Name/Title
Sollie Mitchell's 1st 100 years : a memoirEntry/Object ID
Library.2025Tags
Library records not in public viewDescription
120 pages : illustrations, 1 map ; 23 cm
Sollie Mitchell's 1st 100 years : a memoir as told to Marsha Dean Phelts.
Sollie Mitchell's first one hundred years.
Contents: Sollie Mitchell's first 13 years -- City life and school days -- Sollie's Caucasian family -- Stanton High School -- Florida Normal and Industrial Institute -- The draft -- Sollie becomes a railroad man -- Life in New York City -- Mary Alva Barnett -- Till death do us part -- The Maurice Barnetts --
Urban renewal's dark side -- Back to the books -- Freemasonry -- The freedom train -- Organizations -- We are family.
Selected contents: Lived at 143 W. Fifth Street with uncles and their families (p.15), includes photo -- Attended Lavilla Grammar School #103, 600 Eaverson Street, includes photo (p.17+) -- Mentored by Mrs. Ella J. Hill, teacher, and Professor William M. Raines, principal -- Sims family, his Caucasian family (Mary & John Sims lived at 2124 College Street with 2 sons), photo p.21, 23 -- Neighbor was Ivy T. Sprinkle, only woman to be elected Duval County Superintendent of Schools,( photo,p.22) -- Enrolled in adult program cooking class at the Walker's Business College while still at LaVilla -- Attended Stanton High School at 521 W. Ashley Street -- Worked at Atlantic Beach Hotel during summer due to Coach Small -- President of Junior Class of 1939 which sponsored prom, suit made at Reed the Tailor, 519 Broad Street -- photo of Revelers, 1932-1933 including Charlie "Hoss" Singleton who performed at prom (p.28) -- After prom went to Havana Night Club -- Offered full scholarship to Tuskegee Institute but couldn't afford cost of 2 uniforms -- Deacon Britt, Sr and Emerson Thompson (worked at Afro-American Life Insurance Co.) suggested Florida Normal and Industrial Institute in St. Augustine -- Pedaled on his bicycle 40 miles to campus to see President Collier -- Accepted with work aide scholarship -- Celebrated by seeing movie Gunga Din at Frolic Theatre -- Sept. 24, 1940 enrolled as freshman working in dining hall starting at 4 am, later lunch, bag supper -- At end of freshman year drafted at age 23 -- At Fort Benning working in Colonel James' office as a company clerk and typist (typing skills was a much needed military skill) -- Transferred to Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland when women added as WACS -- Involved in South West Pacific combat -- Honorable discharge in 1946 -- Hired as Pullman Car Porter to work on Silver Meteor train -- Traveled 4 days on the rails from NY to Miami and back for 3 day layover in NY City so had apt. in city -- When in city made rounds of various clubs such as Red Rooster, Cotton Club, Birdland Jazz Club, Count Basie's Bar -- In between seasons worked at Wells' Musical Bar that Billie Holliday frequented -- Served Mary McLeod Bethune free -- Sang with Jimmy Ricks and the Ravens as a side job in the 1940s -- Visited Jacksonville after sick in hospital and met future wife, Mary Barnett -- Married June 30, 1951 at Mt. Zion AME Church -- A. Philip Randolph -- New house on Gillislee Drive -- Majored in education and completed Bachelor of Science degree with honors in 1957 -- Ray Charles played for his senior prom -- Wife died June 27, 2013, 7 days after his 95th birthday and near their 62nd wedding anniversary with burial at Restlawn Memorial Park Cemetery.
Obituary for wife, Mary Alva Barnett Mitchell: MITCHELL Funeral Services for Mrs. Mary Alva Barnett Mitchell, a well known Centenarian and member of a pioneer family, will be held 11AM, WEDNESDAY, July 3, 2013 in Historic Mt. Zion A.M.E. Church, where she was a lifelong member, Rev. Pearce Ewing, Pastor, with Rev. Dr. Robert L. Mitchell, Presiding Elder (Ret.), officiating. Mrs. Mitchell passed away peacefully on June 27, 2013. A Jacksonville native, Mrs. Mitchell attended Boylan-Haven School for Girls and was a graduate of Stanton Senior High School. Furthering her education, she received a Bachelors Degree in Home Economics from Florida A & M College, a Masters Degree in Home Economics from Hampton Institute and completed her doctoral studies at New York University in Home Economics. As one of Duval County's outstanding educators, Mrs. Mitchell retired from the Duval County School Board after rendering 38 years of dedicated service. She was predeceased by her parents, Charles and Mrs. Ethel Barnett; brother, Prof. Maurice H. Barnett, Sr.; and grandparents, Rev. Daniel and Mrs. Mary Gillislee. Survivors include her devoted husband of 62 years, Mr. Sollie Mitchell; sister in law, Mrs. Pearl C. Barnett; niece, Dr. Alva Barnett of Omaha NE; nephews, Maurice H. Barnett, Jr. (Carolyn) of Ft. Lauderdale, FL, Charles T. Barnett (Mary) of Jacksonville, FL; devoted cousin, Ms. Cynthia Gloster, a number of other relatives and friends... Alphonso West Mortuary.
Inscribed to JHS and signed by Mr. Mitchell, 2021.Collection
LibraryLexicon
Nomenclature 4.0
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BookNomenclature Sub-Class
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Documentary ObjectsNomenclature Category
Category 08: Communication ObjectsSearch Terms
Mitchell, Sollie., African American men -- Biography., African Americans -- Florida -- Jacksonville., Cummer, Arthur Gerrish, 1873-1943., LaVilla Grammar School #103 (Jacksonville, Fla.)., Stanton High School (Jacksonville, Fla.)., Bethune, Mary McLeod, 1875-1955., Pullman porters., Randolph, A. Philip (Asa Philip), 1889-1979.Publication Details
Author
Phelts, Marsha DeanPublisher
[publisher not identified]Place Published
* Untyped Place Published
[Jacksonville, Florida]Call No.
E 185.86 P47 2018ISBN
9780692140628