TheMount Dora Historical Society
Mount Dora (Lake County) Florida
a non profit 501(c)(3) education organization
Mount Dora Historical Society
450 Royellou Lane
PO Box 1166
Mount Dora, FL 32757
ph: (352) 383-0006
mountdor
Black History Luncheon's
2009 & 2010 Black History Luncheon's (scroll down for 2009)
Photo memories of the Fourth Annual Black Heritage Luncheon, Feb 20, 2010
Martin Luther King, Jr, Community Center, Mount Dora, Fl.
Sponsored by Mount Dora Historical Society,
Northeast Black History Committee. Mount Dora, Inc, and the Mount Dora Lions Club
Pictured below are the six honorees who were recognized at the Luncheon with Community Achievement Plaques
Rev. Ethel Badger is founder and pastor of House of God Church, built 21 years ago on Grandview Avenue in Mount Dora. She has a distinguished record in education and finance, as well as years of leadership in charitable activities, including All God's Children Haven, for abused or neglected children in Mount Dora, the Helping Hands Program for Youth and Families, an emergency food pantry for those in need, and a free community-wide Annual Thanksgiving Dinner at the House of God Church. A native of Leesburg, she and her husband of 38 years, Deacon Robert Lee Badger, have six children and eleven grandchildren 
Mrs. Jimmie Lee Bell, a graduate of Bethune-Cookman College, came to Mount Dora in 1953 to teach school in the original Milner Rosenwald Academy. There she met and married a fellow teacher, Nathaniel Bell, a romance which delighted the students, many of whom still remember the days. The Bells were together almost 50 years, until his death in 2003. After Florida Courts integrated the schools, Jimmie Lee Bell began teaching at Roseborogh School and continued there until her retirement.
Elder H. L. Harris has led Poe's Memorial Baptist Church in Eustis for thirty years. A native of Tampa, Brother Harris came to Lake county following service as a military police officer in the U.S. Army. He studied at Baptist Fellowship Bible College and graduated from the International Bible Seminary in Plymouth. Long active in statewide Baptist educational and missionary work, he also provides pastoral care at Florida Hospital, volunteers as a mentor in Lake County schools, serves as chaplain to the Eustis Police department, and holds golden life-membership in the NAACP. Married for 37 years, he and his wife, Deborah Jones Harris have five children and nine grandchildren.
It was 1981 when Robert "Bob" Jones first came to Mount Dora. He has aided many community projects -- from working at the polls every election since 1981, to service on the City Parks and Recreation committee. He served on the Board of Directors of the Mount Dora Chamber of Commerce and was on the City's committee that selected a new police chief, Randall Scoggins. Other activities of Bob Jones include the Mount Dora Committee of Fifty, and the Tri-City Democratic Club. In his spare time, he tends his beautiful home and garden, and volunteers as a filmmaker for community events.
Thomas Poole. Sr. is widely known as a political leader, popular public speaker, former President of the Florida NAACP, and former national NAACP board member. Born in Oklahoma, T. H. Poole is a graduate of Florida A and M, and holds a Master of Science degree from UCLA. He was taught in Lake County schools for 39 years, first at Eustis Vocational High and the Milner-Rosenwald Academy, and later, in the integrated school system. On December 29, 2009 he and his wife, Rene Dixon Poole, celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. Many honors and special citations have been awarded to this
Rev. Lucious Taylor has been the pastor of Bethel Independent Free Methodist Church of Mount Dora for almost 36 years. A native of Ocala, he received his Seminary Degree from Stetson University, and Southern Baptist Seminary in Gainesville. Pastor Taylor is currently President of the Florida Council of Independent Free Methodist Churches, in which he has long been active. Lucious Taylor describes himself as a farmer by occupation but adds that "preaching the gospel is his passion and his purpose." He and his wife, Eva Mae Taylor, have been married for thirty-nine years.
Scroll down to see guests who attended the event
Minnie Nix
Nancy Hurlbert, Chair of the Lake County Democrats.
