Suffolk Living September-October 2021 by Suffolk News-Herald

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Sugar PLUS SWEET TREATS AND A CENTURY OF SERVICE september/october 2021 • vol. 12, no. 5

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FEATURE

Through her basketball and her offcourt experiences, Sugar Rodgers embodies inspiration for young people going through tough stuff.

CONTENTS sept - oct | 2021 13

WHERE AM I? | Think you know Suffolk well? Then see if you can identify this photo.

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10 In the News

Southwestern Elementary School recently received its new name to honor the past.

ON THE COVER suffolklivingmag.com

Belleville Communty

20 A century’s worth of service makes for fascinating history in North Suffolk.

Sugar PLUS SWEET TREATS AND A CENTURY OF SERVICE september/october 2021 • vol. 12, no. 5

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editor's note sept - oct

2021

Sugar and spice, and history’s nice

EDITORIAL Tracy Agnew Editor

Jen Jaqua Photographer Jimmy LaRoue Writer Rachel Austin Writer news@suffolklivingmag.com

ADVERTISING

Earl Jones Marketing Consultant Lindsay Richardson Marketing Consultant Dana Snow Marketing Consultant sales@suffolklivingmag.com

PRODUCTION Troy Cooper Designer

ADMINISTRATION Betty J. Ramsey Publisher Hope Rose Production

Anybody who has ever witnessed the play of the great Sugar Rodgers had to know she was being driven by something deeper than just being good at basketball. Growing up in Suffolk, she witnessed violence, drugs and poverty, and she lost her mother at age 14. Any of those things alone could have broken another person, but Rodgers poured her motivation into basketball and soon started pouring points into the baskets. But behind the statistics, Rodgers needed to get in a better place mentally, she now says. She found help at Georgetown University, where she starred on the court, and went on to a championship career in the WNBA. She’s now assistant coaching with the Las Vegas Aces, where she spent part of her WNBA career, as well as at Georgetown. Suffolk is still proud of Sugar, and we’ve enjoyed following her career all these years. It’s been pretty sweet. Speaking of pretty sweet, you can find some great, sugary recipes starting on page 14, including some perfect for the fall season such as caramel apples and gluten-free snickerdoodles featuring a nice helping of cinnamon. If local history is your thing, we know you’ll enjoy reading about the historical Belleville community, which has been part of North Suffolk for about a century now — way before anyone thought to call that area “North Suffolk.” The Church of God and Saints of Christ, with the local house of worship known as Temple Beth El, along with its congregants have shaped a large part of the area along Route 17, and you can read more about how it all came about starting on page 20. For another dollop of history, this time on the other side of the city, check out “In the News” about the renaming of Pioneer Elementary School to Southwestern Elementary School, honoring the roots of education in the Holland area of the city. This starts on page 10. We’re always looking for your contributions to Suffolk Living Magazine. Please submit story ideas, On Vacation photos, portfolios of photography for Through the Lens consideration, guesses for the Where Am I? feature and any other suggestions you have to news@ suffolklivingmag.com. And as always, thanks for reading.

God bless, Tracy Agnew, Editor

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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“As Morning Comes to the Dunes” by Janice Gay Maker

what to do

Visual2Verbal: Capricious Whimsy ONGOING THROUGH OCT. 15

Send us your news To submit your calendar or news item, simply email it to: news@suffolklivingmag.com SEPTEMBER 18

A Hometown Heroes Tour of Cedar Hill Cemetery will take place from 11 a.m. to noon starting at the Seaboard Station Railroad Museum, 326 N. Main St. Suffolk’s citizens, like in most other American localities, have served and sacrificed in the name of freedom. The 60-minute walking tour highlights and honors the graves and memorials of soldiers from Suffolk and old Nansemond County who died in combat during the two World Wars, Korean War and Vietnam War. Advance reservations required. Participants will meet at the porch of the Seaboard Station Railroad

