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Road Warriors KEEPING WARM AND CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY
january/february 2019 • vol. 10, no. 1
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FEATURE
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The film "The Green Book" is shining a light on a piece of AfricanAmerican history younger generations will never experience.
CONTENTS jan. - feb. | 2019 27
WHERE AM I? | Think you know Suffolk well? Then see if you can identify this photo.
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Going that extra mile
12 Suffolk runners and ultra-marathoners train during the winter for races in the spring. See how they handle the elements.
ON THE COVER suffolklivingmag.com
Quilters in Suffolk
12 The Suffolk Quilters Guild makes beautiful quilts and gives back to the community while they're at it.
Road Warriors KEEPING WARM AND CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY
january/february 2019 • vol. 10, no. 1
by Troy Cooper
editor's note jan. - feb.
2019
Has it really been 10 years? A postage stamp was only 42 cents. Panic about “swine flu” gripped the nation. Barack Obama was sworn in as president. Michael Jackson died, bringing worldwide outpouring of sorrow. The
EDITORIAL Tracy Agnew Editor
Alex Perry Writer & Photographer Jen Jaqua Photographer Kellie Adamson Writer news@suffolklivingmag.com
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Earl Jones Marketing Consultant
“Miracle on the Hudson” took place when Capt. Chesley B. Sullenberger landed his plane on the Hudson River after it was struck by a flock of geese, saving 155 lives. The Maersk Alabama hijacking and taking of Capt. Richard Phillips as hostage gripped the nation. That was all 2009. And can you believe that Suffolk Living started in 2009 as well? Indeed, it’s hard to believe it’s been 10 years since any of those things happened. We hope you have enjoyed the journey with us so far here in Suffolk Living. We’ve had the chance to feature a lot of what makes Suffolk great, and we are looking forward to many more decades highlighting the people and places that make Suffolk better every year. In this edition, we have a feature on Suffolk businesses that were
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once featured in “The Negro Travelers Green Book,” connected to
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We also have two things that are quintessentially winter: quilters
Kandyce Kirkland Marketing Consultant
ing themselves to the cold to prepare for upcoming road races.
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PRODUCTION
the recently released film and Black History Month in February. making beautiful things to keep humans warm at night, and humans that are voluntarily subjectWe hope you enjoy this edition and keep warm during these cold winter nights. We’re always looking for your submissions to help us make Suffolk Living better. We need you
Troy Cooper Designer
for story ideas, submissions for the Through The Lens and On Vacation features, guesses for the
ADMINISTRATION
suffolklivingmag.com.
John Carr Publisher
Cathy Daughtrey Business Manager
Where Am I? feature and any other suggestions you may have. Please send these items to news@
God bless. Tracy Agnew, Editor
Hope Rose Production
Suffolk Living is published six times per year by Suffolk Publications, LLC. P.O. Box 1220, Suffolk, VA 23439 www.suffolklivingmag.com • (757) 539-3437
suffolk living 7
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what to do Send us your news To submit your calendar or news item, simply email it to: news@suffolklivingmag.com
Jackie Robinson: A Game Apart FEBRUARY 5
“Jackie Robinson: A Game Apart” will show from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts, 110 W. Finney Ave. This unique one-man play by Mike Wiley will intrigue and educate by telling the powerful lesson of courageous African-American athletes who pushed the color barrier to the breaking point. See the dedication and leadership of role models from the outfield, the backcourt, the track, the ring and the blacktop — all pouring out the sweat and tears of a bygone era of separate, unequal locker rooms, whites-only hotels and restaurants with only a back door through which athletes of color could enter.
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what to do THROUGH JANUARY 26
JANUARY 26 THROUGH FEBRUARY 3
FEBRUARY 23-24
The Suffolk Sister Cities International exhibit “Global Citizens, Resilient Communities” will have its opening reception from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Jan. 17 at the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts, 110 W. Finney Ave. The exhibit will be on view through Jan. 26. Galleries are open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. Sister Cities International aims to promote peace through mutual respect, understanding and cooperation — one individual, one community at a time. Each year, the Young Artists and Authors Showcase encourages youth from around the globe to express the mission of Sister Cities International through original artwork and literature. This year’s theme asks students to explore the concept of resiliency while highlighting citizen diplomacy and the creative ways that we create peace through people-to-people interaction.
