1940 United States Federal Census (Danville, Illinois)

Sophia Banks and her daughter Catherine Banks remained in Danville, Illinois. Sophia was forced to fend for her and her only living daughter after husband, Clarence Banks had abandoned them in 1929.

Sophia was trying to make ends meet but could not find full-time employment, so she decided to write a letter to the wife of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. A few weeks after mailing her request, she received notice to report to a local nursery school to start her new job as a cook under the WPA program.

He Was Not the Step Grandfather… He Was the Grandfather That Stepped Up

Camille was raised by Stanford Deadwiler who she affectionately called “Daddy.” Stanford met her grandmother, Sophia while living in Danville, Illinois.

1950 United States Federal Census (Detroit, Michigan)

Camille’s grandmother, Sophia (Mama) and step grandfather, Stanford (Daddy) left Danville, Illinois in the 1940s then settled in Detroit, Michigan.

Her mother, Catherine Banks was listed in the 1950 U.S. Federal Census living with her mother and stepfather. A few months later, her cousin Robert Banks, Jr. (Topper) would move in with Sophia and Stanford. Topper and Camille would be raised by their grandparents for their entire childhood and grew up on Hartford St on the city’s westside.

The Tassel Was Worth the Hassle

Camille followed the footsteps of her cousin, Robert Banks, Jr. and became the second member of the family to graduate from Cass Technical High School in 1973. During her senior year, she went to the guidance counselor at Cass Tech for an academic appointment. Camille eagerly met with her guidance counselor during her senior year at Cass Tech to discuss college options. She had always aspired to becoming a teacher and attending Wayne State University. However, when she met with her counselor, her hopes were shot down. The counselor suggested that community college was more suitable for her even though she made high marks all four years of high school.

Her grandparents Sophia and Stanford Deadwiler encouraged and financially supported Camille’s educational pursuits. Both of her grandparents entered the workforce as children and were not afforded the opportunity to attend school beyond the seventh grade. They dedicated their lives to making sure that their grandchildren would be able to attend and graduate college.

Camille became the first college graduate in Spring 1976 from Wayne State University with a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and a minor in Library Science. Three years later, she obtained a Master of Arts in Education with a concentration in Guidance Counseling from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor

Winter 1991

Camille was the caretaker for her grandparents until they passed away. Stanford passed away in 1989 and Sophia passed away a few years later. In 1994 at the age of 101 years old, her grandmother mentioned her father, Erwin Johnson by name. She said, “Look at you, Camille. Looking just like your father, ERWIN JOHNSON”