“Visual2Verbal: Capricious Whimsy” will be on display at the Suffolk Art Gallery, 118 Bosley Ave. Both visual and literary artists were invited to participate in this exciting exhibit. Each visual work inspired an accompanying literary work, creating a unique exhibit experience. The exhibit is sponsored by Suffolk Art League and Suffolk Art Gallery. Free and open to the public. The gallery is located at 118 Bosley Ave. and is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and 1 to 5 p.m. on Sundays. Museum. Tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for seniors, military and children. Not recommended for children under 12. Call 757-514-4130 or go to visitsuffolkva.com. “Victorian Suffolk: Dying to be There,” a 75-minute walking tour explores the hidden meanings buried in Suffolk’s Historic Cedar Hill Cemetery. The tour will feature Victorian-era symbolism, burial practices, funerary industries, and mourning rituals. This intriguing and educational excursion will highlight how the residents of Suffolk both lived and died in the 19th century. Cedar Hill Cemetery

is more than two centuries old, with roots that harken back to the founding of Suffolk. With keen eyes and curious minds, this tour will bring into focus the fascinating world of Victorian America, their obsession with death, dying, and living beyond the grave. The tour will meet at 326 N. Main St. The tour lasts from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The cost is $7 for adults and $5 for seniors, military and children under 12. Call 757-514-4130 or go to visitsuffolkva. com. SEPTEMBER 19

Mutt Strut starts at 11 a.m. at Bennett’s

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what to do Creek Park, 3000 Bennetts Creek Road. There will be vendors, demonstrations from the Suffolk K9s, food, music from the Deloreans and lots of activities for all ages. Visit suffolkhumanesociety.com for more information.

unresolved affairs abound throughout Suffolk's historically hip Ghost Walk. Reservations required. The cost is $10 for adults and $8 for seniors, military and children 9-12. The tour meets at 524 N. Main St. Call 757-514-4130 or go to visitsuffolkva.com.

SEPTEMBER 25

The Driver Village Artisan and Farmers Market will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the crossroads of Kings Highway and Nansemond Parkway. Shop a variety of vendors and support unique local small businesses in the quaint community of the Historic Village of Driver. Park in spaces by event, at Arthur's General Store, Suffolk Appliance, Simply Vintage, or in overflow parking across from Berea Church. “Legends of Main Street: A Suffolk Ghost Walk” will take place from 8 to 9:30 p.m. A hair-raising encounter with the spirited side of Suffolk. Follow a costumed guide through the shadows of historic Main Street discovering stories, legends and "unexplained occurrences" by lantern light. Tales of unsolved mysteries and

p.m. at Constance Wharf. Tickets are $40 and include all you can eat barbecue and oysters from Baron’s Pub and two drink tickets. Island Boy will perform and there will be a silent auction. To purchase tickets or be an event sponsor, contact Rebecca Myers, resource development coordinator, at rmyers@bgcseva.org.

OCTOBER 2

The Drifters will perform at 8 p.m. at the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts, 110 W. Finney Ave. Tickets range from $32 to $48. Visit tinyurl.com/DriftersSCCA. Western Tidewater’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s will take place at YMCA Camp Arrowhead, 275 Kenyon Road. Registration opens at 8:30 a.m. with the opening ceremony at 9:40 a.m. and the walk at 10 a.m. Come to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research. This family-friendly event includes a 1- and 2-mile walk route. Register at alz.org/walk. Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeast Virginia’s Suffolk Club will host its 12th annual BBQ & Oyster Roast fundraiser from 5 to 8

“Living History Family Day: Experience the Regency Era” will take place from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the North Suffolk Library, 2000 Bennetts Creek Park Road. Enjoy interactive demonstrations of Regency-era life! Play period games; learn from War of 1812 reenactors, and experience what life was like as a soldier; meet a doctor, learn about medicine, and see medical instruments of the time; try English Country Dancing; and much more! Presenters are from the Regency Society of Virginia. Some interactive stations will be inside, while others will be right outside the North Suffolk Library. Free for all ages. Presented by Suffolk Public Library.

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in the news

Southwestern Elementary School held a renaming ceremony on Sept. 1 to affirm its change from Pioneer Elementary School. The name of Southwestern holds a long tradition of excellence and service in the Holland area.