The Nansemond-Suffolk Academy Art Show and Sale attracts artists and art connoisseurs throughout Hampton Roads. Admission is free, and the community is welcome. The NSA Art Show and Sale boasts a wonderful diversity of media from over 150 artists, including paintings and multimedia works of art. Prices range from $25 to $7,000. It is on view from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays, 1 to 4 p.m. Sundays, and 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on weekdays at the school, 3373 Pruden Blvd.
Sponsored by the Suffolk Art League, the 36th Annual Antiques Show and Sale will feature approximately 40 antiques and collectibles dealers from the midAtlantic region. Crystal and clock repair will also be available. In addition, the Peanut Pals (Planters Peanut memorabilia collectors) will be displaying and selling items. Concessions are available on site with barbecue, Brunswick stew and more. The sale will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday at King’s Fork Middle School, 350 Kings Fork Road. Admission is $6 per person. Proceeds from the Antiques Show and Sale support the many programs offered by the Suffolk Art League, including classes and workshops at the Suffolk Gallery, in the Suffolk schools and in several northern Suffolk locations. The Art League also offers exhibits of local and regional artists' work, lectures, bus excursions and performances as well as student scholarships.
JANUARY 18
“Downstairs at the Center” with Will Overman will take place from 8 to 10 p.m. at the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts, 110 W. Finney Ave. The cost is $10 for ages 21 and up. Will Overman’s incomparable voice — he made it through two levels of NBC’s “The Voice” — is as melodic as it is relentless, as refreshingly unique as it is familiar and evocative. Overman’s music — call it Americana, a mix of folk, country, rock, and pop — is as energetic as it is passionate. Musically and lyrically, Overman draws deeply from his Virginia roots, producing a rare combination of enticing straightahead, hard-charging rhythm and riffs and introspective melodies paired with sleek vocals. Visit www.suffolkcenter.org. JANUARY 26
Riddick’s Folly House Museum, 510 N. Main St., will have an American Girl program with three sittings at 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Call 934-0822 for reservations. Meet Kirsten Larson! Kirsten was born in Sweden in 1845 and given a new life in America working on the frontier in Minnesota. She is quite sensitive towards animals and children and makes friends easily. A very active child, Kirsten can be shy, hates being trapped inside small spaces and has a stubborn streak that sometimes gets her in trouble. Unfamiliar things frighten her. Kirsten is helpful, caring and thoughtful, often taking on more responsibility without complaint. She is always thinking of ways to make her family happy. Kirsten likes to try new things, like sewing and exploring, and has a knack for making money.
FEBRUARY 2
Suffolk Humane Society and Hilton Garden Inn Suffolk Riverfront, 100 E. Constance Road, will host the sixth annual Paws for the Arts, a semi-formal gala, from 6:30 to 10 p.m. The event will feature heavy hors d'oeuvres, beer and wine, live and silent auctions and artwork by local artists. Sponsorship and donor opportunities available. All proceeds benefit the Suffolk Humane Society. Cocktail attire suggested.
FEBRUARY 23 FEBRUARY 5 TO MARCH 2
The Exhibit of Excellence juried exhibition features the best artwork by Suffolk's 10th-, 11th-, and 12th-grade students. Barbara Hennig-Loomis will be this year's juror. Hennig-Loomis holds a degree in art history from Virginia Commonwealth University and continued her art history graduate studies as a Fulbright Fellow in Germany. She also completed a Master of Fine Arts in visual studies. She has worked as a writer, editor, museum administrator, teacher and illustrator. In addition to her studio work, Hennig-Loomis currently teaches at Tidewater Community College. The exhibit is sponsored in part by a grant from the Suffolk Fine Arts Commission. The exhibit takes place at the Suffolk Art Gallery, 118 Bosley Ave. The opening reception and awards presentation will be from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Feb. 5. The gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays. FEBRUARY 22
The fifth annual Suffolk Education Foundation Gala will take place from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn Suffolk Riverfront, 110 W. Finney Ave. The event will feature performances from our local schools with artwork from our elementary schools. Support goes towards annual scholarships and grants. Tickets are $35 each or $300 per table. Semi-formal attire. Doors open at 6 p.m., and the program begins at 6:30 p.m.
