Our Team

The Real Rosewood Foundation, Incorporated is supported by a diverse and nonpartisan Board of Directors, Honorary Members and Volunteers.

Founder’s Message

Lizzie Polly Robinson Brown Jenkins

Epic year, 1992, I began my journey researching, authenticating and documenting Rosewood’s truths as directed by my mother, the sister of Rosewood teacher.

Succinct and to the point, “You must tell Sister’s story, a name she affectionally graced her sister. I had struggled for years since ’92, to let people know that Black lives do matter, even before the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement became a part of our collective consciousness.

The foundation, established in 2003, has sought to preserve knowledge, spread awareness and foster cultural sensitivity around a massacre that wiped out the small black majority community of Rosewood, Florida, nearly a century ago.

Even now, I am committed to keeping the story of the 1923 Rosewood massacre alive. History is who I am. “We are our ancestors replaying and reflecting on the civil rights work laid down by by previous generations building bridges for future generations”. Unless we remember our children will not understand. Remembering is an integral part of moving forward and educating people who did not know the seriousness of hate and injustice.

It is bringing forth awareness of the experiences that Black people in America have endured all our lives. I remember the 1960 civil rights lunch counter sit-ins, F.W. Woolworth store in St. Augustine, Florida. I witnessed by sitting down.

Today it is my work and your work to stand up, stand in solidarity and empower this generation. We must tell what others held secretly. It’s history and that’s who we are.

I have dedicated my life keeping the memory of Rosewood alive. My passion was fueled by the stories my mother told me in second person. Mahulda Gussie Brown Carrier and my favorite Aunt.

I am continuously humbled and honored to meet people and invite them to join in and help make Archer the capital of truth and reconciliation.

Historically anchored,
Miss Lizzie

Learn more about Lizzie

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Rosewood Board Executive Officers

		Mrs. Lizzie Polly Robinson Brown Jenkins President/Founder/CEO of The Real Rosewood Foundation, Inc. http://www.rosewoodflorida.com established 2003 Retired Educator, Historian, Researcher and Published Author Graduate of Florida Memorial University, Miami, Florida Resides in Archer, Florida, Alachua County
		Mr. John M. Jenkins, Sr. Co-Founder of The Real Rosewood Foundation, Inc. http://www.rosewoodflorida.com established 2003 Retired Transit Operator Gainesville Regional Utility President Jenkins’ Manager, Retired GRU Resides in Archer, Florida, Alachua County
		Mr. Pedro Jermaine Vice President of The Real Rosewood Foundation, Inc. Rosewood Resident Artist www.pedrojermaine.com Asset Management Clerk Tower Hill Insurance Graduate of University of Florida Resides in Lake City, Florida, Columbia County
		Vacant – Executive Board Chair
		Mrs. Joy Glanzer Secretary for The Real Rosewood Foundation, Inc. Broker www.glanzerrealty.com Graduate of University of Florida Resides in Newberry, Florida, Alachua County
		Vacant – Treasurer
		Ms. Tamika T. Hicks * UF CEO Families United Network LLC Gainesville, Florida, Alachua County
		Ms. Ashley L. McClellan
		Mayor Jordan Marlowe, Newberry City Parliamentarian, John Wright House Restoration Project EJI/Education Curriculum/Documentary, Bailey Sarian Episode African American History Teacher facebook.com/JordanMarlowe Mediator of EJI Project, Legacy Museum Montgomery, Alabama Resides in Newberry, Florida, Alachua County
		Dr. Kalai Mathee Director of Museum/Memorial for The Real Rosewood Foundation, Inc. Florida International University jmm.microbiologyresearch.org Professor of Molecular Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Resides in Miami, Florida, Dade County
		Mrs. Hazel Gillis Scholarship for The Real Rosewood Foundation, Inc. President of Branch ASALH asalh.org Resides in Jacksonville, Florida, Duval County
		Attorney William “Bill” Cervone Rosewood Historical Landmark, Consultant Former State Attorney Eighth Judicial Circuit Resides in Gainesville, Florida, Alachua County
		Mr. Jamar Hebert Newberry, Florida
		Ms. Anita Jenkins-McCarter Waldo, Florida
		Mr. Dwight Samuel, Jr.
		Mr. George Gillis Jacksonville, Florida
		Ms. Princess Cooper SC
		Ms. Carol Valesques Richardson Alachua, Florida
		Ms. Deandra Caison Alachua, Florida
		Dr. Alice Walton Gainesville, Florida
		Mr. Leontre Robinson Honorary Member and Godson Freshman Student 2021-2025 Florida International University, Miami, Florida

Rosewood Ambassadors

Mr. and Mrs. Ian and Hannah Stone It is with much honor, respect and humbleness I graciously accept your generous donation of the John Wright Historic Rosewood house. It means to me more than words can express when you said, We want to help Miss Lizzie accomplish her vision!” My prayer of worthy praise and perseverance, “I hope to live up to your vision to build and rebuild the deliverance needed to expand the normalcy of our democracy!” I met you January 2021 and never knew you were aware of my Rosewood vision. God at work. “When God is in the plan, the plan is in his hands.” My belief.

