Woman's History Month & Black History Month: JABA celebrates the life of Alice Coleman

March is National Women’s Month. And there is still one more person to celebrate for Black History Month. And so to bridge the two months, I want to share a story from Ginger Dillard, our Director of Advocacy Services, about one of her favorite people that she worked with as an Options Counselor in Louisa.

Alice Coleman, a life-long resident of Louisa County, turned 97 on May 5, 2007 (the time of this short biography). Mrs. Coleman resided in the same house she was born in and the home in which she raised her own children. This delightful woman was the youngest of nine children of William Henry Haynes and Mary Scott, and at this point, she was the only surviving member of her brothers and sisters.

Mrs. Coleman is part of the living history of the Louisa community. She fondly recalled the stories of her life and her family. “My grandfather came to Louisa from Africa, [being enslaved]. He asked his boss what his name would be and the man said ‘You’ll take my name, Haynes. You will be Alexander Haynes’. I never met my grandparents. They passed before I was old enough to remember. My parents told me about them.” Both sides of her family have lived in Louisa as far as anyone knows. Her father hauled lumber and fertilizer with horse teams for a local family. Her mother was a well-known midwife and delivered many children. The last baby she delivered was Mrs. Coleman’s own daughter, Jean.

Mrs. Coleman attended school in a log building next to Philippi Church. “The land for the church and school was donated to the blacks by Dr. Pendleton and his family. I say I graduated from the seventh grade, but I spent the last year looking at a cute boy.” Mrs. Coleman eventually found her true love with her husband, Edward Coleman, from nearby Apple Grove. Edward and Alice moved into her family home to care for her mother until she passed, and Alice lived there until she was 100, much as she always had.

Mrs. Coleman couldn’t say what she thought the most amazing change had been in the world over her 97 years. She said that she always treated people well, and they always treated her well. She had many close relationships with family and neighbors, and they looked after her. Maintaining her independence was the most important thing to Mrs. Coleman. She knew all of her neighbors even those who had only moved to the area recently, after she was unable to leave her house. Everyone had their task. One person checked her mail every day, one did banking, one brought in wood, one picked up groceries, and Ginger didn’t think any of them knew about the others. She had it all worked out. Ginger and her father cut and delivered specially cut small pieces of wood for her because she had what they call a baby bear wood stove, it was narrow and she could not handle wood any larger than that.

JABA provided many services to help her stay in her home, despite all of the challenges. Eventually at 100, she went to live with her daughter. With an entire community returning her caring, she was able to realize her dream of independence. She died in 2013 at the age of 102.

We celebrate Mrs. Coleman for a life well-lived, and her lasting impact on so many in Louisa, and now across JABA.

JABA/UVA "Greenspace Activities for Seniors" Research Project Receives Funding Award

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., March 3, 2021 - The integrated Translational Health Research Institute of Virginia (iTHRIV), a National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded Clinical and Translational Science Award hub, has awarded $80,000 to two Charlottesville community-focused research projects, one by the Jefferson Area Board for Aging (JABA) aimed at studying the benefits of various nature-based activities for seniors.

“Isolation, any amount of time, can negatively impact emotional, physical and cognitive health," says Marta Keane, CEO of JABA. " And the extreme social isolation created by COVID could exacerbate these risks. That's why it is more important than ever to investigate the impact that purposeful nature experiences could have on seniors’ well-being.”

Keane has partnered with Jenny Roe, PhD, director of the UVA School of Architecture’s Center of Design and Health, and Christopher Neale, PhD, to study whether various nature-based activities can lead to improvements in emotional, physical and cognitive health in seniors.

Early research indicates that there are many benefits to using of outdoor space to increase social interactions in a COVID-safe manner.

“We know that interacting with nature – in gardens, in parks, in wilder settings – builds emotional, cognitive, physical and social wellbeing," says Roe. "At a time when so many older people are suffering from lack of mobility and social isolation, our research will help identify what type of nature intervention works best for health and for whom. That is, comparing a physical approach – walking in nature – versus a cerebral approach – engaging in environmental citizen science – versus a nurturing approach – gardening and growing plants.”

Study participants will engage in activities including walking, planting and various “citizen science” projects. The researchers will then evaluate metrics related to contemplative, physical and cognitive health. Keane hopes that the team’s work will have positive effects not only for JABA-service users but also for seniors nationwide.

Read full UVAHealth news story here.

Black History Month: JABA celebrates Elva Key and Waltine Eubanks

JABA is honored to have two long-standing members of our Advisory Committee: Elva Key and Waltine Eubanks. Both Ms. Key and Ms. Eubanks provide wonderful role models of service and commitment to their communities. And we are glad to celebrate them! - Marta M. Keane, JABA CEO

Paul H. Cale Jr. (left) speaks with Waltine Eubanks before a meeting at the Albemarle County Office Building. Credit: Billy Jean Louis/Charlottesville Tomorrow.