“Lamp It Up” will be the 2019 annual fundraiser at the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts, 110 W. Finney Ave. Glamp up your attire and join in from 6 to 11 p.m. for an elegant evening of delicious French cuisine, libations and live music. Celebrity DJ WooWoo, from 94.9 The Point Radio, will be the MC. The Gentlemen and Their Lady will electrify the stage as you dance the night away. Roy Black with the Virginia Auction Company will conduct the live auction. The center will be adorned with lamp shades beautifully hand decorated by creative individuals throughout our community. Space is limited; 21 and older only, please. Tickets are $100 per person on or before Jan. 25 and $125 per person afterward. Visit www. suffolkcenter.org.
Do you have an event you'd like to share? Contact Suffolk Living at news@suffolkliving.com
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in the news
Home for the holidays
suffolk living 11 Story and photos by Kellie Adamson
L
ori Boone is decorating her home just like every other family for Christmas, but it is just a little more special for her. On Christmas Eve, Boone officially moved into her new home that was built by Habitat for Humanity of South Hampton Roads. It was the ninth and final house built by the organization on Lake Kennedy Drive. “It’s a blessing. I’m very excited for this Christmas gift,” Boone said. “It was probably on the top of my list of best presents.” Boone and her daughter, Kiana, have been living with her mother in Suffolk for a year, and this new home is the first home that Boone will own. “I applied in March for this and, well, here it is,” Boone said. “It went faster than expected. Since this is my first home, it’s scary and exciting at the same time.” While Boone is happy to have a home, it didn’t come without hard work. Every Habitat for Humanity homeowner has to put in 200 hours of “sweat equity,” as well as financial literacy training.
“It’s a blessing. I’m very excited for this Christmas gift. It was probably on the top of my list of best presents.” -Lori Boone Boone decided to help out other volunteers to build other Habitat homes and work in the organization's retail store for her 200 hours. “All the work makes me have a lot of pride in the house,” Boone said. “I put a lot of hard work into this.” The hard work has been a good example for her daughter, Kiana. “This whole process has been an example of what hard work and dedication can do,” Boone said. “I want to show her these things and make
sure that I can be an example for her to follow.” Along with the work that she had to put into the home, Boone also has to pay a mortgage. Habitat for Humanity makes sure to give their homeowners a “hand up, not a handout,” according to Executive Director Frank Hruska. The mortgage is based on income to make sure the home is affordable. Seeing her mother work hard and now have a home makes Kiana feel proud. “I am so happy for her. She has done a good job,” Kiana said. “I call her Superwoman.” Boone’s home is the last of nine homes that Habitat for Humanity built on Lake Kennedy Drive. Habitat for Humanity received funding from the city of Suffolk, Wells Fargo and Bank of America to pull off this project. Now that Boone has moved in, all nine homes are occupied with Habitat for Humanity families. “She is a very deserving homeowner. We are working to change lives,” Hruska said. “It is made possible by our volunteers. I want to thank them and the city of Suffolk.”
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Chadd Wright trains for the Revenant at Merchants Millpond State Park in Gates County, N.C.
