his basketball teams won back-to-back VIA, Group II, District Tournament Championships. His college coaching career began in 1964 at Virginia Union University (VUU) as an assistant football coach. In 1971 he was appointed head coach at VUU, a position he held for 13 years. Coach Bailey was head coach at Norfolk State University from 1984 to 1992, then returned to VUU from 1995 to 2003. He then went to Saint Paul’s College in 2005 to 2010. During this time, he achieved the record of the winningest coach in Virginia. Coach Bailey spent the remainder of his coaching career at Virginia College in Lynchburg from 2011 to 2013 where he retired. During his coaching career he compiled 238 wins, 168 losses and 7 ties. His teams won seven CIAA football championships and made six NCAA Division II Playoff appearances, including five consecutive appearances from Coach Bailey’s awards include CIAA Hall of Fame (2004), Humanitarian of the Year (Virginia Conference for Community and Justice (2006), VUU Athletic Hall of Fame (2008), Black Football Hall of Fame (2021)
Dr. Jeanette Cole was an integral part of the growth of Saint Paul’s College. One of two blacks in a class of 600 at New York University, Dr. Cole came to Saint Paul’s College in 1928, when it was still a high school and James Solomon Russell was still its principal. She retired some 60 years later, after helping the school become a four-year institution in 1941 and a college in 1957. Dr. Cole received her Bachelor’s degree in English from NYU in 1928, and a Master’s from the same institution in 1939. She was affectionately known by many as “Ma Cole”. She served as editor of the first official publication, The Southern Missioner, and served as the Advisor to the local chapter of Alpha Kappa Mu Honor Society, where she was the first woman Regional Director and the first woman President. While at Saint Paul’s College. Dr. Cole served as Chairman of the Department of English and Humanities. She also guided the College through two successful Institutional Self-Studies. In addition, Dr. Cole served as a member of numerous visiting committees of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. One of Dr. Cole’s biggest highlights was at the Saint Paul’s College Alumni Mid-Winter Conference in Atlanta, GA., where she was presented Citations and Commendations from Georgia’s Governor Zelle Miller and a special Citation from Atlanta’s Mayor Maynard H. Jackson. Dr. Cole has been the recipient of some of the highest honors bestowed by the college: The Distinguished Professor of English Award, the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, and the title of Professor Emeritus. She also received the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters from Saint Augustine College in Raleigh, North Carolina. After retirement, Dr. Cole continued to do part-time teaching as that was her greatest love.
James H. Coleman, Jr. is an American lawyer. Judge, and the first African American to serve on the Supreme Court of New Jersey. Born on May 4, 1933, in Lawrenceville, Virginia, Coleman is the son of a poor southern sharecropper. Coleman’s upbringing has given him insight into racial inequality. Mr. Coleman graduated from James Solomon Russell High School in Lawrenceville as the class Salutatorian, and in 1956, he graduated cum laude from Virginia State University. He continued his education in Washington, DC at Howard University and George Washington University, graduating from GWU in 1959. The following year he was admitted to the bar in New Jersey. Coleman then served in the U.S. Army reserves until 1962. Coleman began his lifelong career in law in 1960, working as a private practice attorney until 1970 in offices in the cities of Roselle and Elizabeth, New Jersey. In 1960, Coleman also joined the New Jersey Department of Labor and Industry and in 1964 became a judge in the New Jersey Workers’ Compensation Court. He kept this position until 1973, when he was appointed as judge of New Jersey’s Union County Court, a position he kept for five more years. From 1978 to 1980 Coleman serves as Judge of the Law Division of New Jersey’s Superior Court and then from 1981 as Judge of the Appellate division of the Superior Court. In 1987 he was promoted to Presiding Judge of the New JerseyAppellate Court. On October 3, 1994, New Jersey Governor, Christine Whitman, a Republican, nominated Coleman as an Associate Justice to the New Jersey Supreme Court. This nomination was confirmed by the New Jersey State Senate on December 12, and Coleman was sworn in by Chief Justice Robert N, Wilentz, and, five days later on December 17, Coleman became the first African American to serve on the New Jersey State Supreme Court. Coleman was nominated and confirmed for a second term on November 26, 2001. Coleman retired from the State Supreme Court in 2003. A portrait of Justice Coleman was placed on permanent display in the New Jersey Supreme Court in 2016. Coleman is still recognized for his lifelong fight for racial justice, receiving the NJ Law Journal Lifetime Achievement Award, the Best Lawyers in America Award and nomination to the New Jersey Hall of Fame.