Ms. Dale E. Williams

Ms. Rosemary Christy
Gainesville, Florida

Ms. Toni Collins
Chiefland, Florida

Ms. Bailey Sarian
Producer of Dark History Podcast
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYEdn3rn8sg&t=1510s
Bailey introduced Rosewood to her listeners and created a match fund for TRRF.

Mr. Freddie Wehbe
Gainesville, Florida

Kimberly Joy Green

Miami, Florida

Ms. Melody Vaughn
Gainesville, Florida

Mr. Rob Murphy

Newberry, Florida

Mr. Gabriel Hill

Miami, Florida

Attorneys Jeffrey and Casey Meldon

Gainesville, Florida

Former Congressman Ted Yoho 3rd District of Florida

Swannee River, Florida

Gabi Bucataru
Filmmaker, pro colorist and digital content creator specializing in creative
storytelling and documentary formats * http://www.photogabi.com
Resides in Chicago, IL

Melvin Huffnagle

Miami, Florida

Janis Johnson Owens

Newberry, Florida

Elizabeth Washington

Gainesville, Florida

Deputy Chief Investigator Darry Lloyd District Circuit 8

Gainesville, Florida

Mr. Chris Mathews
Website Engineer for The Real Rosewood Foundation, Inc.
Software Quality Assurance Engineer / Test Automator
Resides in Maine and Gainesville, Florida

Rosewood Board Chairs

Rosewood Centennial 2023: January 1
Mr. Pedro Jermaine

Rosewood Special Zoning
Mrs. Joy Glanzer

Rosewood Museum and Memorial Director
Dr. Kalai Mathee

Rosewood John Wright’s House Restoration
Mayor Jordan Marlowe

Rosewood Teacher Mahulda Gussie Brown Carrier Scholarship
Ms. Hazel Gillis

Rosewood Peace and Healing Return Ceremonies
Mr. John M. Jenkins Sr.

Rosewood Military Men
Mr. George Gillis

Rosewood Honorary Principal Investigators “The Rosewood Incident”

Dr. Maxine D. Jones Dr. Larry Dye

Dr. David Cloburn

Attorney Steve F. Hanlon, Holland and Knight
Pro Bono Public Lawyer for Rosewood members
Resides in Tampa, Florida

Dr. Jaffus Hardrick, President of FMU

Miami, Florida

Ms. Valarie Hollingsworth-Baker

New York

Dr. Kemba Enaves Waldin

Washington, DC

Bob Johnson, Juneteenth Director and

Atlanta, Georgia

Baba G Black Panther Jewelry and Essence Magazine Coordinator

Atlanta, Georgia

Lucretia Louis,

Micanopy, Florida and LA California

Dr. Carla Hayden, Library of Congress Librarian
Washington, D.C.

Attorney Steve F. Hanlon, Holland and Knight
Tampa, Florida

Coach Steve Spurrier, UF Gators

Gainesville, Florida

Ms. Audra

Ms. Kate Brown, Federal Grant Writer

Tallahassee, Florida

Mayor Pegeen Hanrahan

Gainesville, Florida

Ms. Marie Monroe Ames, Rosewood Descendant ,Martine Goins Granddaughter
West Palm Beach, Florida

Ms. Priscilla Thomas, Rosewood Descendant, Dorothy Goins Hosey, Granddaughter

Tampa, Florida

Ms. Margaret Woodard Jones, Rosewood Descendant. Sarah Woodard Daughter Gainesville, Florida

Ms. Margaret Kruse, Cedar Key Train Conductor William C. Bryce Granddaughter
Bryceville, Florida

Ms. Phoebe Walker Hughes, Levy County Sheriff Robert Walker’s sister
Orlando, Florida

Ms. Leah Kitchen
Houston, Texas

Mr. Freddie Davis, Levy County Sheriff Robert Walker’s nephew

Chiefland, Florida

Mr. Eric Godet, GGCC President

Mr. Joe Johnson, GGCC

Mr. Ian Fletcher, GGCC

Ms. Ilene Silverman, Host

Dr. Charles S. Williams, UF Professor Emeritus Gainesville, Florida

Ms. Elizabeth Lunt

Sheriff Clovis Watson, Jr.