Waltine Eubanks

Ms. Eubanks is a product of the Esmont community. She built her life on community service, as exemplified by her great-grandparents, grandparents, and parents. She has always lived in Esmont because she felt there was no other place more outstanding than her home town in Albemarle County.

Education was an important keystone for success in her family. She followed in the footsteps of her grandmother and aunt, graduating from Virginia State College. Ms. Eubanks taught elementary school in Nelson County while going to classes after work, on Saturdays, and summers at UVa to obtain her M.Ed. in elementary education. She taught for 22 years in Albemarle County.

Ms. Eubanks served on the Albemarle County Parks and Recreation Committee, and advocated for a community park in Esmont. She was president of the Southern Albemarle Community Health Advisory Council, which established a community health center in Esmont. As the patient load grew, she helped apply for a federal grant to relocate the center to a larger facility. Since her retirement in 2000, she has volunteered on the JABA Advisory Council for the betterment of “seasoned citizens” (her words).

She continues to serve her community through service hours at Esmont Community Senior Center, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, New Hope Baptist Church, the Community Advisory Council for Southern Albemarle County, and the Slave Descendants of President James Monroe’s Highlands Advisory Council.

Elva Key

Ms. Key is a lifelong native of Fluvanna County and has served from childhood as an active member of Evergreen Baptist Church. Together with her husband, Herman, Ms. Key supported and delivered Meals on Wheels. They also had a vested interest in the Charlottesville Cardinals Wheelchair Basketball Team, providing support at the local games and transportation to games.

She is proud to have worked as a secretary at Central Elementary School during the segregated and integrated school years. During those years, she feels she was able to effectively make a positive impact on children from all races and backgrounds in Fluvanna County. She diligently supported the Toy Drive at the school. Ms. Key, along with the past principal of Central, the late Paul Spraggs, Sr., was honored in 2019 with the naming of the Central Elementary School Auditorium as the Spraggs-Key Auditorium. This is great recognition of the impact she had at the school.

Her influence spread through her church community, teaching Sunday school, singing in the choir and serving as trustee. She has served on local committees and boards to influence changes within Fluvanna County, where her goal has always been to make it a better community for all people. Through her work with the JABA Advisory Council, she has influenced other members in her community to participate in the community senior center. She single-handedly built the attendance at the Kent Store program, often by offering friends rides. She was determined that her part of the county needed services that were closer to home and she made it happen.

Call for Submissions! JABA hosts virtual art show for Older American’s Month

JABA Volunteer Services is hosting a virtual art show and contest for Older American’s Month with the theme Volunteerism: Creating Communities of Strength. Work will be showcased in a virtual gallery and shared during our May Presidential Volunteer Service recognition event for volunteers who have performed outstanding service during 2019-2020.

All members from the community are welcome to submit artwork of all mediums which will be judged by a panel for selection in the art show and first place winners will receive a prize in each category: youth (under 18), adult (18-64), senior (64 and older), or professional artist. Deadline: April 23

Submit you art online here!

Black History Month: Celebrating Mary Williams and Cecelia Epps

Mary Williams 

Mary Williams grew up in Charlottesville and always wanted to be a nurse.  However, being a Black woman, she was unable to attend a college in town to achieve her goal.  So she moved away, got her degree, and had a wonderful career as a nurse.  She loved what she did and who she helped.  She was saddened to not be able to do it in her hometown, for the people she cared about.  When she retired, she moved back to Charlottesville.  And that was when JABA’s and Ms. Williams’ paths crossed and aligned.

JABA was trying to find a space to create a community center in Charlottesville.  And nothing was working out.  Ms. Williams knew that there were many seniors, especially black seniors in Charlottesville, who would benefit from the opportunity to socialize and have a nutritious lunch together.  She organized a group and led a march down Main Street.  She didn’t need to get very far before it caught the attention of the City Council, and all worked together to identify a space for the first center in Charlottesville.  Ms. Williams and her sister enjoyed several years of attending the center.  Ms. Williams was a wonderful leader in advocating for the needs of seniors, both at the community level, and even within the center for the activities that were expanded.

Cecelia Epps 

Cecelia Epps grew up in Nelson County, and married a local gentleman.  Together they became a force for equity for black citizens in Nelson.  Mr. and Mrs. Epps led a group to improve the quality of education for their children.  Initially, they were promised an equal education in the black school.  However as it became evident that this was not really what was occurring, Mrs. Epps’ children have told us that they knew they would be the first children to integrate the school system.  And they were right.  Mr. and Mrs. Epps continued to advocate and were proud, along with other parents, to achieve integration of the schools in Nelson County.

Once her children were raised, Ms. Epps took the position with JABA to provide case management in Nelson County.  She and her “partner” Margaret Morton, who works for MACAA, were often seen driving around the county looking for people who needed their help.  They knew that between the two agencies, and the church groups, there was much they could do, and much that was needed.  Ms. Epps was JABA in Nelson County.  She helped to implement new programs, and she worked closely with the Blue Ridge Clinic. Her retirement brought a gym-full of people to honor her at the Nelson Center.