Christine Mann Darden was born on September 10, 1942 in Monroe, North Carolina. She graduated from Allen High School in 1958 as the class valedictorian and received a scholarship to attend Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute. In 1962, Darden received her B. S. degree in mathematics education and her teaching certificate from Hampton Institute. She went on to earn her M.S. degree in applied mathematics from Virginia State College in 1967, and her D. Sc. Degree in mechanical engineering with a specialty in fluid mechanics from George Washington University in 1983. From 1922 to 1963, Darden was a mathematics instructor at James Solomon Russell High School in Lawrenceville, Virginia. After completing her M.S. degree program, Darden became a data analyst for NASA at its Langley Research Center. In 1973, Darden was promoted to the position of aerospace engineer. Darden served as technical consultant on numerous government and private projects and she received many awards including the Dr. A.T. Weathers Technical Achievement Award from the National Technical Association, the Candace Award from the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, three awards from the Langley Research Center of Outstanding Performance, Presidential Citizen Award from Hampton University, and two honorary degrees from North Carolina State University and George Washington University, respectively. Darden is one of the researchers featured in the 2016 book Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race by Margot Lee Shetterly. In 2019, Darden was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.
Stanley P. Jones was born in South Hill, VA and was the youngest of fourteen siblings. He attended the Scott-Lewis School in Freeman, VA and James Solomon Russell High School in 1969 and was among the transition students to Brunswick High School 1971. He excelled in math and science, was the Junior and Senior class President, became a student leader and graduated in 1974, with academic honors. He then entered Virginia State College in Petersburg and graduated magna cum laude with a degree in Biology at the age of 20 years old. He also attended the School of Medicine at Virginia Commonwealth University before deciding to continue his career as an educator. In 1978, he began his teaching career in Newport News at Ferguson and Denbigh High Schools, where he taught Project Stay, a program that focused on preventing high school dropouts, while also teaching biology and chemistry. He later taught at Hines Middle School where he was named Newport News Middle School Teacher of the Year. In 1987, Jones was named Teacher Sponsor of the Year for the Tidewater Science Fair Region and won a free trip to the International Science and Engineering Fair held in San Juan, Puerto Rico. In 1988, he was named a Virginia Teacher Presidential finalist and received the Virginia Teacher of the Year Award. In 1988, he became an aerospace education specialist at Langley Field in Hampton. In 2000, he left NASA Langley and he moved to Alexandria. As an aerospace educator, he presented NASA programs in over 750 schools nationwide with an estimated total and student audience of over 500,000. In 1992, Jones received his master’s degree from Oklahoma and a doctorate in 1997, in aviation and space science education. In 2000, he began to work as the assistant director of the NASA Classroom of the Future at Wheeling Jesuit University and later as adjunct professor at Bowie State University and Howard University. Dr. Stanley Poindexter Jones made tremendous contributions to spreading the inner workings of the sciences and NASA in particular.
Grady Wilson Powell was born in Brunswick County, Virginia, and attend a one-room school and an Episcopal high school. He graduated from Saint Paul’s College in 1954 (B.S.) with honors and from the School of Theology of Virginia Union University in 1959 (Master of Divinity), graduating first in his class. In 1976, his Alma Mater conferred upon him the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity, and in May 2012, he received a second honorary degree (Doctor of Humane Letters) from Virginia Union University. Dr. Powell taught in the public schools of Emporia and Richmond, Virginia. After serving four rural churches in Southside Virginia, he became a full- time pastor in 1958 at Quioccasin Baptist Church in Richmond. At Quioccasin, he led the congregation to increase her mission by 300 percent, to build the first pastorium, and to become involved in community service. During this period, the NAACP honored him as a distinguished community servant. At 28, he was called as pastor of Gillfield Baptist Church of Petersburg, Virginia, where he served for thirty-six years. He retired in November of 1997, and was named Pastor Emeritus. During his tenure at Gillfield he led the congregation to community service and they acquired twenty-six houses and constructed a multifaceted Christian Education building. He led the congregation to become the first AfricanAmerican church in the United States to ordain female deacons. Dr. Powell was no stranger to the Civil Rights movement. Powell traveled to Montgomery, Alabama, in 1965 to take part in the voting rights marches He joined the other marchers as they marched from Selma to Montgomery. Among his activities, he served as President of the Baptist General Convention; member of the National Board of the American Baptist Churches of Valley Forge, PA; President of the National Alumni Association of Saint Paul’s College; member of the Board of Trustees of Virginia Union and Saint Paul’s College and a member of the Board of Corrections of Virginia. Dr. Grady Powell received many awards over the years, and among them included one from Dominion Virginia Power as he was honored for “Excellent in Leadership: Strong Men and Women” and was chosen for the cover story of the ABC Magazine, published by the American Baptist Church in Richmond. Dr. Powell was married to Dr. Bertie J. Powell, a tired Professor of English from Virginia State University. They have five children and two grandchildren