New name, same commitment for Southwestern ES Story and photos by Jimmy LaRoue

When the old Southwestern Elementary closed in 2014, students performed the song, “So Long, Farewell,” in the style of “The Sound of Music.” Now that the name has returned, students from the Musical Mustangs greeted it during a Sept. 1 renaming recognition ceremony with a pair of songs, “Back to School” and “Agents of Change.” Both are songs with much meaning given the coronavirus pandemic, the return of the Southwestern name and children signifying a new generation of

change agents. Many had expected the name to carry over to a newly built school off of Holland Road, but after a school naming committee had favored keeping the name Southwestern, the Suffolk School Board at the time instead voted 4-3 to use the name Pioneer Elementary, seemingly signifying a fresh start for a newly-built school. But late last year, School Board member Tyron Riddick made a push to return the name Southwestern back to the school, and

that December, by another 4-3 vote, the board did just that and voted in favor of honoring the heritage of Black students who attended the Nansemond County Training School and then various iterations of Southwestern. The name change took effect July 1. Superintendent Dr. John B. Gordon III said he got an early history of Southwestern and the Nansemond County Training School from Riddick and former Southwestern Elementary principal Lorita Mayo, currently a School Board member.

suffolk living 11 “Now, it’s really about preserving the legacy,” Gordon said. “To me, that’s the key. Suffolk is so rich in tradition, so rich in history. This is a piece of history we don’t want to let go. I understand the reasoning why Pioneer was originally chosen, but you’ve got to make change based on … the people it affects.” Gordon, in remarks during the ceremony, talked about how active the Southwestern Alumni Association has been in supporting the school, even though it was called Pioneer and not Southwestern as its members wanted. “To me, this is just one of those opportunities where we can teach our kids some new lessons and hopefully we can move forward all together,” Gordon said. Southwestern Principal Lori Mounie, Assistant Principal Dr. Sabrina Lee and Gordon unveiled a display case at the entrance to the school showing items that had been a part of the training school and previous versions of Southwestern, including a photograph of Dr. Hannibal E. Howell Sr., who served as principal of the Nansemond County Training School from 1919 until 1961. The site of the old Southwestern Elementary began hosting Black students in 1924 when the Nansemond County Training School for

Black students was built using money from Sears, Roebuck and Co. leader Julius Rosenwald, who put forth seed money to pay for building schools for Black students in the rural South. The name Southwestern was used first for a high school in 1964, then an intermediate school in 1970 and a middle school in 1979 before it became an elementary school in 1990. The old Southwestern Elementary closed to students in 2014. Current Board chairwoman Dr. Judith Brooks-Buck, who had previously voted along with then-Board chairman Enoch Copeland for the name to stay Southwestern and voted last December for the name change, noted her own path in being a student in a segregated school system when a child in Norfolk. “It means a lot to me to see that things have changed, and things have changed in a positive way,” Brooks-Buck said. And it meant a lot for her to see members of the Southwestern Alumni Association, including its president, James Harold Faulk, in attendance at the ceremony. “These people have supported the school even when things didn’t change — they supported the school,” Brooks-Buck said. “They

have given the school thousands of dollars over the years, over the eight years when the name didn’t change. They didn’t get angry, they didn’t walk away. “They continued to support the school and be a part of the school community, so I think it shows the kind of character, the kind of people that you’re dealing with, and how much this school means to this community. What I’m happy for is that we got a chance to do something positive for these people. And we got a chance to recognize their efforts, their history, and to give back something that we should have done, correct a mistake we should have done long ago.” Faulk, in his remarks, paid tribute to Southwestern alumni, and to Copeland — “the backbone of this entire idea.” “Today, to come back and be a part of the renaming to Southwestern, certainly brings a lot of joy.” Faulk said they worked for many years to maintain a positive legacy of Southwestern school for the community. He said that will continue. “Now, we feel we’ve reached a portion of the goal that we’ve had,” Faulk said, “and that was to get the school named Southwestern.”

City Council members, School Board members, graduates of the Nansemond County Training School and former Southwestern High School, and others pause for a photo during the Sept. 1 event.

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How do you see Suffolk? Submit your photos to Through the Lens

news@suffolklivingmag.com

suffolk living 13

where am 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 card. So, if you know where this is, let us know. If you’re right, you could be a winner. Go out and enjoy Suffolk!

