Making memories Angel gowns and kids of Newtown
february-march 2019 • vol. 3, no. 2
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western branch magazine 3
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march
what's inside?
2019
feature
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Kennedy’s Angel Gowns volunteers meet in Western Branch to make bracelets and burial clothing for infants.
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In the news The Port of Virginia recently celebrated a huge milestone — huge as in the tallest shipping cranes ever in the United States.
Special Memories The Newtown neighborhood was a fun place to grow up in the ‘30s and ‘40s, according to native, and current Western Branch resident, David “Pookie” George.
Where am I? So you think you know Western Branch? Test your knowledge of its landmarks with this photo quiz. You could win a $25 gift card.
Making memories Angel gowns and kids of Newtown
february-march 2019 • vol. 3, no. 2
photo by Tracy Agnew
on the cover
Advertising rates and information available upon request. Subscriptions are $20 annually in-state; $25 annually out-of-state; $30 for international subscriptions. Please make checks payable to Suffolk Publications, LLC P.O. Box 1220, Suffolk, VA 23439
Public servant The Western Branch Senior Club has a fearless leader who once resisted becoming a member.
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mar.
2019 EDITORIAL Tracy Agnew Editor Alex Perry Staff Writer Jen Jaqua Photographer news@westernbranchmagazine.com
ADVERTISING
Earl Jones Marketing Consultant Lindsay Richardson Marketing Consultant Dana Snow Marketing Consultant Kandyce Kirkland Marketing Consultant sales@westernbranchmagazine.com
PRODUCTION Troy Cooper Designer
ADMINISTRATION John Carr Publisher
Cathy Daughtrey Business Manager Hope Rose Production
editor's note Beauty from loss For those who have not experienced a loss so profound, it’s hard to imagine what it’s like for parents grieving the loss of a child who never truly got to live. But through the unthinkable, Heather and Demitri Wilson brought beauty to the world through their tragedy. Their organization, Kennedy’s Angel Gowns, is named after their daughter Kennedy, who died at about 36 weeks’ gestation in 2009. You can read more about them on page 14, but we think you’ll be amazed at everything that Kennedy’s legacy has brought to this earth. A Western Branch resident we think you’ll enjoy getting to know is “Pookie.” His real name is David George Jr., but growing up with him in his neighborhood of Newtown in Portsmouth, everyone knew him as Pookie. There were lots of unusual nicknames in Newtown, it seems, and a lot of memories, too. You can learn about them on page 20. We’re about to enter spring, and we hope you’re going to get out and enjoy the warmer weather when it comes. While you’re at it, though, we hope you’ll consider submitting some photos to our Through The Lens feature. This feature highlights a local photographer, professional or amateur, and all you need to do to qualify is take some photos and send them to us. It’s that easy. While you’re on vacation this spring, too, take some photos holding a recent edition of Western Branch magazine and send them along, as well. You’ll be the envy of everyone as they learn about your travels. You can send submissions for these features, as well as story tips, to news@westernbranchmagazine.com. We’re always looking for new people and places to feature in your Western Branch magazine. God bless, Tracy Agnew, Editor
Western Branch Magazine is published six times per year by Suffolk Publications, LLC. P.O. Box 1220, Suffolk, VA 23439 www.westernbranchmagazine.com • (757) 539-3437
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Serving as an Army nurse made her well prepared for the challenges of the operating room. And now she’s on your
As a cardiovascular nurse, Stacie Pittman is completely comfortable in high-pressure situations. Perhaps that’s because her nursing career began in the U.S. Army, where situations can change just as rapidly as they can in the operating room. Each day, she shares both her expertise and her commitment to calmly overcoming cardiac challenges with Hampton Roads’ top surgeons, physicians and support staff on the Heart Team at Bon Secours. When it comes to your heart, the team you choose makes all the difference. Shouldn’t you have the best one possible? bonsecours.com/heart-team
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around the branch
Polish Festival APRIL 26-28
The annual Chesapeake Polish Festival will take place at 536 Homestead Road, Chesapeake. Festivities will begin from 6 to 10 p.m. April 26 with a social and dance. From 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. April 27, festivities will include traditional Polish music and dancers, classic rock and oldies and jazz, a raffle, Polish goods store, silent auction, church tours, a bake sale, flower and plant sale, children’s games, a vendor market and more. The highlight is the food, which includes cabbage rolls, pierogis, kielbasa, sauerkraut, potato pancakes and more. From noon to 4 p.m., the festival continues with a Fun Run and Charity Walk to benefit the Knights of Columbus. For more information, visit chesapeakepolishfest.com.