Nellie Pratt Russell was born in Macon, GA, in 1890. Pratt attended Howard University in Washington, D.C., where she majored in English and graduated in 1911 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. Her first teaching assignment was in Topeka, Kansas, and she remained there until the death of her father in 1913. She then moved to Lawrenceville, Virginia, and was able to secure a teaching assignment at the Saint Paul’s Normal and Industrial School (Later named Saint Paul’s College) where she taught for fifty years. That same year, she met and married Dr. James Alvin Russell, who would later become president of Saint Paul’s College, serving from 1928 to 1950. His father, the Venerable James Solomon Russell, an ordained Archdeacon in the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Virginia, founded Saint Paul’s in 1888, and served as its first Principle. Nellie Pratt went on to earn her Master of Arts degree from Columbia University in New York. The Russells had four sons and one daughter, who grew up on Saint Paul’s campus. In 1913, the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority was incorporated and Nellie Pratt Russell became an officer of the first incorporated AKA board. She became a charter member of the graduate chapter Gamma Lambda Omega in 1949, where she served as Basileus, Grammateus, Epistoleus and Historian. She also served as graduate advisor to Alpha Upsilon, the undergraduate chapter chartered at Saint Paul’s in 1952. Her daughter and three daughters-in-law became members of the sorority. Nellie Pratt Russell received numerous awards including “Who’s Who in Colored America”, Co-named on campus building with Dr. J. Alvin Russell, “Mother of the Year” by the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Virginia State Historical Highway Marker and local and other AKA awards Nellie Prat Russell died on December 13, 1979, and is buried with her husband in the historic Saint Paul’s College Memorial Cemetery.
Antwain Smith was born in Newport News, Virginia, on May 1, 1975. He attended Ferguson High School where he excelled in basketball. After graduation, he then headed to Saint Paul’s College in Lawrenceville, Virginia, where he broke many records in basketball. There he was a four-year basketball letterman and holds the school record in career steals (120) and is the second highest career scorer with 2,056 points. In 1996, Smith earned CIAA Rookie Team and All-Conference honors as well as earning All - CIAA accolades during each year of competition as well as All-Tournament Team recognition. Smith is the only player in conference history to be named Player of the Year for three consecutive seasons (1997-1999). During his college career, Smith was also named Most Valuable Player of the 4th Annual National Car Rental Black College All-Star Classic Portsmouth Invitational. In 1999, Smith was the first HBCU college player selected in the National Basketball Association (NBA) Draft as the 51st overall pick was drafted by the Vancouver Grizzlies. He went on to compete in the International Basketball League (IBL) with the St. Louis Swarm (1999-01) and Richmond Rhythm (2000- 02) and the National Basketball Development League (NBDL) for the Fayetteville Patriots (2001-02). Smith was inducted into the CIAA Basketball Hall of Fame in 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina.
James Herman Stith was born on July 17, 1941, to Ruth Stith in Brunswick, County, Virginia. He attended Oak Grove Elementary School and graduated from James Solomon Russell High School in 1959.It was in high school that Stith decided he wanted to pursue a career in physics. Stith went on to graduate from Virginia State College to earn his B.S. and M.S. degrees, both in physics in the years 1963 and 1965. During his time at Virginia State College, Stith joined the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, and worked as an instructor. In 1965, he was called to active duty in the U.S. Army for two years. Then, after a two-year term working with Radio Corporation of America, he continued his education at Pennsylvania State University, where he earned his D.Ed. degree in physics in 1972. Following his graduation, Stith was recalled to active duty, so he joined the faculty at the United States Military Academy at West Point. In 1976, Stith became the first tenured African American professor at the United States Military Academy, where he continued to work until he retired from his post in 1993. Stith retired from the United States Military Academy as a full professor of physics and from the military at the grade of Colonel. He then worked as a full professor of physics at Ohio State University until 1998. Following his time at Ohio State University, Stith was hired as the VicePresident of the Physics Resource Center of the American Institute of Physics, a position he would hold for ten years. Stith also served on the board of the Triangle Coalition from 1999 to 2006, and he joined the advisory board for Project Kaleidoscope in 1990. Additionally, he served on several advisory committees of the National Research Council throughout his career. Stith has played an important role in increasing the role of African Americans in physics and has been recognized by the Academy for his work. In 1990, he was elected Vice President of the American Association of Physics Teachers, and in 2004, he was recognized as one of the “50 Most Important Blacks in Research Science”.