Lou64JLL

Faith P. Strong

by Lou64JLL | Dec 8, 2024 | Music, People

The Strong Sisters as they appeared on the popular Black Exposure program in 1990.
(Rev. Jean Marie Strong – Ella Strong Capers; on keyboard Faith Strong)

Faith P. Strong – Musician

October 3, 1938 – March 29, 2023

Faith Strong was born in Aliquippa, Pa. Faith was a devoted musician who started studying music at the age of 5. Her studies included piano, organ, voice, arranging and writing. She attended the Conservatory of Music of Bethlehem as a child and continued to grow under her music teacher Miss Fitch of Liberty High School and Mr. Snyder both of Bethlehem, Pa.

At the age of 9, she was the youngest musician ever elected to be voted into a position at Second Baptist Church of Bethlehem, Pa. She played for many choirs during her lifetime, Senior, Mass, Youth and Children’s choirs. She also played for the Community Gospel Chorus of Bethlehem, where the late Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Tarboro were the founders. Also, The Zionett’s and Pearls of Joy of Allentown, St. James AME Zion church choirs founded by the late Mrs. Beth Beville and daughter, Dr. Joanne Spencer.

Many concerts and cantata’s were held for the Central Baptist Association, under Mrs. Esther M. Lee of Bethlehem, PA.

One of the most memorable highlights of her life was when Mr. Tom Morgan organized the 1000 Voice Choir of the 250th Anniversary of Bethlehem Sings asked if she would participate as one of four conductors. She was humbled and honored. She worked for Western Electric of Allentown until her retirement and part of the Pioneers.

She traveled a great deal during her lifetime spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ through music when asked. She assisted her sister, Rev. Jean Strong with her ministry during her pastorate at the 2nd Traditional Missionary Baptist Church in Bethlehem, Pa. from 2003 until 2013 until its closing. Faith also recorded “You’ll Never Walk Alone” with Evangelist Rosie Wallace Brown, First Church of Love, Faith and Deliverance, Philadelphia, PA

She was not only a musician but a singer and song writer. She was a major part of the Strong Sisters recently renamed the “Strong Sisters plus one” when her niece Patricia joined.

Her father, Rev. Eugene Strong Sr., was a well-known baritone singer as well. He held many benefit concerts in the Lehigh Valley.

Rev. Roberts and the Bethlehem Community Civic League

by Lou64JLL | Nov 16, 2024 | Organizations, People

Wakefield Roberts, a North Carolina native, worked with migrant workers in Adams County during the mid-1950s after serving with the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division during the Korean War.

By 1956, Rev. Roberts was transferred to St. John AME Zion Church on Bethlehem’s South Side. After leaving the parish in 1966, Roberts went on to serve as executive director of the Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley, working with Pat Levin, the then executive director of Allentown’s Community Services for Children.

“We are all grateful for his vision,” Levin said.

Roberts would go on to help found the Bethlehem Community Civic League, which strove to eliminate discrimination in housing, employment and education. He also worked with the Colored Voters Association and the Elks.

Esther Lee, then president of the Bethlehem NAACP said Roberts was a visionary who worked diligently to advance race relations in the Lehigh Valley before the civil rights movement drew national attention during the 1960s.

“Roberts always tried to push all of us to be better,” Lee said. “A lot of what we have today would not have been possible without his efforts.”

Elizabeth Farmer Beville

by Lou64JLL | Nov 10, 2024 | Allentown

Elizabeth (Farmer) Beville was the wife of Richard Payne Beville. She was born in Mineral, Va., one of twenty children of the late Mr. John Jasper Farmer and the late Mrs. Dorothy (Coleman) Farmer.

Elizabeth was a member of St. James A.M.E. Zion Church, Allentown. In her faithfulness to God, she taught Sunday School, served as president of the Missionary Society for ten years, Chairperson for the Annual Women’s Day, member of the Willing Workers Society, Church Choir, founder of the Zionettes and the Pearls of Joy Choirs, Church Organist and promoter of the annual “This Is Your Life” Awards Banquet and a recipient of the Rev. H. Taylor Award.