western branch magazine 9 FEBRUARY 19
The Mix Book Club will meet from 6 to 7:45 p.m. at the Churchland branch of Portsmouth Public Library, 4934 High St. W. The group meets every third Tuesday of the month to discuss a variety of cultures, authors and books. Call 686-2538.
FEBRUARY 20
The Russell Memorial Library, 2808 Taylor Road, Chesapeake, will hold the Novel Ladies Book Club from 6 to 8 p.m. This club meets on the third Wednesday of each month. Call 410-7016 for more information.
FEBRUARY 26
The Russell Memorial Library, 2808 Taylor Road, Chesapeake, will hold the Mocha Authors Club from 6 to 8 p.m. Stop by the information desk to discover the chosen title by a black author, then read the book and join in the discussion. Call 410-7016.
FEBRUARY 26
The Adult Coloring Society will meet from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Churchland branch of Portsmouth Public Library, 4934 High St. W. Call 686-2538.
MARCH 9
The Churchland branch of Portsmouth Public Library, 4934 High St. W., will host Line Dancing with Linda from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. The easy beginner’s workout will combine music, fun and instruction. Call 686-2538.
MARCH 22
Boogie on the Bay Shag Club
ONGOING
The Western Branch Farmers Market, the first independent farmer’s market in Chesapeake, will be open from noon to 4 p.m. each Sunday inside Chesapeake Square Mall, 4200 Portsmouth Blvd. The market hosts a variety of local and regional producers and accepts applications for vendors throughout the season. For more information and updates, visit www.WBFarmMarket.com, find it on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, or email WesternBranchFarmersMarket@gmail.com.
ONGOING
Get your shag on with Boogie on the Bay Shag Club, a Portsmouth-based organization dedicated to promoting and preserving shag dancing and beach music. Weekly dance socials are held from 6 to 9:30 p.m. every Friday night at Big Woody’s Bar & Grill, 4200 Portsmouth Blvd. There is no cover, and new friends are always welcome. Free weekly Carolina Shag lessons are provided from 7 to 9 p.m. on Tuesdays, also at Big Woody’s. Visit www.boogieonthebay.com or call 9677740.
ONGOING
The Old Dominion University Tri-Cities Center, 1070 University Blvd., Portsmouth, has an exhibit of art from local public school students on display. The center is open from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, except university holidays.
ONGOING
The Dunedin Civic League meets monthly on the first Monday at the Aldersgate campus of New Creation United Methodist Church, 4320 Bruce Road, Chesapeake.
ONGOING
The Russell Memorial Library, 2808 Taylor Road, Chesapeake, holds “Hot Topics” from 10 a.m. to noon every Wednesday. Come engage in conversation about current events with other interested people.
FEBRUARY 16
The Churchland branch of Portsmouth Public Library, 4934 High St. W., will host Line Dancing with Linda from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. The easy beginner’s workout will combine music, fun and instruction. Call 686-2538.
The Russell Memorial Library, 2808 Taylor Road, Chesapeake, will hold What A Yarn! from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. Bring your needles, yarn, patterns and unfinished projects to craft and hang out with fellow crafters. Call 410-7016.
APRIL 11
The Russell Memorial Library, 2808 Taylor Road, Chesapeake, will hold “There’s a Sign for That!” from 4 to 5 p.m. Kids in kindergarten through fifth grade can learn American Sign Language basics in a fun environment. Call 410-7024.
APRIL 17
The Russell Memorial Library, 2808 Taylor Road, Chesapeake, will hold Watercolor Wednesday for kids in grades 6 through 12 from 4 to 5:30 p.m. An experienced local artist will lead a beginner-level paint class using watercolors. Call 410-7024.
APRIL 18
The Russell Memorial Library, 2808 Taylor Road, Chesapeake, will host Throwback Thursday Movie Edition from 5 to 7 p.m. for kids in grades 6 through 12. Enjoy the company of your friends and relax as you watch and discuss a classic teen movie. Call 410-7024.