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Sweet Recipes WHIP UP A CLASSIC FALL TREAT Halloween treats take center stage in October. What can be better this time of year than a fresh autumn apple coated in a sweet candy shell? This quintessential fall treat can make Halloween celebrations even more special. This recipe for “Old-Fashioned Caramel Apples,” courtesy of “300 Best Homemade Candy Recipes (Robert Rose) by Jane Sharrock, benefits from the fall harvest while also paying homage to a classic Halloween treat. Old-Fashioned Caramel Apples Makes 12 12 medium apples 2 cups granulates sugar 1 cup packed light brown sugar 2⁄3 cup light corn syrup 1⁄2 cup butter or margarine 1 cup half-and-half (10%) cream or evaporated milk 1 teaspoon salt 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 2 cups chopped pecans, 11⁄2 cups sweetened flaked coconut or 2 cups crisp rice cereal (optional)

CREATE A CHOCOLATE CHARCUTERIE BOARD To start out, figure out which nibbles your love one will desire the most. The chocolate charcuterie board can be entirely sweet, or a mix of sweet, savory and even salty offerings. Some ideas for a chocolate charcuterie board include: • chocolate truffles • chocolate-dipped fruits • chocolate-covered pretzels • chocolate bark • melted chocolate fondue and assorted dippers • Classic chocolate candies • Assorted nuts like almonds and cashews • Fudge squares • Homemade turtle candy • Chocolate nut rolls • Dried fruits, such as figs and dates • Graham crackers or butter cookies Just as you would for any charcuterie board, choose an attractive wood board large enough to hold all of the desserts. Arrange the chocolates and other foods with an eye for presentation. Use fresh berries or mint leaves to fill in any gaps and add a little extra flair to the arrangement. If desired, think about pairing chocolate and sweet elements with traditional charcuterie offerings like cured salami, brie cheese, hard cheeses, crackers, and chutneys.

1. Wash and dry the apples. Remove the stems. Insert a popsicle stick into the stem end of each apple, using a twist-like motion so that the apple will not split. 2. Cover a large countertop area or a large baking sheet with waxed paper. 3. In a large heavy kettle over mediumlow heat, bring the granulated and brown sugars, corn syrup, butter, halfand-half and salt to a boil, stirring until the sugars dissolve and the mixture begins to boil. Cook, gently stirring to prevent scorching, to the firm ball stage (246 F). Stir in the vanilla. 4. Remove from the heat. Cool until the mixture thickens slightly. Hold each apple by the wooden skewer and quickly twirl into the caramel, tilting the pan to cover the apple with caramel. Remove the apple from the caramel, allow the excess caramel to drip into the pan and then twirl the apple again to spread the caramel smoothly over the apple. Use a spoon to coat any part of the apple not covered with caramel. If desired, roll the coated apples in the toppings before the caramel sets. Place on the waxed paper until the coating is firm. Store in a cool place.

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CHOCOLATE DESSERT WITH A HEALTHY TWIST Quite often people hear the word “dessert” and immediately think of a calorie- and fat-laden decadence that may set them back several hours on the treadmill. While it is true that some desserts can pack a heavy punch, others need not make people fear for their waistlines. Desserts that feature healthy ingredients can tempt your sweet tooth and provide nutritional benefits. Such is the case when combining pomegranate and dark chocolate, two ingredients that are rich in antioxidants that can contribute to a healthier immune system. “Chocolate Covered Pomegranate Clusters” can be served as the culmination of a fancy dinner in decorative martini glasses, or taken along as a healthy trail mix of sorts in school or work lunch boxes. Enjoy this recipe, courtesy of John La Puma, M.D., ChefMD. At only 108 calories per serving, this dessert likely won’t compromise any meal plans. Chocolate Covered Pomegranate Clusters Servings: 4 1 cup (8 ounces) pomegranate arils 2⁄3 cup (4 ounces) organic bittersweet chocolate chips, such as Ghirardelli 60% 1⁄4 teaspoon turmeric 1⁄8 teaspoon black pepper 1⁄4 cup fresh basil, stemmed and julienned *2⁄3 cup (4 ounces) high quality dark chocolate, chopped fine, may replace the chocolate chips Set the pomegranate arils on paper towels to absorb any excess moisture. Melt chocolate chips in a heavy-bottomed small saucepan over low-to-medium heat, stirring frequently, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove saucepan from the burner. Add pomegranate seeds and stir in spices. Use a fork to scoop out small chocolatecovered clusters, and place each on a wax paper-lined plate. Garnish with mint. Refrigerate until chocolate is firm, about 15 minutes.