These two wonderful women made a huge difference for so many in their community, and we are proud to honor them today, and every day with their names on our centers,

Marta M. Keane

Chief Executive Officer

JABA's CEO celebrates Carol Bell and Robert Gest for Black History Month

February is Black History Month. A time to celebrate the achievements of African-Americans and for recognizing their central role in U.S. history. There are so many people to honor, such as Sojourner Truth, W.E.B. DuBois, Langston Hughes, James Baldwin, Ella Fitzgerald, to name a few. There are also people to recognize right here at JABA, including Carol Bell, the Manager of our Health Services Program, and JABA Board member Robert Gest, a retired US Air Force Colonel. Please take time to read their biographies below. - Marta Keane, JABA CEO

Carol Walker Bell

Carol is the Manager of JABA’s Health Services Program, and has been for almost 15 years. She has built the program to provide services at all the community centers and JABA sponsored senior housing sites. And introduced and nurtured the Chronic Disease Self-Management Education program. Carol received her BS in Nursing from A&T State University, Greensboro NC, and her Master of Public Health from UNC, Chapel Hill. She began her nursing career in the US Army Nurse Corp, serving military men and women and their families, and after 5 years was honorably discharged as a Captain.

She went on to be the Public Health Nursing Director for the Tidewater Health District, Portsmouth VA, as well as serving as a public health nurse and supervisor for several health departments in VA. She also held the position of Director of Student Health Services at ODU in Norfolk and at Syracuse University in NY. And has been an adjunct assistant professor in the College of Nursing there. She was Associate Director for Administration and Planning at Brown University Student Health Service, Providence RI.

She shared this poignant moment in her life: “I grew up in Durham NC. When the four students sat down at the lunch counter at Woolworth’s in downtown Greensboro in 1960, I was a senior in high school in Durham. The students at NC College (now NC Central University took up the banner in our city. They recruited high school students to join them to make signs and take turns picketing in front of Woolworth's, Kresse, and Walgreen stores. I raised my hand and thus spent many afternoons after school and on weekends in the basement of St. Joseph’s church, the headquarters, and on downtown streets. In my town the protests were peaceful using the non-violent message set forth by Dr. King. I can only remember minor incidents that were quickly curtailed by the college students who stood close by to watch us and keep us safe. By the summer the dining facilities were quietly opening to all. I will never forget this experience.”

Carol is very proud of being a member for over 50 years of the first inter-collegiate historically African American Greek-letter sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha (colors of pink and lime green, which you will often see Carol wearing). The mission of service to our community and abroad continues. She has often had AKA sorority members help with JABA projects.

Robert Gest III, Ed.D

“Bob” has been a member of the JABA Board for over six years, and collaborated with JABA for many more. He has been a liaison to the Ethical Issues Committee, which recently has focused on Advanced Directives. He has been wonderful in using his contacts to recruit others to this important mission. He also read to 5th graders in an elementary school, as an example of the FISH program. He most recently was the Deputy Director of the Federal Executive Institute (FEI) in Charlottesville, retiring in 2002. Prior to that, he was a senior faculty member at FEI, facilitating adult learning experiences for senior Federal, State, Local and International government executives.

Bob was born and raised in Haines City, FL. He graduated from high school at age 15, as the Salutatorian. He was a campus leader at Livingstone College, Salisbury NC. And was selected Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities, and named National Omega Psi Phi Scholar of the year, and was Valedictorian with Highest Honors when receiving his BA. He is an honor graduate of Syracuse University MBA program and Doctorate in adult and continuing education from Va Tech. After a short stint as a teacher, Bob joined the US Air Force and attended Officer Training School, rising over the next 30 years to Colonel. One of his roles was as Inspector General to the US Air Force Academy.

Bob was not necessarily welcomed by all in his military days. He was a young, smart and ambitious African American who rose to the senior ranks. Bob tells a story about completing boot camp, and having saved his money to buy a hot sports car. As he drove south to his next base assignment, he was stopped by a state trooper in a southern state, because the officer assumed that he must have stolen the car. He was held in jail overnight. Bob reports it made him decide that standing out was probably not the way to go in early 1960 in the south. He has always found ways to win people over and put them at ease, and to demonstrate his skills to succeed in every role he had.

Bob has received the honor of Who’s Who in Black America and National Minority Public Administrator in 2002. Since retiring he has been an active in a variety of volunteer and philanthropic activities. In addition to JABA, he has been a member of the NAACP, the Citizens’ Advisory Committee for the Public Defender’s Office and until recently served on the Piedmont Virginia Community College Educational Foundation Board. In addition to being known as Dr. Gest and Colonel Gest, he is also known for giving moving sermons at his local place of worship.