Elizabeth was a past member of the Executive Board of the Allentown Council of Churches and a committee member of the Council’s food program of the Lehigh Valley. She was also the Superintendent of the Buds of Promise Children’s Missionary Society.

Elizabeth’s civic duties included serving as a past member of the Allentown Y.W.C.A. Executive Board and held a present membership at the Allentown Branch, former president of the Allentown Chapter N.A.A.C.P. She was the past and the present Worthy Matron and Treasurer of the Virginia E. Holland Chapter #86, Bethlehem, Pa., member of the Golden Circle of Philadelphia Assembly Chapter #5 and served as a Deputy District Grand Matron of the 4th District, Prince Hall Affiliate, State of Pennsylvania and a volunteer worker for the National Heart, Cancer and Arthritis Funds.

Postcards

by Lou64JLL | Nov 10, 2024 | Articles

(Front Row, L – R) 1. Miss Eva Strong 2. Lucille Lane 3. _______ 4. _____ 5. _______ 6. _______

(2nd Row, L- R) 1. Helen Whitmore 2. Lavinia Lane Lee 3. Ora Harper 4. ______

(3rd Row, L – R) 1. Lillian Taylor 2. Dorothy White 3. Thelma Jenkins 4. Getha Jones 5. Theanoma ____

(Front Row, L – r) 1. Thelma Jenkins 2. ___ White 3. Mrs. Harry McKnight 4. Elray Johnson
5. Mira Bradley 6. M. Armstrong 7. Lillian Taylor

(2nd Row, L- R) 1. William Rohs 2. Louise Tarboro 3. ___ Green 4. ____Bradley 5. ____White 6. Margaret Johnson 7. Rebecca Hatfield 8. ____ Cook

Lane Family

by Lou64JLL | Nov 10, 2024 | People, People Firsts

Abraham Lane b. 1861 – d. 1906
Abraham was Bethlehem’s first black businessman, a well-known caterer and owner of properties in South Bethlehem. He also ran a tea room in the 500 block of Cherokee Street. Abraham had the property at 627 Cherokee Street built in 1890.

Abraham (Abram) Lane was born July 26, 1861, in Piney Grove, Sampson County, North Carolina to Richard and Lavinia (nee Cox) Lane. His siblings were a sister Caroline and a brother Robert. Abraham married Clara Brown in 1885 in Philadelphia. They had nine children, 7 boys and two girls. All were baptized at the Cathedral Church of the Nativity, 321 Wyandotte Street, Bethlehem, PA.

We don’t the means by which he arrived in Bethlehem, but by 1880 or maybe before, Abraham as a young man, was working as a servant for E. P. Wilbur, the industrialist / banker and nephew of Lehigh Valley railroad founder Asa Packer of Jim Thorpe, PA. Clara lived in Jim Thorpe at the time and it is known since Abraham accompnaied E. P. Wilbur on his trips to visit his uncle Asa, that the two met.

Children of Abraham and Clara:
Richard Henry Lane**
b. 1886 – d. ? – Dining Car Waiter
Aaron Faucett Lane**
b. 1887 – d. 1964 – Waiter on ships
Abraham Lane II*
b. 1891 – d. 1970 – Waiter (upstate New York)
William Thurston Lane*
b. 1893 – d. 1977 – Waiter at Hotel Bethlehem
Robert Julius Lane*
b. 1895 – d. 1980 – Waiter at Hotel Bethlehem
Albert Victor Lane*
b. 1898 – d. 1943 – Waiter
Clara Isabella Lane
b. 1899 – d. 1936 – School Teacher, Atlantic City, NJ
Lavinia Lane
b. 1902 – d. 2001 – Cook
Walter Lane*
b. 1904 – d. 1984 – Waiter and Red Cap