GLUTEN-FREE BAKING EASY AND TASTY Gluten-free diets are a necessity for people who have celiac disease, a condition that causes an immune reaction in the small intestine from eating gluten. This reaction causes damage to the small intestines that can lead to pain and other symptoms. Going gluten-free also is a choice for people who experience other reactions to eating gluten products that are not related to celiac, or have been instructed to do so on the advice of their nutritionists or doctors. It used to be that gluten-free cooking, especially baking, was extremely limited and the results may have not tasted much like glutencontaining counterparts. However, thanks to recipe experimentation and new flour blends on the market, baking gluten-free breakfast items, breads and desserts is much easier and tastier — as is the case with “Gluten-Free Buttery Snickerdoodles,” courtesy of King Arthur Baking Company. These flavor-packed cinnamon cookies are sure to wow friends and family at gatherings, like spring picnics or Memorial Day Celebrations, even if they don’t need to follow gluten-free living. Gluten-Free Buttery Snickerdoodles Yields 31⁄2 dozen 21⁄2-inch cookies Dough 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature* 3⁄4 cup sugar 1 large egg 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1⁄2 teaspoon salt* 1 teaspoon baking powder 11⁄3 cups Gluten-Free Measure for Measure Flour *If you use salted butter, decrease the salt to 1⁄4 teaspoon Coating 2 tablespoons sugar 1 to 11⁄2 teaspoons cinnamon, to taste Preheat the oven to 375 F. Lightly grease (or line with parchment) two baking sheets. To make the cookies: Beat together the butter and sugar until smooth. Add the egg, beating until smooth. Beat in the vanilla, salt, and baking powder. Add the flour, mixing until totally incorporated. To make the coating: Shake together the sugar and cinnamon in a medium-sized zip-top plastic

bag. Drop small (1-inch diameter) balls of dough into the bag; a teaspoon cookie scoop works well here. Roll/toss the cookies in the cinnamonsugar until they’re completely coated. Space the cookies at least 11⁄2 apart on the prepared baking sheets. Use a flat-bottom glass to flatten them to about 3⁄8 thick; they’ll be about 11⁄2 in diameter. Bake the cookies for 8 minutes (for soft cookies) to 10 minutes (for crunchier cookies). Remove them from the oven, and cool them on the pan until they’re firm enough to transfer to a rack to cool completely. Store any leftover cookies, well wrapped, at room temperature for several days; freeze for longer storage. Tip: If you prefer chewier cookies, chill the dough before making into cookies and do not press the snickerdoodles as thin.

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‘Like Blood on Paper’ Sugar’s life hasn’t always been so sweet, but she’s using her story to help others on and off the court Story by Jimmy LaRoue Submitted Photos

er story didn’t start in therapy, but it was a catalyst to get it out. And Sugar Rodgers is using it in a transformative way to help others, especially young people who may be growing up in similarly difficult situations, by offering a compelling message of perseverance through her book, “They Better Call Me Sugar: My Journey from the Hood to the Hardwood.” The Suffolk native who grew up in the Williamstown neighborhood — attending school at Elephant’s Fork Elementary, King’s Fork Middle and King’s Fork High — manifested her dreams of being a standout basketball player and, with the wisdom of therapy and life experience, grew to understand that the sport was an escape from her difficult circumstances despite seemingly long odds given her upbringing. Rodgers lived in the midst of violence, drugs and poverty, and, at 14, on July 14, 2005, lost her mother to lupus — 14 has been her jersey number ever since. She bounced around several homes in the city and in Portsmouth until getting to college at Georgetown, where she received encouragement to seek counseling and share her experiences. It began a truly therapeutic rise that has allowed her to gain a sense of equilibrium and perspective. “Therapy is very taboo in the African American community, and we’re taught to compartmentalize everything that we have from birth,” Rodgers said. “You can’t tell people what’s going on inside your household or you would get in trouble. You can’t go outside and gossip to people about things that are happening to you. “And when I got to college, one of my coaches recommended it. Me being so ignorant to the fact, I’m like, ‘I’m not going to talk to a white man about my problems and/or white woman,’ you know, ’cause that’s just how I viewed it. I was like, ‘I’m not.’ But he was like, ‘‘If you go, you’ll find yourself in a better place mentally.’” See RODGERS page 18