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in the news
Big cranes mean big business at port Story by Alex Perry
The Port of Virginia celebrated a gigantic milestone on Jan. 7 with the arrival of the Zhen Hua 27 to Virginia International Gateway in Portsmouth. The ship finished its long voyage from China in the mid-afternoon chill of the harbor, and standing aboard the ship were four fully-assembled, 170-foot-tall gantry cranes, which are now the largest shipping cranes ever in the United States. “It’s a landmark moment for The Port of Virginia,” John Reinhart, Port of Virginia executive officer and Virginia Port Authority executive director,
wrote in an email. The port signed a contract for these cranes in August 2017. They were built by Shanghai-based Zhenhua Heavy Industries Co. Ltd. The Virginia Port Authority Board of Commissioners approved a spending package of $44.8 million in July 2017 to cover the cost of the cranes, their delivery from China to Virginia and their installation. The cranes will be inspected, tested and integrated over the next eight weeks or so before they are put into operation, according to Port of Virginia spokesman Joe Harris. See CRANES page 12
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The Zhen Hua 27 arrives at the Port of Virginia in January, carrying what are now the four largest shipping cranes in the United States.
12 western branch magazine CRANES continued from page 10
The Port of Virginia now has 30 shipto-shore cranes with Monday’s delivery. More importantly, these record-breaking cranes have the outreach to handle the volume of ultra-large container vessels. Cranes that are currently operational in the harbor are able to reach across vessels that are 22 to 24 containers wide, depending on how the ship’s deck is configured, Harris said. These four new arrivals, on the other hand, will be able to reach across a vessel that’s 26 containers wide. Harris said this is about preparing for both currently active ultra-large container vessels, as well as bigger cargo ships that are on the horizon. “These things will have a lot of life in them in terms of years of use,” he said. These new cranes are among the final pieces of the $320 million expansion project to increase capacity and efficiency at VIG. The project is expected to be complete this June, after phase two of construction at the railyard has been
finished, Harris said. “The investments being made at Virginia International Gateway and Norfolk International Terminals will set this port up for success and sustainability for decades to come,” Reinhart wrote. Part of which is the port’s “Wider, Deeper, Safer” project. The project — which received final authorization from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers last year — will deepen the port’s main shipping channels to 55 feet, allowing for bigger ships to load to capacity.
According to Reinhart, the goal is to show ocean carriers that the Port of Virginia is prepared for the future. “Having these cranes sail into our harbor says, very clearly, to the ocean carriers and the industry that we are prepared for the next evolution and the one to come after that,” Reinhart wrote. “Combine our land-side investments with the 55-foot channel project, and we will have the necessary foundation in place to drive job growth and economic development across Virginia for decades to come.”
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 •
western branch magazine 13
where am i?
I
n each edition the Western Branch Magazine staff provides a challenge of sorts, testing how much of Western Branch you really know. We photograph some location in Western Branch 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@westernbranchmagazine.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 Western Branch!
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feature story
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Wonderfully made Story and photos by Tracy Agnew
One by one, the seams come out of intricately designed wedding gowns, succumbing to a seam-ripper in the hands of a deft operator. Lace, sequins, jewels and other embellishments fall out, some saved for later decoration, leaving only broad swaths of fabric that no longer resemble a gown. Beautifully wrought and wonderfully
made, but gone in an instant — just like the lives these transformed wedding gowns will eventually honor. Nearby, expert hands and humming sewing machines move quickly to give the destruction new purpose. The seamstresses fold, stitch, iron and embellish until they are satisfied. They put the pieces back together in miniature to See ANGELS page 16
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Kennedy’s Angel Gowns volunteer Fran Whitehead removes embellishments from a wedding gown during the organization’s sew-in in Western Branch in January. ANGELS continued from page 15
bring beauty to tragedy. All of it was happening in a block of rooms at Western Branch’s Community Church on a winter Saturday. The sew-in group for Kennedy’s Angel Gowns meets every other month to work on transforming donated wedding gowns into burial clothing for lost pregnancies or newborns. Kennedy’s Angel Gowns is an organization that provides a wide variety of aid to families suffering the loss of a pregnancy or a newborn. Heather Wilson was about 36 weeks along in her pregnancy with her daughter, Kennedy Milan Wilson, when she suffered a placental abruption on Aug. 17, 2009. She didn’t know what had happened, but she realized her baby was no longer moving and went to the hospital. See ANGELS page 17
Demitri and Heather Wilson with their “rainbow baby,” Ryleigh. A grown son, Demitri Jr., completes the family.
