The Legacy Lives On

The Legacy Lives On

Following the death of Altha Elliott in 1995, Joan Oxendine became president and carried on the club’s rich legacy. Projects during Joan’s term as president continued to engage the youth, the church, and the community. The club gave assistance to the Young People’s Department (YPD), Vacation Bible School, and the Junior Usher Board of Metropolitan. Outside the church walls, the club supported the Dunbar High School “We Rise” Program, Women and Families in Need, the 105 Voices of History, and youth tutoring programs. To inspire youth to pursue and achieve professional fulfillment, the club offered symposiums and panels featuring Metropolitan members who have excelled in their chosen careers. Participants included Omari Aarons, Founder & Managing Partner, Aaron Group LLC; Gail Frazier, Administrative Law Judge; Camille Exum, 7th District Prince George’s County Council; and Barbara Bennett, Spanish teacher. Special musical artists, Aneisa Simon, Kelsey Little, Selena Brown, Duane Moody, and Carol North, were presented in concert. Douglass Hall was often used during Black History Month for displays such as the photographs of well-known African Americans by Annette BoxleyDrew and a Black History Exhibit, Black Lives Matter in 2015 by Joan Oxendine. The Sons and Daughters of Allen were privileged to co-sponsor with the Department of Interior A Tribute to Frederick Douglass.

During this era, we also featured August Williams who helped to design the Martin Luther King, Jr. Statue in Washington, D.C. He shared his experience by providing a display and participating in a Sunday morning service. Our Annual Day has included noted speakers, including Rev. Jonathan Newton, Metropolitan Executive Minister; Vernon Jordan, Civil Rights Activist; Michael Steele, Former Lt. Governor of Maryland; Rodney Slater, former Secretary of Transportation; Rev. Gail Holness, Metropolitan Clergy; Rev. Geoffrey Tate, II, son of our members, Geoffrey and Rosemary Tate; and Dr. Cain Hope Felder, Biblical Scholar.

To broaden our Annual African American Read-In, we invited outside guests and other organizations within the church to participate in this venture. We were honored to have local author Rochelle Soetan read portions from her book, Tuesday Morning Love, followed by a book signing. In 2017, the Pearl P. Cook Senior Citizens Club joined the Sons and Daughters of Allen, conducting a Read-In during their February monthly meeting. Then in 2020, the Youth Ministry, under the leadership of Rev. Thomas Brackeen, partnered with us to gain participation from the youth. This popular program was held virtually in 2021.

Beginning in 2016, we explored new territory with the Cultural Arts Festival by featuring a comedian, Simply Shirley; a poet, Ty Gray-El; and the N Tyme Jazz Ensemble. A Murder Mystery, Thou Shall Not

Kill, was performed by Sleuth Ink, Inc. With a new Creative Arts and Music Ministry Director, Marty Austin Lamar, we stretched our limits. He assisted us in presenting three original plays written by Vice President Consentine Morgan Groover: Ebony Lifestyle, exploring the 1920s; A Cultural Explosion, celebrating the 1960s; and 400 Years: The Struggle Continues, examining our roots to the present. The cast for all plays consisted of members of the Sons and Daughters of Allen, fellow church members and guests.

As president for more than two decades, Joan Oxendine has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to keep the Sons and Daughters a vital component of Metropolitan’s ministries. She has led by example.

Throughout these 60 years, the Sons and Daughters of Allen has been a constant champion for the church, financially and spiritually. We have faithfully contributed to Restoration, Organization Day, church anniversaries, and purchases of furniture. In addition to cultural celebrations, the club has also endeavored to honor the rich history of our church. In

2005, the club brought attention to the chalice that was gifted to Metropolitan by Frederick Douglass’ great granddaughters in 1934 by having it dipped in silver.

On May 16, 2021, in commemoration of our 60th Anniversary, we held a virtual presentation of our history that recognized the organization’s significant milestones and accomplishments. Tributes were paid to LaVerne Clark Goldman, a charter member and our first president; Nathaniel Exum, charter member; and our current president, Joan Oxendine. In honor of our second president, Altha Elliott, a donation was made to the Payne Tanner Scholarship Fund.

Even though the pandemic prevented in person gatherings, we continued our monthly meetings through virtual gatherings. The members of Sons and Daughters of Allen are family and work collectively to perpetuate African American history in the church and community. It is our desire that this legacy will continue for the next 60 years and beyond.

This is Our Story.