18 suffolk living SUGAR continued from page 17

Starting out playing basketball for the Suffolk Blazers, Rodgers would go on to play at King’s Fork High School, for Boo Williams’ AAU team, and then for his sister, Terri Williams-Flournoy, at Georgetown in Washington, D.C., before becoming, yes, the 14th overall pick in the WNBA draft when she was selected by the Minnesota Lynx. Though not a starter with the Lynx in 2013, she was part of their WNBA championship team before she was traded to the New York Liberty, where she emerged professionally over the course of the next five seasons, including a 2016 season in which she averaged 14.6 points per game and then being named an All-Star and Sixth Woman of the Year in 2017. For four of those seasons, she played under coach Bill Laimbeer, and she reunited with him for the last two seasons of her playing career with the Las Vegas Aces. She is still with the Aces as an assistant coach to Laimbeer, and she recently was named an assistant coach at Georgetown. Laimbeer has referred to Rodgers as a “student of the game.” But Rodgers is as much a student of life, and despite how arduous it has been, she has, indeed, come up Aces. “I used basketball as a vehicle, to a degree,” Rodgers said. “When I was younger, I didn’t see basketball like that. I didn’t play basketball because I loved it. I played basketball because it saved me. I played sports because it saved me from my situation. That was the only way I was able to get some peace and not have to worry about reality.” She would be at different parks playing, spending time with her friends, playing AAU, whatever: “Reality didn’t set in,” Rodgers said, “until I left the basketball court.” Though she has set records, won a championship and has been an All-Star on the court, Rodgers is much more than the sum of her basketball career. She turned herself from an indifferent scholar to one with a bachelor’s degree in English — “I was able to be the first generation in my family to graduate college” — and a master’s in sports industry management, and she uses her life and playing experience to her advantage now that she’s coaching. “Those things for me have been the hugest accomplishments in my life, because when I went to school, in high school, I really didn’t

Sugar Rodgers, right, smiles with Las Vegas Aces teammate A’ja Wilson after a game.

take it serious, but I take education very serious, being very knowledgeable of certain things, now. And that’s just me and how I look at it. Knowledge is power.” That was something she picked up from Georgetown’s legendary coach, John Thompson Jr., during numerous conversations the two had while she was playing for the Hoyas, and it’s been something that has resonated with her ever since. The first time she went to therapy, she was still a reluctant participant. She was ready enough to go, but not ready to speak. But she recognized that she needed help, and learned about how therapy could help. She credits her therapist with getting her to open up, but instead of speaking to him, she began, with his encouragement, to write down her story. “When I wrote this story down, it was almost like blood on paper,” Rodgers said. “I’m like, ‘man, I went through all of this. I didn’t have (much). Then my mom died, and I became homeless. I didn’t have time to really hone in on all these problems, and I didn’t know that they were creating more problems for me in the future.” She wants her story to reach young girls

and boys in similar situations, to show that no matter the situation, they can accomplish something great in life, that they aren’t alone. “Some people feel like they’re alone, but they don’t have the support,” Rodgers said. “It’s more so saying ‘look, you’re not alone. I went through that. You can get through it. ’” And her advice to those young people? “Keep pushing, keep going forward,” Rodgers said. “The things that happen, they’re temporary, and somebody’s going to hear you, somebody’s going to feed you, somebody’s going to help you. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, especially when you need it.” Rodgers said her guarded nature didn’t allow her to build relationships, as she didn’t know who she could talk to, who she could trust and who really cared about her. She wants to be able to build relationships with people on the job, with colleagues and be the best person she can be for the day when she starts a family. “I want to be able to do certain things that I felt like my childhood trauma always hindered me from,” Rodgers said. “I was just like, I went to therapy and it was all she wrote.” Or rather, all Sugar wrote.

suffolk living 19

Above, Sugar Rodgers drives against two defenders. At left, Rodgers, on the left, now an assistant coach with the Las Vegas Aces, talks with Dearica Hamby during a game.

“They Better Call Me Sugar: My Journey from the Hood to the Hardwood,” by Sugar Rodgers, is available to purchase online at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Walmart.com and other retailers. Copies to check out are also available at each branch of the Suffolk Public Library.