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Going for that extra mile Story by Alex Perry Photos by Troy Cooper
T
hey sweat and toil and ache, no matter the environment or the weather, but for some dedicated runners, that’s the only way they can move forward. There are runners in Hampton Roads that have sped across monuments. Some will scale mountains and others have already made history. But why do they put in the time and pain in the first place? For Suffolk resident Lisa Davis, 49, it’s simply become a habit. One that pushes her almost every single week. Davis is a retired Marine and a jet-setting ultra-marathoner. She completed the “Triple 7 Quest” in January 2017 — running seven marathons on seven continents in just seven days. She and the eight others in her group ran 26.2 miles each in Australia, Singapore, Egypt, the Netherlands, New York, Chile and Antarctica. Later that May, she flew to China for the 26.2-mile Great Wall Marathon, with plenty other races in between. “I actually lose track of these races some times,” Davis said, laughing. She accomplished numerous ultra-marathons, marathons and half-marathons in 2018, and celebrated the new year with her shoes tied for the “The River Loop 24/12/6 Hour Races and Relay” in Mills River, N.C. from Dec. 31 to Jan. 1. For Davis, it’s about the adrenaline. “I’m addicted to running,” she said. “I’m quite literally addicted. I’m always looking at my next race. It’s the thrill of running. I can’t see myself doing anything differently.” Another Suffolk veteran spent 2018 preparing for his own monumental experience. He trained for months, then flew to New Zealand to face the “Revenant.” Suffolk’s Chadd Wright, 31, and his partner Shawn Webber will be among the world’s toughest athletes when they compete in the Revenant, a three-day Ultra Adventure Run from Jan. 1820 in New Zealand. According to revenant.co.nz, racers begin at Welcome Rock, in the mountains bordering Southland and Central Otago. Individuals and two-person teams like Wright and Webber have no support between checkpoints that span more than 110 miles, across terrain that varies from alpine grassland to ravine-like forSee RUNNERS page 14
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ests, and with more than 105,000 feet of vertical ascent and descent. There are no markers in the highs and lows of these checkpoints. Racers only have a compass, map and their own planning to find the finish line with just 60 hours on the clock. Wright was in his final week of hard training towards the end of December. He started in July by running 40 to 50 miles each week, plus strength work. “I’d pull a tire for three to four miles, and really just build up a good base of leg strength,” he said. Weeks in December escalated from 85 miles, then 90 and about 111, with more than 30,000 feet of vertical climbing under his belt, partly by treadmill running with the incline set higher and higher. He also trained at Merchants Millpond State Park in North Carolina. “It’s a really technical, single-track trail,” Wright said about the park. “It’s got a lot of roots and a lot of obstacles, and it requires you to really work on your reaction time and your foot placement — all that good stuff.” Wright based his training on his years of running marathons and other races. The Navy See RUNNERS page 15
Above, endurance athlete Chadd Wright has Philippians 4:13 embroidered on the inside of his pack. Below, Michael Davis and Ashton McCormick form the perfect team while training for a race.
suffolk living 15 RUNNERS continued from page 14
veteran has come to love the brutal honesty that comes with the sport. “It really just simplifies life,” he said. “When you’ve been out on the trail for 24, 30 or 60 hours — whatever it is — you get into this primal state of mind and everything is so simple. It’s almost a spiritual experience, I guess. There’s no other way to simulate it other than putting yourself in those really difficult situations.” He’s also become part of a community of ultra-marathoners that share his crazy passion, including his partner Webber. The two met in May 2018, in the last leg of the Cruel Jewel 100, a brutal 106-mile foot race in Vogel State Park in Georgia, Wright said. He said that with less than 30 miles to go, the two went back-and-forth leading past one another on an infamous stretch of up-and-down mountain trail called “the Dragon’s Spine.” Their bond was forged before they finished the race. “We went through that hard time, battled and forged (that bond). Now Shawn and I have a special relationship and go out and train together,” he said. “It allows us to understand each other better, and we basically work together flawlessly.
“Everything flows with no strife or competitiveness. (It’s like) we work as one person.” Working as one, cohesive unit is what Michael Davis, 34, and Ashton McCormick, 19, do best. It was through their teamwork that they made history in the 2018 Boston Marathon. Davis, a Suffolk resident who is legally blind, pushed Chesapeake’s McCormick, who has autism, as McCormick sat in his race chair. Davis ran steadily behind his guide runner, Joe Orth. When they crossed the finish line through heavy rain and bitter wind chill, they became the first team of a blind runner pushing a disabled athlete to finish the marathon. “It was extremely cool,” Davis said about the feat. “Both literally and figuratively,” added Jennifer McCormick, Ashton’s mother. Davis has been racing with McCormick since 2012 when the two met through Team Hoyt, an organization of runners who push riders with special needs. They became “Team Pretzel Hands” after McCormick’s love of Rold Gold Tiny Twists pretzels. McCormick enjoys them between his fingers in every race.
