About Us
The Havre de Grace Colored School, established in 1912 in Maryland, was crucial for African American education during segregation.
The HdG Colored School offered primary and secondary education to Black students, despite limited resources and inequities. The school was a community center and produced many successful graduates. It operated until public schools were desegregated in the mid-20th century and now stands as a historical landmark reflecting the African American community's struggles and achievements in Harford County.
The HdG Colored School Foundation is a nonprofit organization run by a dedicated group of volunteers committed to preserving the rich history of the HdG Colored School.
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Executive Team
Ms. Patricia D. Cole
President
Occupation: Federal Government Employee and Retired Army Colonel
Professional Experience: A transformational leader with over 40 years of Federal Service. Exceptional managerial ability and experience at various senior-level positions. Expert knowledge and experience of administering and fostering teamwork, workforce engagement and inclusiveness.
Education: Aberdeen High School Class of 1977, BS Degree Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD
Havre de Grace Colored School (HdGCS) Affiliation: Father, Mr. Bernard J. Cole, was a graduate the HdG Colored High School, Class of 1949.
Memberships & Affiliations: Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., NAACP Life Member, Hosanna School Museum Board Member, Fraternal Order of Police, Washington DC; Morgan State University Life Member; 2018 NAACP Community Service Award, 2019 Allen Hillard Legum Humanitarian Award recipient, and 2019 Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.Iota Nu Chapter Citizen of the Year award recipient.
Leslie Williams
Vice President
Occupation: Federal Civil Service as Executive Visits Coordinator, Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD.
Professional Experience: 12 years as Biological Laboratory Technician as a Department of the Army Civilian. Duties included testing and evaluating equipment to be fielded to soldiers along with various scientific research projects.
Education: Southern High School, Baltimore, MD; Associates of Applied Science,
Baltimore Community College, Baltimore, MD.
HdGCS Affiliation: Mother, Mrs. Constance I. Ridgley Williams, was a graduate of HdG Colored High School, class of 1951. Father, Mr. Joseph P. Williams, Sr., was a
graduate of HdG Colored High School, class of 1951.
Memberships & Affiliations: Board member of the HCSMCC.
Ms. Jordan Dodson
Secretary
Occupation: Federal Government Department of the Army Civilian.
Education: Goldey-Becom College, class of 2017. Graduated with a bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Information Technology.
Memberships and Affiliations: Board member of the HCSMCC
Board of Directors
Dr. Iris Leigh Barnes
Board Member
Occupation: Curator of the Lillie Carol Civil Rights Museum, Baltimore, MD
Professional Experience: More than 30 years of experience as a museum curator
Education: Aberdeen High School Class of 78, BS Degree Temple University, Master’s Degree Morgan State University, Doctorate Degree Morgan State University
HdGCS Affiliation: Brothers attended HdG Consolidated, Class of 1961
Memberships & Affiliations: Appointed by the Governor of Maryland to the MD Commission on African American History and Cultural, Executive Director, Hosanna School Museum, and board member to the Harford County Preservation Committee
Mrs. June Conley
Treasurer
Occupation: Federal Government Employee
& Retired Military
Professional Experience: Servers as Lead Budget and Management Program Analyst for a Federal government agency with more than 21 years of executive level experience. Duties include the day-to-day management of the formulation, programming, execution on more than $38.5M in operations and maintenance resources. Specialized certifications include: Level I “K” Business – Financial Management (3/22/2013), Level II “K” Business – Financial Management Certification (8/29/2013), Contracting Officers Representative Course (06/24/2007), and Information Assurance Security Officer Certification Course (05/30/2007)
Education: University of Maryland University College, Master’s Degree, Business Administration; Troy State University, Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice; and Pierce College, Associate in General Studies, Technology
Memberships and Affiliations: Order of Eastern Stars
Mrs. Turshandah E. Cole
Board Member
Education: Biloxi High School Class of 87, Biloxi, MS, BS and Master’s Candidate, University of Maryland, University College
Occupation: Government Employee & Retired Military
HdG CS Affiliation: Father-in-law, Mr. Bernard J. Cole, was a graduate the HdG Colored High School, Class of 1949.
Memberships & Affiliations: Harford County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and the Order of the Eastern Stars
Ms. Sheryl Coleman
Board Member
Occupation: Retired Federal employee
Professional Experience: More than 44 years of management experience as a Department of the Army Civilian
Education: Graduate of HdG High School; Harford Community College, Associate of Arts Degree, and University of Maryland University College, Bachelor of Science Degree
Memberships & Affiliations: Federally Employed Women Lifetime Member and 10-year member of the City of HdG Street Traffic and Safety
Mr. Emil Cromwell
Board Member
Occupation: Retired Educator from Catholic Charities of Baltimore, Maryland, MD
Professional Experience: More than 54 years of management and training experience as an educator and motivational speaking trainer/coach
Education: HdG Consolidated School in 1961, BS Degree Maryland State College (University of Maryland-Eastern Shore), Master’s Degree in Elementary Education from City College of New York, post-graduate studies at Coppin State College and Morgan State University
HdGCS Affiliation: Father, Mr. Horace Elkins Cromwell, was in the first graduating class HdGCS, the Class of 1932, and grandfather, Mr. Abel Francis Cromwell, served as the grammar school principal for more than 30 years
Memberships & Affiliations: Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., University Maryland Eastern Shore Life Member
Mr. Corey D. Erby
Board Member
Occupation: Retired, Harford County Public Schools; Vice President, The Eleganza Company; Ordained Minister
Professional Experience: Retired Educator, Harford County Public Schools, Vice President, The Eleganza Company, Restaurant Management, and an Ordained and Licensed Minister and Chaplain.