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Belleville celebrates a century

Story by Phyllis Speidell Photos by John H. Sheally II

ommuters traveling North Suffolk’s often trafficchoked Bridge Road have time to marvel at the ever-growing shopping areas, business parks, residential subdivisions and apartment complexes that followed the successful launch of the Harbour View planned community 30 years ago. What the passersby might not recognize in that mix, however, are the remaining landmarks of Belleville, the area’s first planned mixed-use community that predated Harbour View by more than 60 years. Just over a century ago, the orphan son of an African American Buffalo soldier visited North Suffolk with a vision in mind. William Henry Plummer, in his mid-30s, an

ordained minister and executive leader of the Church of God and Saints of Christ, was there to look over 40 acres of prime farmland purchased by the church’s founder, Prophet Williams Saunders Crowdy, in 1903. The fledgling church, struggling financially, had lost the acreage in a 1909 auction. John Eberwine, a local white farmer who had been the high bidder, still held the land when Plummer visited in 1917. When he heard Plummer’s dream to redeem the land and realize Crowdy’s vision of a self-sufficient homeplace for church members, the farmer agreed, over some local resistance, to sell the land back. Cleaton Rabey, a local white attorney, also befriended Plummer and helped finalize the sale in 1919. See BELLEVILLE page 22

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The Belleville baseball team competed well in the Negro leagues. BELLEVILLE continued from page 21

The rest, as they say, is history, although perhaps little known among newer residents. One of the more recent landmarks, Temple Beth El, is the international headquarters of the Church of God and Saints of Christ, and one of four of the church’s tabernacles in Virginia and one of 35 across the country and Jamaica. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the tabernacle filled for Saturday Sabbath and holy day services. Further along Bridge Road, Temple Beth El’s circa 1923 original worship center, a long white building with a round Star of David window, faces the highway. An old well in a nearby ravine dates to the 1700s and was supplemented by other artesian wells drilled by early Belleville residents. On the other side of Bridge Road, two well-tended cemeteries continue to guard the remains of church leaders and members. Among those departed are some of the skilled craftsmen and women Plummer

recruited from the church’s tabernacles in Massachusetts, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Ohio. They came ready to build and labored to raise farm buildings, a sawmill, an electric plant, a school, a dining hall, dormitories, a commissary, bath houses, garages, an auto repair shop, a music hall, tennis courts, an athletic field, a general store, a bakery, a tailor shop, a carpenter shop, offices and a printing plant. Over the next few years, Plummer managed to buy six more area farms and a fishing boat, the Alice Lee, that provided food for the Saints, as the church members are known. At its peak, according to Elder Ezra Locke, superintendent of Temple Beth El, Belleville had seven farms, totaling more than 900 acres, and up to 500 residents. Inspired by Plummer’s childhood as an orphan and his struggle to gain an education, the community, known to the Saints as Canaan Land, also included the Belleville Industrial

School and the Widows and Orphans Home. Belleville was renowned for its a capella group, the Choice Singers, who entertained throughout Hampton Roads and were a regular feature at the annual Tidewater Fair near downtown Suffolk. Belleville also fielded a popular baseball team, the Belleville Greys, that competed with the Negro League and drew 2,000 to 3,000 spectators to the Sunday games. The team was well regarded, with its own farm teams, the Yellowjackets, all eager to be called up. Although the mostly self-sufficient Belleville survived the Depression era, some residents sought work outside the community or returned to their former homes. World War II took another toll on Belleville, drafting many younger men into service. Soon after the 1941 Pearl Harbor bombing, Belleville created an observation tower for aircraft spotters. The station, atop a three-story retirement home, was manned around the clock by Belleville See BELLEVILLE page 23

suffolk living 23 BELLEVILLE continued from page 22

volunteers. The community also initiated a volunteer emergency squad. A long post-war recovery led to an economic rebound launched in the 1980s with the advent of the BelleHarbour Redevelopment Committee. The current tabernacle, completed in 1987, was built in two phases with offices, classrooms, a 1,000-seat multipurpose room and a large sanctuary. The Saints also built a senior housing complex and completed the Land Purchase Memorial, a brick shrine in the shape of the Star of David, commemorating the spot where Prophet Crowdy was inspired to buy the land. The Saints also renovated the original tabernacle that had been built in 40 days in 1923. According to the late Rachel Presha, a member of the church who gained local celebrity as The Purple Lady, her carpenter father was one of a group of Saints who constructed the building after being recruited by Plummer to build Belleville. The church’s appreciation of all musical genres led to its popular annual Summer

Elder Ezra Locke is pictured at the old well that served early Belleville residents.