“He dresses appropriately for the weather and always has his pretzels. Always, always, always,” Jennifer McCormick said. “He lets me know when I forget them.” He’s done more than a dozen races since Boston in March, including the Surfers Healing 5K, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Virginia Beach Half Marathon and the Marine Corps Marathon. Jennifer McCormick said her son loves the atmosphere of the more serious races, and for the lighter occasions, it’s simply about spending time with whoever is pushing him. “For races it’s the crowds, the noise, the music and all the people, but for fun runs it’s the relationship (he has) with the person that he’s running with,” she said. Davis is an avid marathoner who’s still hungry for the sport. But for him, it’s not just about pushing himself. It’s about pushing other disabled athletes like him. “I enjoy making sure that somebody who has a disability that wouldn’t normally be included gets included in the race. That’s the main reason I do it,” he said. Whatever the reason, these runners are still doing it, and they’re doing it well.
Congratulations to our 2018 Farmers Bank Scholarship Winners! FARMERS BANK C E L E B R AT I N G 1 0 0 Y E A R S
Each year Farmers Bank awards scholarships to graduating high school seniors in our area. Visit www.farmersbankva.com/scholarship for more information. 757-242-6111 • www.farmersbankva.com •
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Trusted Investment Advice — Custom Financial Solutions — Exceptional Service — Local Suffolk Advisor David A. Love Senior Vice President, Investments (757) 539-5355 dlove@investdavenport.com investdavenport.com/davidlove
330 West Constance Road, Suite 200 | Suffolk, Virginia 23434 Davenport & Company LLC Member: NYSE•FINRA•SIPC
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through the lens: Debbie Cutchins
D
ebbie Cutchins is a self-taught amateur photographer who loves capturing scenic water photos while fishing in the Nansemond River or stopping while on the road to photograph barns, old houses and crops or just stuff. She uses a Nikon 7200D and her iPhone. We’re always looking for amateur and professional photographers who want to share their views of Suffolk. If you’d like to have your work considered, send an email to news@suffolklivingmagazine.com.
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‘The Green Book’ in Suffolk James E. "Doc" Richards Sr., right, and his pharmacy, below, pictured on the last day the pharmacy was open in 1989. (Submitted Image)
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Patricia Lynn RichardsSpruill poses for a photo in front of the old Suffolk Professional Pharmacy building, which now hosts a church. In the inset, a submitted image shows her on the pharmacy's last day in 1989.
Story by Tracy Agnew Photos by Troy Cooper
W
here shall we sleep tonight?” For years, it was the unfortunate question that black travelers in America had to ask themselves, as Jim Crow laws allowed establishments including hotels and motels to discriminate against blacks. But a part of history that’s not well known by current generations helped travelers find establishments that welcomed
their business. Called “The Negro Motorist Green Book” or often just the “Green Book” for short, the guide was published by New York City postman Victor Hugo Green for more than three decades, until shortly after its purpose was rendered obsolete by the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Submissions were welcomed, and businesses could pay to highlight their listings. See GREEN BOOK page 20
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James E. "Doc" Richards Sr. and his daughter, Patricia Lynn Richards, were the registered pharmacists at Suffolk Professional Pharmacy. (Submitted Image) GREEN BOOK continued from page 19
While the book at first listed only hotels, restaurants and service stations in the New York metropolitan area, it rapidly expanded to include all kinds of establishments in most of the United States as well as parts of Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, the Caribbean and even Europe. The book featured in the eponymous film “Green Book” of 2018, starring Mahershala Ali and Viggo Mortensen. In the film, based on a true story, New York City bouncer Frank “Tony Lip” Vallelonga, an Italian, is hired as a driver and de facto bodyguard for famed pianist Don Shirley, who is black and plans to go on tour in the South. As the movie goes on, Vallelonga has to consult the Green Book to find places where Shirley can stay. Vallelonga, who the film shows as racist against blacks, at first resents Shirley’s attempts to refine his behavior but finds himself admiring Shirley’s talent and disgusted by the treatment he receives simply because of his skin color. The film’s legacy has its complications, but it has served to educate those of younger generations about the true history of the Green Book. Later editions of the Green Book listed three businesses in Suffolk: E&L Lassiter Pur Oil at 802 E. Washington St., Nansemond Co-Op Service Center at 133 Tynes St., and Suffolk Professional Pharmacy at 362 E. Washington St. At each location still stands a building. The Nansemond Co-Op Service Center was demolished several years ago to make way for a new location of the Metropolitan Church Federal Credit Union. The E&L Lassiter Pur Oil had changed to West Pur Oil by 1974, when William Goodman Sr. started working there, according to his son,