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ANGELS continued from page 16
“There wasn’t anything small enough to bury her in,” Heather said. Her husband, Demitri, and her mother went out to try to find some clothes, but there was nothing small enough for Kennedy, who weighed only 5 pounds. “I distinctly remember trying to find Kennedy a dress,” Demitri recalled. “As beautiful as that angel is, she should be in the best.” Through their tragedy, the Wilsons tried to heal the best they could, but there was still a piece of Kennedy’s story missing. “We felt there was some kind of purpose,” said Demitri. “We always knew there was a reason. It was hard to see, but we always knew there was a purpose.” As part of her healing process, Heather felt compelled to make a small burial gown, and she posted a photo of it on Facebook. The response was overwhelming. “Nurses contacted me from all over,” Heather said. Soon she was making gowns for other families but couldn’t keep up with the demand on her own. She went to a local quilting shop that had a bee and approached the women there for help. Fran Whitehead and Lee Lillard were among the first to participate. From there, the nonprofit has grown even larger. There is a fundraiser ball and a 5K run to bring attention to pregnancy and infant loss and to raise money for the cause. The money helps pay for funerals as well as donations to local hospitals of Cuddle Cots and Caring Cradles, which are devices that help grieving families spend more time with their babies in the hospital. And there are events like the sewin, which brings in dozens of volunteers every other month. Wedding gowns are donated by all kinds of brides, from those who have been married for decades and want
Joanne Willis, of Smithfield, takes a last look at her wedding gown — the first look in many years — while dropping it off to be used for Kennedy’s Angel Gowns.
to bring new purpose to their gowns to those who are going through a divorce and want it out of the house, Heather said. For most young brides, though, “I think it takes a few years to part with it unless you’ve experienced a loss,” Heather said. At least one volunteer has made a burial gown for a baby from the mother’s own wedding gown. The burial clothes are made for boys and girls are sent to families who request them all across the United States and sometimes even to other countries, such as Haiti. Shrouds are made for babies who are just too small to put in clothing — usually around 19 weeks’ gestation or
younger, Heather said. The organization also has volunteers who go to hospitals to minister to families who have just suffered a loss. All of this has come about through the Wilsons’ tragic loss. But not only can they look at the organization now and see Kennedy’s legacy, but they also have more purpose — their rainbow baby, Ryleigh Milan Wilson, 8. “All we do is for others,” Demetri said. “It’s bringing joy and shining light and giving a voice.” The third annual Angel Ball is coming up on April 27 and will take place at the Virginia Aquarium in Virginia Beach. Visit www.kennedysangelgowns.com.
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Taking a trip? Take a copy of Western Branch Magazine with you on your next vacation and snap some photos.
We'd love to publish them! SAFE TRAVELS! Send your photos to:
news@westernbranchmagazine.com
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Do you have a unique view of Western Branch?
WE'D LOVE TO SEE IT. If you're a photog and have some cool shots of the Western Branch area, submit them to our THROUGH THE LENS feature. news@westernbranchmagazine.com
See your work in print.
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Special memories of Newtown
western branch magazine 21 The corner of Fayette and Fifth streets is seen in this undated courtesy photo.
Story and photos by Tracy Agnew
David “Pookie” George looks through his records and research of Newtown, where he grew up.