Breeze Concerts. Thousands came to enjoy jazz, R&B and soul artists as well as legendary Motown groups including The Temptations, the Manhattans and the Stylistics.

In more recent years, the Belleville farmland flourished with real estate rather than crops. In 1996, the Saints opened the Levi Solomon Plummer Learning Center, an early childhood development center, now leased to Antioch Preschool and Academy. In 2007, the Saints opened a 120-room Comfort Suites hotel and leased other land across Bridge Road to Sentara for the Sentara BelleHarbour Medical Center. On other of its lands, the church developed several residential complexes, offering attractive affordable housing for the general community as well as senior citizens and those in need of low-income or Section 8 accommodations. Under the continuing leadership of Rabbi Phillip McNeil, Temple Beth El welcomes all to the diversity of the country’s oldest African American congregation that adheres to the tenets of Judaism. The church’s contributions to the community remain a testament to their love of neighbor and a tribute to Belleville, the first planned mixed-use community in North Suffolk.

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24 suffolk living

on vacation

Above, Autumn and Jonathon Jaqua visited their grandparents in northern Ohio this summer and took Suffolk Living along with them. At left, Mary Helmer and her husband, Ray, traveled to Western New York to visit friends and relatives. Their old home was in the Finger Lakes Region. On their trip, they passed through Corning, New York, the home of Corning Ware.

suffolk living 25

Margie Wiley, left, and Leroy Howell, center, pause for a photo with Parker Howell at the United Church Homes and Services Board Retreat at the Graylyn in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. UCHS is the parent company of Suffolk’s Lake Prince Woods Retirement Community. Wiley and the Howells also pictured with the rest of the board. Be sure to snap photos with Suffolk Living on your travels and send them to news@ suffolklivingmag.com.

26 suffolk living suffolk living 19

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suffolk scene

Above, the Fuzz Band performed at Suffolk’s first T.G.I.F. concert of the summer. At right, Bryan and Jean Waddell and Jeanne and Phil Swain enjoy catching up while enjoying the great weather for the first T.G.I.F. of the summer.

TGIF The TGIF concerts at Constant’s Wharf and Bennett’s Creek Park were back this year, and plenty of folks enjoyed the music, food and atmosphere. PHOTOS BY RACHEL AUSTIN

suffolk living 29

suffolk scene

Phyllis and Bill Quire relax to the smooth jazz of The Fuzz Band at T.G.I.F.

Tony and Debra Spivey enjoy a night out at the first night of T.G.I.F.

Bellisa Smith, Kim Chisholm and Virginia Holliman enjoy The Fuzz Band at T.G.I.F.

Naquana and Makayla Huff enjoy a girl’s night and a picnic at T.G.I.F.

30 suffolk living

Last edition’s Where Am I?

suffolklivingmag.com

Last edition’s Where Am I? challenge must have proven somewhat difficult for folks in Suffolk. It’s part of a mural at Wall Street Cafe on West Washington Street in where am I? downtown, I but nobody submitted a correct answer. That means nobody wins the $25 gift card for a correct answer. We hope this edition’s puzzle will be a little easier to solve. You can find it on page 13.

suffolklivingmag.com

14 suffolk living

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 card.

So, if you know where this is, let us know. If you’re right, you could be a winner. Go out and enjoy Suffolk!

Road Warriors KEEPING WARM AND CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY

january/february 2019 • vol. 10, no. 1

Chicken Swap FOWL, FESTIVAL AND FUN TIMES AT RESPASS BEACH

Community Garden

september/october 2018 • vol. 9, no. 5

AND VOLUNTEERS THAT LOVE BOOKS may/june 2019 • vol. 10, no. 3

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SARATOGA: The north end of Saratoga Street opened around the turn of the century. The thicket at the north end of the street would eventually be cleared with the opening of Suffolk High School and, later, Freemason Street. The house on the east side of the street has been replaced by a playground. The west side of this block has seen few changes. —COURTESY “SUFFOLK IN VINTAGE POSTCARDS,” SUFFOLK-NANSEMOND HISTORICAL SOCIETY

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