“I remember the pride that we had that my father established Suffolk Professional Pharmacy. People were amazed not only could they go in and get their prescriptions filled, they could sit down and order a soda. You could actually be treated with dignity and respect.” - James E. Richards Jr. William Goodman Jr. They now run Quality Tires and Auto Care at that location. Patricia Lynn Richards-Spruill has fond memories of the Suffolk Professional Pharmacy, which was owned by her father, James E. “Doc” Richards Sr. He opened the pharmacy in 1954 and ran it until 1989. Richards-Spruill started working there in the soda fountain at age 16. She later attended pharmacy school and came back to work at the pharmacy, this time as a pharmacist alongside her father. As other pharmacies in town did not serve black customers, Doc Richards was proud to run an establishment that welcomed them. “He felt good about filling that need, but the thing that was unique about my father … He opened it for people of color, but of any color,” Richards-Spruill said. “It wasn’t like he opened it and said, ‘This is just for my community.’ He didn’t discriminate. Anybody who wanted to come and have a prescription filled, he was open and he was ready.” Richards-Spruill recalled one time that an-
other pharmacy in town called and asked if her father had a medication they were out of stock. He did and offered to deliver it. “He wasn’t quite sure that customer would want to come across the track to him,” RichardsSpruill said. But the customer didn’t mind and later remarked, “Not only was he served very professionally but they had the best tuna fish sandwich he ever had in his life,” RichardsSpruill remembered. Doc Richards’ son, James E. Richards Jr., said he and his other sister, Ann, used to try out if they would be allowed in whites-only establishments. “We would test various systems in Suffolk,” he said. “We would try to go into the movie theater and sit where we weren’t supposed to sit. We also used to go and try to sit at the lunch counters like Joseph P. Hall and the other pharmacies across the tracks, uptown, and of course we couldn’t.” But when Suffolk Professional Pharmacy opened, it offered not only a pharmacy that catered to blacks but also a lunch counter. “I remember the pride that we had that my father established Suffolk Professional Pharmacy,” Richards said. “People were amazed not only could they go in and get their prescriptions filled, they could sit down and order a soda. You could actually be treated with dignity and respect.” Doc Richards’ brother, Otis Richards, was a part-time delivery driver for the pharmacy and recalled that the pharmacy was very convenient for the black community. “In those days, you couldn’t go uptown and sit in the drugstore,” he said. “Even the See GREEN BOOK page 21
suffolk living 21 GREEN BOOK continued from page 20
Above, Metropolitan Church Federal Credit Union stands at 133 Tynes St. where Nansemond Co-Op Service Center used to be. Below, Quality Tires & Auto Care is at 802 E. Washington St., the former site of E&L Lassiter Pur Oil.
restaurants, you had to go to the back door if you wanted to get something.” He said his brother inspired many young blacks to go to school, and some of them went into the pharmacy field. “It encouraged a lot of black people to take up their professions,” he said. Doc Richards was a pioneering and savvy businessman, his son said. He delivered prescriptions before most others in the area did. He also was an early supporter when the rescue squad started in town, and he represented his borough on the Suffolk Planning Commission. That’s why neither Richards nor his younger sister, Richards-Spruill, was surprised to learn recently that the pharmacy was listed in the Green Book: their father wouldn’t have missed a chance to support the black-owned publication and advertise his services to travelers. “He had the respect of the entire business community, white and black,” Richards said. “He’s had a lot of influence on a lot of people.” Richards-Spruill recalled how her father would fill prescriptions even if his customers could not afford them. He would even deliver them knowing he wouldn’t receive payment. “Everybody thought he was rich,” she said. “But he was just the richest man in his heart.”