Alachua, Florida

Ms. Amy Gaplin, Frost Museum Curator

Miami, Florida
Mr. and Mrs. Bob Kasicki, Antique contributors

Archer, Florida

Ms. Jessica Shareen
Great great great grandniece of Mary Jane Hall Wright
Resides in New Jersey

Mr. and Mrs. Ian and Hanna Stone and Silas, Donated the Rosewood John Wright home                                                                   Rosewood, Florida

Ms. Toni Collins, President of Levy County Historical Society
Chiefland, Florida

Kimberly Joy Green, Green Space Miami arts space                                                                                Miami, Florida

Mr. Freddie Wehbe, Make It Happen Studio Marketing
Gainesville, Florida

Ms. Amy Galpin, FIU Curator at the Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum                                                                                               Miami, Florida

Former Congressman Ted Yoho 3rd District of Florida                                                                      Palatka, Florida

Gabi Bucataru, Filmmaker, specializing in creative storytelling and documentary
Chicago, IL

Attorneys Jeffrey and Casey Meldon, UF                                                                                             Gainesville, Florida

Bob Johnson, Juneteenth Director and Festival Organizer                                                    Atlanta, Georgia

Baba G Gyname Black Panther Jewelry and Essence Magazine Coordinator                                                 Atlanta, Georgia

Lucretia Louis,                                                                                                                     Micanopy, Florida and LA California

Ms. Rosemary Christy
Gainesville, Florida

Melvin Huffnagle, Law and Order Actor and Playwright                                                                                             Miami, Florida

Janis Johnson Owens, Genealogist and Published Author                                                                                                         Newberry, Florida

Ms. Dale E. Williams                                                                                                                            Gainesville, Florida

Deputy Chief Investigator Darry Lloyd District Circuit 8                                                              Gainesville, Florida

Elizabeth Washington                                                                                                                        Gainesville, Florida

Ms. Melody Vaughn, Rosewood Healing Homes Initiative
Gainesville, Florida

Mr. Rob Murphy, Poet Laureate, Artist and Writer
Newberry, Florida

Mr. Gabriel Hill                                                                                                                             Miami, Florida

Rosewood Honorary Principal Investigators “The Rosewood Incident”

Dr. Maxine D. Jones

Dr. Larry Dye

Dr. David Colburn, UF Emeritus

Attorney Steve F. Hanlon, Holland and Knight, Rosewood Pro Bono
Tampa, Florida

Dr. Jaffus Hardrick, President of FMU                                                                                        Miami, Florida

Ms. Valarie Hollingsworth-Bake, International Grand President of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.                                                        New York

Dr. Kemba Eneas Walden                                                                                                                 Washington, DC

Dr. Carla Hayden, Library of Congress Librarian
Washington, D.C.

Attorney Steve F. Hanlon, Holland and Knight
Tampa, Florida

Coach Steve Spurrier, UF Gators                                                                                                       Gainesville, Florida

Ms. Audra

Ms. Kate Brown, Federal Grant Writer                                                                                               Tallahassee, Florida

Mayor Pegeen Hanrahan                                                                                                                  Gainesville, Florida

Ms. Marie Monroe Ames, Rosewood Descendant and Martine Goins Granddaughter
West Palm Beach, Florida  

Ms. Priscilla Tillman, Rosewood Descendant, Dorothy Goins Hosey, Granddaughter                        Tampa, Florida

Ms. Margaret Woodard Jones, Rosewood Descendant. Sarah Woodard Daughter               Gainesville, Florida

Ms. Margaret Kruse, Cedar Key Train Conductor William C. Bryce Granddaughter
Bryceville, Florida

Ms. Phoebe Walker Hughes, Sister of Levy County Sheriff Robert “Bob” Walker
Orlando, Florida

Ms. Leah Kitchen, Granddaughter of Levy County Sheriff Robert “Bob” Walker
Houston, Texas

Mr. Freddie Davis, nephew of Levy County Sheriff Robert Walker                                            Chiefland, Florida

Mr. Eric Godet, GGCC President and CEO                                                                                  Gainesville, Florida

Mr. Joe Johnson, GGCC                                                                                                            Gainesville, Florida

Mr. Ian Fletcher, GGCC                                                                                                                            Gainesville, Florida

Ms. Ilene Silverman, The Ilene Silverman Show                                                                   Gainesville, Florida

Dr. Charles S. Williams, UF Professor Emeritus                                                                       Gainesville, Florida

Ms. Elizabeth Lunt, sponsored four scholarships for Black students                                                        New York

Sheriff Clovis Watson, Jr.  former TRRF board member                                                                                                            Alachua, Florida

Mr. and Mrs. Bob Kasicki, Antique contributors                                                                                 Archer, Florida

Ms. Bailey Sarian
Producer of Dark History Podcast
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYEdn3rn8sg&t=1510s
Bailey introduced Rosewood to her listeners and created a match fund for TRRF.

Mr. Chris Mathews
Website Engineer for The Real Rosewood Foundation, Inc.
Software Quality Assurance Engineer / Test Automator
Resides in Maine and Gainesville, Florida

Rosewood Historians

The work of the Real Rosewood Foundation, Incorporated is made possible by the enduring legacies of the Rosewood historians (past, present and future). Keeping alive and preserving Rosewood history through shared intergenerational knowledge. Four generations of Archer, Florida, Alachua County, historians.

Juliann Sams	1826-1926
Lizzie Polly Sams Brown	1871-1938
Mahulda Gussie Brown Sams Carrier	1894-1948
Theresa Marie Brown Sams Robinson	1902-1997
Dorothy Mae Robinson Brown Sams Samuel	1932-1992
Lizzie Polly Robinson Brown Sams Jenkins	1938