Education: Attended Havre de Grace High School, Harford Community College and University of Maryland, and First Nations Church Seminary
Havre de Grace Colored School (HdGCS) Affiliation: Great Aunt, Ida Coleman, first graduating class (1932) of the HdGCS, Grandfather, William H. Coleman Sr., Grandmother, Eloise Jenkins Coleman
Memberships & Affiliations: First Nations Ministries Region 3, District 5 South Atlantic District Council; American Legion Post 128; Sons of the American Legion Squadron 128 (Chaplain); Sons of the American Legion Board of Directors Squadron (3rd Vice Commander); Lexus Owners Club of Maryland; Mid Atlantic Lexus Club.
Mrs. Yulonda Gravette Jackson
Board Member
Occupation: Government Contractor, SharePoint Developer
Education: Largo Senior High School, Largo, MD; Morgan State
University, Bachelor of Science; Strayer University, Master of
Business in Contracts and Acquisitions; Strayer University, Master
of Public Administration
Membership and Affiliations: Member of Harford County Alumnae
Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and NAACP Cecil
County. Member of Working for the Advancement of Women in the
Government (FEW)
Ms. Brenda James
Board Member
Occupation: Retired educator-elementary, secondary, college, and alternative education
Professional Experience: Served as a tutor and adult educator in many states and countries. Domestic and international experience began as a Peace Corps volunteer in West Africa. Duties included teaching local nationals to read and write and establishing TV and radio connectivity. Served as a missionary in Africa, Europe, Asia, and the United States and taught locals sewing and provided instruction regarding establishing a small business. From 1955 to present, served as a civil rights activists in Maryland, Mississippi, Tennessee, Texas, and Alabama and organized successful marches, sit-ins, and voter-registration drives. Served as the Harford County NAACP President and was instrumental for the desegregation of Harford County public schools. Currently serves as a minister to inmates in Harford and Baltimore County and provides tutoring to youth and adults.
Education: HdGCS class of 1951, BS Degree Bowie State University, Bowie, MD; MA Degree University of California at Los Angeles UCLA; MS Degree Texas Southern University, Houston, TX; MA Degree University of Liberia, Monrovia, West Africa Ministry of Biblical Studies and Ministry, ordained minister. GWWM of School of Biblical Studies and Ministries
HdGCS Affiliation: HdGCS student, Class of 1951, and HdG Consolidated teacher
Memberships & Affiliations: Member of Zeta Phi Beta Omicron Chi Zeta Chapter of Harford County, and former President of the Harford County NAACP.
Mrs. Janice (Moorehead) Grant
Board Member
Occupation: Retired educator-elementary, secondary, college, and alternative education
Professional Experience: Served as a tutor and adult educator in many states and countries. Domestic and international experience began as a Peace Corps volunteer in West Africa. Duties included teaching local nationals to read and write and establishing TV and radio connectivity. Served as a missionary in Africa, Europe, Asia, and the United States and taught locals sewing and provided instruction regarding establishing a small business. From 1955 to present, served as a civil rights activists in Maryland, Mississippi, Tennessee, Texas, and Alabama and organized successful marches, sit-ins, and voter-registration drives. Served as the Harford County NAACP President and was instrumental for the desegregation of Harford County public schools. Currently serves as a minister to inmates in Harford and Baltimore County and provides tutoring to youth and adults.
Education: HdGCS class of 1951, BS Degree Bowie State University, Bowie, MD; MA Degree University of California at Los Angeles UCLA; MS Degree Texas Southern University, Houston, TX; MA Degree University of Liberia, Monrovia, West Africa Ministry of Biblical Studies and Ministry, ordained minister. GWWM of School of Biblical Studies and Ministries
HdGCS Affiliation: HdGCS student, Class of 1951, and HdG Consolidated teacher
Memberships & Affiliations: Member of Zeta Phi Beta Omicron Chi Zeta Chapter of Harford County, and former President of the Harford County NAACP.
Mr. Robert "Bobby" Parker
Board Member
Occupation: Professional photographer, retired factory employee and Vietnam Veteran
Professional Experience: More than 60 years experience as a trained photographer with demonstrated newspaper and print media marketing expertise.
Education: HdG Consolidated School, class of 1962, and photography school, New York.
Memberships & Affiliations: Purple Heart recipient, Havre de Grace High School Hall of Fame, Negro League Baseball Association Member, member of the NAACP and St. James A.M.E. Church
Ms. Lenora Robinson
Board Member
Occupation: Harford County Government, Community Resource Liaison official
Professional Experience: A community ombudsman and a 30-year owner and entrepreneur of “The Eleganza Company,” which provides classes on charm, etiquette, self-development, impromptu speaking and modeling techniques to young men and womenrandson.
Education: HdG Consolidated School, class of 1965- College; BA Degree & MBA (Bowie State & Strayer University); and Flair Modeling School, class of 1989
Memberships & Affiliations: NAACP/ Harford County, Black Youth In Action (BYA) and President of BYA Adults, United Negro College Fund Soroptimist International, St. Patrick Advisory Committee, St. Patrick Lector (35yrs) and Wedding Consultant (10 yrs.), African American Catholic Ministries, Phoenix Festival Theater Advisory Committee, Who’s in Executive Women 1996, Harford Cable Network Advisory Board, Greater Washington Society of Anesthesiology, the New Democratic Club, Harford County Government Children’s Council, Harford County Citizens Review Panel (Certified Case Reviewer) Achievement Counts/Harford/ Cecil County, Life member of Harford County NAACP, 10 yr. member of Zeta Phi Beta Omicron Chi Zeta Chapter of Harford County, Executive Board Member of The Havre de Grace Colored School Foundation