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on vacation
Suffolk Living went to some pretty cool places this year. Above, Richard and Yolene Curry and granddaughter Kailey visited the Expo in Astana, Kazakhstan, this summer. At right, Brian and Lauren Henry visited Maymont in Richmond in December. Bottom right, Rose Bowers and Wayne Livesay visited the famous Hotel California in Todos Santos, Baja Mexico. Below, McKenna Foley, Quinn, Robbie, Christina, Hope and Robert Bradshaw visited Buckingham Palace on a tour of England, Scotland, Ireland and Italy.
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Ladies in the Suffolk Quilters Guild look through material at their swap meet at their monthly meeting.
From utility to artwork
Quilting transforms from necessity to beauty Story by Kellie Adamson Photos by Troy Cooper
M
ore than three decades ago, a group of women decided to form the Suffolk Quilters Guild as a way to bond over activity and learn how to quilt. Now, 30 years later, more than 50 women meet at least once a month to continue expanding their knowledge and to participate in charitable acts. Lori Murdock, president of the guild, has been quilting for more than 25 years, and being a part of this group of talented women motivates her. “For me, the guild gets me motivated. I come to the meetings, and I immediately want to go home and want to sew,” Murdock said. “Everyone has such great ideas.” Murdock, along with Linda Wood, is one of the few that has a long arm quilting machine, and that gives users the unique ability to finish quilts quickly and beautifully.
Longarm quilting is a process of using a large sewing machine, sometimes 30 inches or longer, to sew together the quilt top, batting and quilt backing. The computerized machine makes the process of quilting much faster than using a traditional sewing machine or sewing by hand. Wood has finished multiple quilts from members of the guild, and her machine allows beautiful motifs, like snowflakes, to be stitched into the quilt. The machine takes up space on a large table in an entire room of her house, but she is thrilled about it. Two of the founding members, Jane Arthur and Dianne Alexander, still attend meetings with the guild, and they are proud to see the group still thriving since its founding in 1987. “There have been ups and downs, but we celebrated our 30th anniversary,” Arthur See QUILT page 26
Lori Murdock is president of the Suffolk Quilters Guild.
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Long-arm sewing machines allow quilters to do a variety of patterns.
26 suffolk living QUILT continued from page 24
said. “It’s really nice and great there is still interest in quilting.” Having more than 50 members has allowed everyone to share their talent and learn from one another for 30 years. “I think the experience that everyone brings is great, and we get to learn from others in person rather than online,” Arthur said. For the two founding members, quilting has changed so much from when they started. Quilting wasn’t quite the art form that it is now, and that is because quilting used to be necessary. “My grandmother's quilts were for utility. They had to be usable, but these quilts are really just beautiful,” Alexander said. While the women of the guild gather to learn and sew together, they have a higher purpose as well. Twice a year, the group chooses a charity to support with quilts they make. Recently, they got together and made 36 quilts to donate to Lake Prince Woods, a retirement facility in Suffolk. For some of the members, this is the perfect way for them to give back to their community. “This is my way to give back,” said Norma Buchanan. “Though, this is traditional for me.” Buchanan has been involved in making quilts to be donated for decades, and it is something she is happy to continue with the Suffolk Quilters Guild. The guild is sponsored by the Suffolk Department of Parks and Recreation, and they meet on the first Thursday of each month at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 213 N. Main St. More information can be found on their website at suffolkquiltersguild.webs.com.
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suffolk living 27
where am I?
I
n each edition the Suffolk Living staff provides a challenge of sorts, testing how much of Suffolk you really know. We photograph some location in Suffolk that is readily accessible and open to the public, and see if you can tell us where it is. If you know where this photo was taken, submit your answer, along with your name and contact information to news@suffolklivingmag.com. If you’re right, you will be entered for a chance to win a $25 gift certificate to any one of our partner advertisers. So, if you know where this is, let us know. If you’re right, you could be a winner. Go out and enjoy Suffolk!