Sheree Walker
Mary Pezzo, Production Assistant and Nancy Smith representing the Mount Dora Lions Club
Vivian Owens signs in. She is the author of The Mount Dorans:
Guy Rozier, our music man
Deacon Rodger Lee Badger and Brandon
Amy Bolt, North East Community Redevelopment Agency
Karen and Theodis Williams
Former Florida State Senator James (Jimmy) Glisson, and his wife Flora. In 1989, Sen. Glisson worked with T. H. Poole, Sr, to make the birthday of MLK Jr a Florida holiday
Deborah Jones Harris. Her husband, Deacon E. L. Harris, was an honoree
A Luncheon guest and, at right, James Moore, director of Christian Home and Bible School 
Two regulars, Ben Brisson and Don Miller
Left to right, above: Nate Walker, Sally Moss, Ella Harris,
an unidentified friend, and Claudette Whitaker
Right this way, your table's waiting
Pictured below - some of the many other guests (over 100) who filled the hall for this significant annual event
We all look forward to next year's luncheon which will be Saturday February 26, 2011, at the fellowship hall of St Mar's Missionary Baptist Church, on Grant Avenue, Mount Dora.
Mount Dora's Third Annual
Black Heritage Luncheon,
February 21 2009Martin Luther King, Jr., Community Center
Sponsored by the Mount Dora Historical Society, the Mount Dora Lion's Club and the Northeast Black History Committee, Mount Dora, Inc.
The annual Black Heritage Luncheon celebrates Black History Month and pays tribute to persons of African Amnerican descent who have contributed significantly to the history of Mount Dora. Next year's luncheons date has been set: Saturday, February 20th, 1010. Put it on you calendar!
Guest of honor and main speaker were the Honorable Alan Grayson, Florida Congressman. Special recognition were given to the Centennial Year of the City of Mount Dora and to the courageous pioneers of diverse background who helped build the city.
(Above) Wekina McMillan, center, with 2 friends. At the luncheon she read her prize-winning poem, "Yes we can!" (upper right side of page)
Shown above is Rev. Jerome Robbins, one of the honorees at the Third Annual Black History Luncheon. Born in 1911 in Apopka, Rev. Andrews attended school in the Witherspoon Lodge and worked in the orange groves with his father. At 30, he became a minister of God, bringing the gospel to many Central Florida communities. He is still serving in Royal, Florida, where he has preached for 45 years. His home is in Mount Dora on Clayton Street.
(Above) Preist Summer was honored at the Black History Luncheon for his many years of pastoral leadership. Bishop Summer was born in 1915 and began holding tent meetings in Mount Dora in 1949. Later he built Triumph the Brotherhood Holiness Church, which he still leads. In 1951 when invited to speak in Georgia, he was told of threats against him -- "If you preach here they'll beat you with barbed wire." He preached that day anyhow. His topic was "A Black man will one day be President of the United States!"
(Above) Mary Pezzo announces a prize-winner, aided by Brenda Lott-Grey.
The honorable Melissa DeMarco, Mayor of Mount Dora, extends greetings to the luncheon guests.
(Above) A proud mother and her young children
(Above) Guy L. Rozier from Orlando provided the background music
(Above) Don Miller and Ben Brisson
(Above) Snapshots of the guests 
(Above) Police Officers and friend make sure everything is alright
(Above) Guests arrive for the event. Mary Burley is at right.
(Above) Another honoree at the Annual Black History Luncheon was Louise Pearson Husen, a long-time Mount Doran, known for her gospel singing and famous for "Louise's rolls" which she used to prepare for the pupils' lunches at Milner-Rosenwald. She is a pillar of her church, St. Mary's Missionary Baptist Church, where her fine voice may still be heard on Sunday. When introduced at the luncheon by emcee Brenda Lott-Grey, Louise led the guests in one of her favorite hymns.
(Above) Barbara Martin Pope was one of the four honorees at the Black heritage Luncheon. Guests paid tribute to her long career as a successful Mount Dora Businesswomen and restaurateur. Born in Mount Dora, one of six children of Rev. Jerome Andrews, she was a pupil at Milner-Rosenwald Acadamy and later was manager of the school lunchroom. She has recieved many awards for her good citizenship. Her volunteer activities include the preparation of a weekly feast for Lake County Seniors (at her own expense), and an occasional Sunday Soul Food dinner for her church and family.
(Above) Deborah Harris, retired Lake County Educator and Former Assistant Principal, Mount Dora Middle School, was the main speaker at the luncheon, taking as her theme: Black Heritage Firsts -- "Mount Dora and Beyond". Her rousing words brought an enthusiastic response from the audience.
(Above) Among the guests were Amy Bolt, Chair of the North East Community Redevelopment Agency, seen here with Doug Perry, who is a member of the staff of Christian Home and Bible School.
(Above) Guests prepare for the feast
Lunch is served!
(Above)
Guests enjoying the event
Click Here to go to
Black History Page
Mount Dora Historical Society
450 Royellou Lane
PO Box 1166
Mount Dora, FL 32757
ph: (352) 383-0006
mountdor
