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
Rosewood Board Executive Officers
|
Mrs. Lizzie Polly Robinson Brown Jenkins | ||
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Mr. John M. Jenkins, Sr. | |
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Mr. Pedro Jermaine | |
| Vacant – Executive Board Chair
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Mrs. Joy Glanzer | |
| Vacant – Treasurer
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Ms. Tamika T. Hicks | |
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Ms. Ashley L. McClellan | |
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Mayor Jordan Marlowe, Newberry City | |
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Dr. Kalai Mathee | |
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Mrs. Hazel Gillis | |
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Attorney William “Bill” Cervone | |
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Mr. Jamar Hebert | |
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Mrs. Anita Jenkins-McCarter | |
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Mr. Dwight Samuel, Jr. | |
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Mr. George Gillis | |
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Ms. Princess Cooper | |
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Mrs. Carol Valesques Richardson | |
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Mrs. Deandra Caison | |
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Dr. Alice Walton | |
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Mr. Leontre Robinson |
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
Primary member of The Real Rosewood Foundation, Inc.
University of Florida
Resides in Gainesville, Florida
Ms. Rosemary Christy
Primary member of The Real Rosewood Foundation, Inc.
Former Educator University of Florida
Resides in Gainesville, Florida
Mrs. Toni Collins
First supporter to help locate files and folders
Resides in Chiefland, Levy County
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
Filmmaker: Filmed Commercial for The Real Rosewood Foundation, Inc.
Make It Happen Studios http://www.makeithappenstudios.info
Resides in Gainesville, Florida
Mr. Gerald A. Urso
Researcher for Rosewood Masonic Magnolia Lodge #148
Masterful Researcher for Prince Hall Freemasonry
Resides in Jacksonville, Florida, Duval County
Ms. Melody Vaughn
Healing Rosewood Homes (renovate) by Design Rosewood Descendants
Resides in New York and Gainesville, Florida, Alachua County
Mr. Rob Murphy
Rosewood Poet Laureate and coauthored Lizzie’s Rosewood Race
Resides in Newberry, Florida
Mr. Gabriel Hill
Rosewood Marketing Agent
Resides in Tampa, Hillsborough County
Attorneys Jeffrey Meldon & Chris Qualmann
Podcaster for The Real Rosewood Foundation, Inc.
Resides in Gainesville, Florida, Alachua County
Former Congressman Ted Yoho Represented the 3rd District of Florida
Introduces Rosewood Historical Landmark
Introduced Rosewood History and Miss Lizzie to C-SPAN
Library of Congress Librarian Dr. Carla Hayden
Dr. Maxine Jones Rosewood Lead Investigator
Attorney Steve Hanlon, Rosewood Pro Bono Lawyer
Mary Johnson, Florida Director of Libraries
Resides in Gainesville, Florida, Alachua County
Gabi Bucataru
Filmmaker, pro colorist and digital content creator specializing in creative
storytelling and documentary formats * http://www.photogabi.com
Resides in Chicago, IL
Dr. Sheila Allison-Wells
Catalogues Rosewood Artifacts and Collections
Simmons College * Meharry Medical School * Residency Wayne State University
Resides in Gainesville, Florida
Deputy Chief Investigator Darry Lloyd
Co-produced TRRF Commercial
Resides in Gainesville, Florida, Alachua County
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 Annual Gala
Virginia Lynn-Brinson
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
Mrs. Hazel Gillis
Rosewood Peace and Healing Return Ceremonies
Mr. John M. Jenkins Sr.
Rosewood Military Men
Mr. George Gillis
Rosewood Honorary Members
Dr. Maxine D. Jones
Principal Author and Investigator of “The Rosewood Incident” for The Florida Legislature
Dr. Larry Dye
Dr. David Cloburn
Attorney Steve F. Hanlon, Holland and Knight
Pro Bono Public Lawyer for Rosewood members
Resides in Tampa, Florida
Resides in Tallahassee, Florida Dr. Jaffus Hardrick
President of Florida Memorial University, My Alma Mater
Resides in Miami, Florida
Dr. Carla Hayden, Library of Congress Librarian
First African American Librarian appointed by President Obama
Resides in Washington, D.C.
Attorney Steve F. Hanlon, Holland and Knight
Pro Bono Public Lawyer for Rosewood members
Resides in Tampa, Florida
Ms. Marva Coward State Librarian and Rosewood contributor Resides in Tallahassee, Florida
Dr. Cynthia Moore Chestnut
Advocated for Rosewood Family Scholarship
Resides in Gainesville, Florida
Ms. Marie Monroe Ames
Rosewood descendant and great granddaughter of Martine Goins, Rosewood cofounder
Resides in West Palm Beach, Florida
Mrs. Margaret Woodard Jones Rosewood parents are Sarah Woodard and Daniel Logan Resides in Gainesville, Florida
Mrs. Margaret Kruse
Granddaughter of Rosewood train conductor William C. Bryce
Resides in Bryceville, Florida
Attorney Abby Ellzey
Great great grandniece of John Wright, Rosewood store merchant
Resides in Jacksonville, Florida
Mrs. Phoebe Walker Hughes
Levy County Sheriff Robert “Bob” Walker sister. Initiated family connection
Resides in Orlando, Florida
Mrs. Leah Kitchen
Levy County Sheriff Robert “Bob” Walker granddaughter
Resides in Houston, Texas
Mr. Fred Davis
Levy County Sheriff Robert “Bob” Walker nephew
Resides in Chiefland, Florida
Ms. Amy Johnson
Florida State Director Librarian
Resides in Tallahassee, Florida
Mr. Eric Godet, GGCC President
GGCC donated complimentary membership
Resides in Gainesville, Florida
Mrs. Ilene Silverman, Host
The Ilene Silverman Show interviewed President Lizzie Jenkins
Resides in Gainesville, Florida
Dr. Charles S. Williams
UF Professor Emeritus organized TRRF finances.
Resides in Gainesville, Florida
Sheriff Clovis Watson, Jr.
Former board member of TRRF.
Resides in Alachua, Florida
Ms. Teri Jones
Initial Rosewood artifacts/catalogue
Resides in Melbourne, Florida
Mrs. Linda Williams
Served as chairperson for Mahulda Gussie Brown Carrier Scholarship
Resides in Gainesville, Florida
Ms. Jessica Shareen
Great great great grandniece of Mary Jane Hall Wright
Resides in New Jersey
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). They have kept the memory of Rosewood alive through shared intergenerational knowledge. Four generations of Archer, Florida, Alachua County, family 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 |
Real Rosewood Foundation, Inc. 