28 suffolk living
suffolk scene
Holiday Parade The Suffolk Holiday Parade thrilled downtown Suffolk with holiday merriment on Dec. 8. Paradegoers witnessed floats, marching bands, animal units and more with the theme “Jingle Bell Rock.” PHOTOS BY JEN JAQUA
Mark and JoJo, 2, Simmons
Christina Battle, Zamiyah Battle, Brionna Higgs, Azari Gray, Kentori Battle, Harmony Battle, Trinity Battle, Kynlee Higgs, Rylee Higgs
Kynlee Higgs, Rylee Higgs
Keosha Riddick, Mariah Holliman, Kendra Riddick, Greg Holliman, Ky’asia Sessoms, Carman Holliman
Kailey Newell, Isaih Stine, Jacob Newell, Michelle Devine
Brittany Hamlin, Bob Hamlin
suffolk living 29
North Suffolk Rotary Oyster Roast The North Suffolk Rotary Club held its annual oyster roast on Oct. 24 at Pretlow Farm, on the bank of Lake Burnt Mills in Chuckatuck. Friends and family enjoyed freshly cooked seafood with beer, water and good company. PHOTOS BY ALEX PERRY
Liz Burt and Sid Pollard
Edward Goode and Barbara Kays
David and Darlene Gengel
Kyle and Sarah Wagner with 3-year-old Dakota
Anthony Barnes and Debbie Jackson
suffolk scene
30 suffolk living
suffolk scene
Touch a Truck, Train and Trick or Treat Hundreds of parents and children came out to the sixth annual “Touch a Truck, Train and Trick or Treat” held by the Suffolk-Nansemond Historical Society on Nov. 3 at the Suffolk Seaboard Station Railroad Museum. PHOTOS BY ALEX PERRY
Suffolk Master Police Officer Sherry Fellers with Jacob Yeung, 2
James Ludwig, 2
Micah Young, 3
Johnathan Young, 3
Malachi Turner, 5, and Olivia Watson, 2
Ruth Gilson, 5, and Melvin Bowden
suffolk living 31
Winter Art Show Talented artists from Mack Benn Jr. Elementary School unveiled a gallery of winter delight at the OnePast7 art studio on Dec. 13. The school’s Winter Art Show featured 101 unique pieces of art that delighted parents and friends alike. PHOTOS BY ALEX PERRY
suffolk scene
Kadmiel and Kaniel Arias, 8
Payton Baines, 6
Adriana Penn-Alexander, 11
32 suffolk living
How do you see Suffolk? Submit your photos to Through the Lens
news@suffolklivingmag.com
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34 suffolk living
Last edition’s Where Am I? The location of where am I? our NovemberI December 2018 Where Am I? challenge hasn’t been around very long, so we wondered how many people would know where it was. As it turned out, about eight people guessed correctly that the cross is located on the First Baptist Church Mahan Street addition, right on North Main Street. Lee Copeland Jr. was among the correct guessers and was the randomly selected winner of a $25 gift card. Check out this edition’s challenge on page 27. 26 suffolk living
n each edition the Suffolk Living staff provides a challenge of sorts, testing how much of Suffolk you really know. We photograph some location in Suffolk that is readily accessible and open to the public, and see if you can tell us where it is.
If you know where this photo was taken, submit your answer, along with your name and contact information to news@suffolklivingmag.com. If you’re right, you will be entered for a chance to win a $25 gift certificate to any one of our partner advertisers. So, if you know where this is, let us know. If you’re right, you could be a winner. Go out and enjoy Suffolk!
suffolk living 35
scrapbook
WATER WORKS: West Washington Street originally ran very near the steam-powered pumping station and over the waste gates at the waterworks. This must have provided a dramatic view for travelers.
COURTESY OF “SUFFOLK IN VINTAGE POSTCARDS” BY THE SUFFOLK-NANSEMOND HISTORICAL SOCIETY