What a week we had leading up to Mother's Day. We had the pleasure of visiting and touring the Heritage Collection with 98 year old Mrs. Evelyn Williams James, daughter of Birdie L. Brookins and Willis H. Williams, a pioneer Winter Park family. Evelyn grew up @ 314 Penn. Avenue in Winter Park's Hannibal Square community. Frank R. Isreal one of the first Black Councilmen was her neighbor. During the visit Evelyn fondly remembered Mr. Isreal's daughter and granddaughter, Frankie and Elsie.

Evelyn was born in Jacksonville, Florida and moved to Hanniibal Square in the early 1900's. Evelyn and Lee Ball were parents to Willis Ball who was born in Winter Park. Willis attended Welbourne Avenue Nursery & Kindergarten and Hannibal Square Elementary. He was the first African- American graduate of Western Washington University, Bellingham WA. Willis died in 1987 and in 1992 the family established a memorial scholarship at the University.

Evelyn married Samuel James in 1938 and by 1942 the family was living in Washington State. Samuel died in 2006. Evelyn currently resides with her daughter and son-inlaw in Seattle WA.

In addition to Evelyn our special guests included Mrs. Sereatha Ball Carter, Mexyce Roberts Ray, Rose Charlton Bynum, Sandra James Campbell and Willis Campbell (daughter & son-in-law), Marva Hope Carter and Jessica Stinson. Guests talked about the good old days and their educational, christian and social experiences growing up in Winter Park, Florida.

Evelyn her daugher and son-in law, Sandra and Willis and her cousin Rose C. Bynum toured the Heritage Center Collection. The collection brought back many fond memories of Winter Park to Evelyn, especially the picture to the Straughter Home where she and Samuel lived when they first married. She also fondly remembered Washington and Edith Straughter the homeowners who spent a lot of time with little Willis Ball. Mary Daniels, Docent photographed the visit.

Afterwards Evelyn joined Heritage Center Manager Fairolyn H. Livingston on a riding tour of Hannibal Square including her old homestead, Ward Chapel and Mt. Moriah Churches, Welbourne Avenue Nursery & Kindergarten where son Willis Ball attended and the former property owned by her mother-in-law, Mrs. Josephine Perry.

On Monday May 9, 2011, Peter Schreyer, founder of the Heritage Center and Executive Director of Crealde School of Art and Barbara Chandler, Assistant Manager of the Heritage Center did a photo shoot of Evelyn and her family at the home church, Ward Chapel African Methodist Episcopal, Winter Park, Florida to include in our collection. The family also loaned personal photographs and narrative for the collection.

It was awesome!!!! Fairolyn