4 minute read
Samantha Dorm | The Historian
Presented by York County Community Foundation
BY JONATHAN DESMARAIS
Descending from a long line of changemakers and prominent Yorkers, Samantha Dorm frequently draws upon her family history for inspiration and for the continual uncovering of York’s African-American past. As she explains, “Learning about my family and other members of York's black community has given me a greater sense of self. Their accomplishments motivate me to be a better person, and to stay focused on continuing their legacies.”
Those who know Samantha (and most of York does), know that she fights tirelessly for the celebration of Black greatness in York’s past and present, and is so incredibly deserving to be named a York County Changemaker. Samantha expresses her gratitude and reverence for this recognition, saying, “Changemaker conveys a sense of being able to make a difference. Whereas the recognition in my case is centered around efforts to preserve and protect the legacy of my ancestors, I take great pride in this selection from the York community.”
Learning about my family and other members of York's black community has given me a greater sense of self. Their accomplishments motivate me to be a better person, and to stay focused on continuing their legacies.
Despite this recognition, she’s not even the first member of her family to be selected for this honor. Just last year, her niece Brittany Nicole Dorm was honored with the recognition. Go a little further back in time, and you’ll encounter her cousin, Lee Smallwood, who was instrumental in thecreation of the Goodridge Freedom Center and Underground Railroad Museum
But, to dig back further into Samantha’s family history, is to uncover York’s greatness. On the Hawkins-Smallwood side of her family, her great-grandmother, Serena Smallwood Jenkins owned the well-known Smallwood Restaurant in York City in the 1940s, while four of her uncles (Samuel Green, George Smith, Wilbur Spells, and Billy Smallwood) were some of the first Black police officers in York’s history.
Greatness continues on the other side of her family, the Dorm-Sexton-Fells cohort. Samantha’s father, Russell Dorm III, ran the City’s recreational volleyball league for 30 years while serving as the City’s Health Inspector. The sand courts at Hoffman Stadium are even named in his honor. More recently, her first cousin Melvin “Jerry” Carter was promoted to Brigadier General in 2019.
Much of Samantha’s curiosity surrounding her family was sparked by her initial work with the Friends of Lebanon Cemetery, the organization committed to honoring early African-American community members of York County, remembering their legacies, and sharing their stories. Using her 20+ years of experience working with government agencies including her skills in marketing and grant writing, Samantha serves the organization in an advisory role, building relationships, connecting resources, and telling the stories of the people who laid to rest there.
The organization originated in May of 2019 as an informal cemetery maintenance crew one month after Samantha’s great aunt, Marilee Keenheel Jones, an educator, was laid to rest at Lebanon Cemetery. By the Fall of that year, Samantha, alongside Tina Charles and Jenny DeJesus Marshall, formalized the nonprofit, The Friends of Lebanon Cemetery.
As a mother to a special needs son, most of her work for the organization is done from her home office, but when she does visit Lebanon Cemetery, it provides her a chance to connect with her ancestors and receive inspiration. “I would not have the opportunities afforded to me today without the combined efforts of those who came before me,” she explains. “When I visit the cemetery, I often touch the headstones of various family members to connect... momentarily. They give me the strength to weather the storms. I stand firmly in the light of their spirits.”
Samantha remains committed to telling the greatness of York’s African-American past because she knows that it will inspire future generations; just like it did for herself.