For those who grew up there, the neighborhood of Newtown in Portsmouth near the Navy Yard was a special place. Houses were close together, and everybody knew everybody. Streets had presidential names like Madison, Harrison, Lincoln and Jefferson. Kids had nicknames like Mouse, Cobble, Goose, Bomber, Tiger and even Jug Headquarters. More than a few were nicknamed Pookie. David George Jr. was one of those called Pookie. He’s been a Western Branch resident for about 20 years now, but he’s never forgotten his old neighborhood just a few miles away. It’s gone now, torn down for an industrial park, but the memories still remain. “My love is for my old neighborhood,” said George, who has written many of his memories and done loads of research on Newtown, its history and its residents. The 90-year-old is currently battling cancer for the second time. He lived a full life after his Newtown childhood — a stint in the Army, a career as a traveling salesman, working at Fort Monroe and then retiring from Shared Hospital Services. He was married to Barbara Jean and See NEWTOWN page 22
22 western branch magazine NEWTOWN continued from page 21
had three children, David III, Janis and Barry. Throughout his life, though, he still thinks often about Newtown and the friends he made there. “I loved my old neighborhood, and I love the old people,” he said. Newtown started on the outskirts of the Navy Yard and, at its heyday in the 1940s, numbered some 70 square blocks, 1,100 homes and 61 businesses, according to George’s research on the 1940 census. The families there didn’t have much, especially when George was growing up. “We were children of the Great Depression,” George said. “I was born in ’28. We didn’t have anything but whatever you had, you shared and shared equally. We were all in the same boat.” He can tell stories about I’m 90 years old, Newtown for hours — kids and I can’t get hanging around at Bray’s Pharmacy, riding their biout of my mind cycles across the city to swim the happy times in the creek, even getting hauled down to the police that we all had. station for teenaged antics. -David George Jr. “I don’t think anybody can value it unless you went through it,” George said. George loved, and missed, Newtown so much that in 1979, he and a group of other Newtown natives formed a committee to host a reunion. The two-day affair took place in June 1980 and had more than 500 guests at a Saturday evening dinner and dance. “That was the highlight of my life,” George said. “We gave (Jimmy Bray) and Benny Goldlbatt, who owned the other drugstore, awards for putting up with us over the years.” The committee hoped to have another reunion, but after five years had passed and they started drawing up a list, more than 40 of the original attendees had died. “I didn’t have the heart to do it without them,” George said. George is easily one of the oldest surviving natives of Newtown, and he takes his role as historian seriously. Shelves at his home off Bruce Road are filled with notebooks with records, research and memories about Newtown. Photos of old neighborhood sports teams are meticulously labeled. There’s a map of the neighborhood on graphing paper and lists of all the names — and nicknames — he can remember. He gets most of his material from the history room at the library and hopes his notebooks will be donated there after he’s gone. “I just love it,” he said. “I’m 90 years old, and I can’t get out of my mind the happy times that we all had.”
“Newtown Anthem” O’Beautiful, beautiful Newtown, Where the beautiful women grow. I’d rather live in Newtown. Than any place I know. O’Beautiful, beautiful, Newtown Where the cat-hole meets the sea, I’d rather live in Newtown Where it’s “Home Sweet Home” to me. O’Beautiful, beautiful Newtown. I was born and raised right there. I’d rather live in Newtown. Where we always have fresh air. —By Mary Rice
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How do you see Western Branch? Submit your photos to Through the Lens
news@suffolklivingmag.com
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Last Edition’s Where Am I? The Where Am where am i? I? challenge for the DecemberJanuary issue featured an old race car sitting outside of an informal museum run by Bill Magann and Willie Hodges in the West Norfolk area. John T. Byrum Jr. must have a I keen eye and a good memory, because he was the only person to correctly pinpoint the location of the old race car. He wins a $25 gift card for his correct guess. See this month’s challenge on page 13. 24 western branch magazine
n each edition the Western Branch Magazine staff provides a challenge of sorts, testing how much of Western Branch you really know. We photograph some location in Western Branch 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@westernbranchmagazine.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 Western Branch!
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scrapbook
A group of Newtown teens is gathered at the Teen Center in the old firehouse on Court Street in approximately 1948. Among those pictured are Burrell Johnson, Raymond Beck, Phyllis Diggs, Jackie Fritz, Fred Rowe, Harriet Dinzes, John Robbins, Russell Parker, Marquerite Montague, Fannie Norris, Betty Seward, Dorothy Green, Jackie Taylor, Catherine Lavender, Carlton Smith, Donald Whitson, Audrey Conklin, Louise Hampton, Jack McLean, Arthur Tribble, Jolley Harrison, Ralph McElfish and Alfred Morgan. — COURTESY OF DAVID GEORGE JR.
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