Dr. James W Washington Jr. & Mrs. Janie Rogella Washington Foundation Newsletter MAY/JUNE 2021

DR. JAMES W. W ASHINGTON JR. & MRS. JANIE ROGELLA W ASHINGTON FOUNDATION CULTURAL ARTS

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COMMUNITY & CREATIVITY

NEWS & INFORMATION FROM THE FOUNDATION BOARD Volume 3 P Issue No. 3 P MAY/JUNE 2021

FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

REV. DR. LAVERNE C. HALL

Mothers & Fathers are traditionally celebrated during May and June. The Washington Foundation believed it to be appropriate to feature not only James and Janie Washington, but two of their dear friends, the Honorable Justice Charles Z. Smith and his lovely wife Eleanor Martinez Smith.

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n this issue, we share the story of James and Janie, their beginning as husband and wife which led to the birth of the Dr. James W. Washington Jr. and Mrs. Janie Rogella Washington Foundation in 1997.

While they were married in 1943, their’s is a love story that is forever. It is a story that gives sparkle to creativity. It is a story that invites community. It is a story of inclusiveness. It is a story that seemingly is very quiet, but speaks lovingly, quietly, bold and loud, inviting, and in unison all in the same breath.

Both tall, dark, good-looking as if they were both chiseled and colored from the same stone by none other than the hand of God. They spoke the same language at the same time, using their “Triple Sight” hindsight, foresight and insight for everyday living as well as to plan and map their future, even after their death. Triple Sight is my definition of their mutual creativity and support based on their spirituality. They were both very spiritual beings who believed in a higher power GOD. This higher Power, they believed was available to all. James often said, “That the Spirit was Universal, free to all, and that the Spirit spoke to him through the stone.”

Not only did they both read the Bible, but James also read all the great philosophers and theologians, such as Plato, Socrates, St. Augustine and more. Their book collection exceeds 2,000 books in their personal library; everything from George Bernard Shaw to ancient Bibles, to art subjects, medical books, novels and narratives, Black History, ancient histories.

They loved each other as one; they loved their community which was the world. Their Triple Sight led them to discuss and make each decision as one. Early on they decided to save everything, from paper to little notes, photographs, scrapes of paper, ephemera for their collections and museum.

Legal advice from the then Justice Charles Z. Smith and others, led their love story to the Seattle Historical designation of their home sight in 1992 and in 1997, the establishment of the Dr. James W. Washington Jr and Mrs. Janie Rogella Washington Foundation: their after-life.

This is the very short brief story of their love story. His story was published in 1989 in the *Spirit in the Stone.

There is another unpublished manuscript in the early stages of editing. Mrs. Washington’s story is in the beginning stages of research and preparation for writing and publication.

After brief illnesses, they were both deceased in 2000. James went first and prepared a place for his lovely wife, who followed him just a few months later. * Out of print; copies may be available at Smile Amazon

ANIE was born in Henderson, Texas to the late Freeman Miller and Daisy Cameron Miller, on March 28, 1908. She was the first of twelve siblings. She was educated in the public schools in Overton, Texas and attended Texas College for three years.

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James and Janie met and were married in Little Rock Arkansas, March 29, 1943. They lived there for two years, then moved to Bremerton, Washington where she worked in the Naval Shipyard. After a little while, they moved to Seattle, bought their home at 1816 26th Avenue and united with Mount Zion Baptist Church. She was a Sunday School teacher for more than 40 years. Janie worked at Rhodes department store for two years.

Education-minded, Janie went to school at Broadway Edison taking typing, English, some math and some short hand. She became employed at the public health hospital as a ward clerk.

Then started to school again, taking a practical nurse course. Then transferred to the nursing department at the Veteran’s Administration hospital and worked there for about twenty years until her retirement.

MAY NATIONAL NURSES MONTH

SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS MOUNT ZION BAPTIST CHURCH, SEATTLE WA

JANIE’S NURSING WEAR

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reeting and Blessings to the Friends of the Dr. James W. Washington, Jr. and Mrs. Janie Rogella Washington Foundation (The Washington Foundation).

We have navigated through this very trying and challenging 2020 and are thankful to be able to tell our stories.

Kudos go to our Executive Director and volunteers who continued their work during the long pandemic year. Although we are in a storm, we welcome you to continue this journey with us as we strive to keep the Washingtons’ dream alive.

Mrs. Elma Horton Board Chair

Continuing their dream, we continue our ONE Million Dollar campaign and encourage each of you to contribute to this campaign. Very simply, with your help, one million people will give $1.00 or more and then ask each of your friends to give $1.00. This can be done. Each board member has given $1.00 and will ask their friends to “Please give $1.00 to the Washington Foundation.

Of course, you may give more than $1.00. Let us unite as ONE and fulfill the goal for Dr. James W. Washington, Jr. and Mrs. Janie Rogella Washington.

A SPECIAL INVITATION . . . Please join our 2021 ONE Million Dollar Charter Contributors. Yes, your contributions are tax deductible. They will allow the Washington Foundation to broaden community outreach and collaborations . . . they will help us continue our Washington Young Laureates Program, restoration of the Fountain of Triumph, expansion of the Artist in Residence Program to include writers, restoration of the backyard greenhouse and front and back landscaping, and more.

Just give us a call at 206-709-4241 for more information. Let us add your name to our ONE List.

Mrs. Elma Horton, Board Chair Jessie Attri ! Monette Hearn ! Sadiqua Iman ! Carmen Jones ! Edwin Morris ! Henry Smith Jim Yearby ! Rosemary Young ! Glen Youngblood

Join the Carousel of ONEs. . . to let us add your name . . .

Rev. Dr. LaVerne C. Hall, Exec, Dir.; Mrs. Elma Horton, Board Chair; Jessie Attri ! Gloria & Edwin Morris; Paris Williams ! Jim Yearby; Rosemary Young ! Glen Youngblood; Mr. Anon; Thomas F. Bangasser, Pastor Robert Britten, Patricia & Jerome Butler; Victor & Victoria Butler; Nancy Chang; Brenda Charles Edwards; Minnie Collins; Marjorie Cottoms; Cutie Kitten; Pastor Micah Daniel; Esther Ervin & Al Doggett; Lindsey Engh; Zane Fitch & Sharon Rose Fitch; Winston Fitch & Victor Fitch; George & Christine Foster; Kieran & Paige Foster; LaWayne Charles Foster; Dorothy Gourdine, Miriam Gourdine, Erica Hale; Sadiqua Iman; Yvonne Jenkins; Carmen Jones; Outlaw Kandyce; Rev. Dr. Victor C. Langford III; Harold Lincoln; Gail Marino; Tamika Moseley; Maura Salamah O’Brien; Sam & Sophie O’Brien; Guy Punt; Merlin Rainwater; Annie Riggins; Sara Semitic; Rev. Dr. Linda Smith; Robert Stevens; Lana Sunberg; Callie Vallall; Linda Watson; Annie Williams; Clara Williams; Freddie Williams; Gracie Williams; Lamar Williams; Gazelle Williams; Lee Wright; Virginia Wyman.

MAILING ADDRESS: PO BOX 22952, SEATTLE WA 98122 ALL CONTIBUTIONS, FINANCIAL & INKIND ARE TAX-DEDUCTIBLE

WELCOME NEW DR. JAMES W. WASHINGTON JR & MRS. JANIE ROGELLA WASHINGTON BOARD MEMBER SADIQUA IMAN Trained in musical theater, dance, poetry, body percussion and song writing, but full scale traditional storytelling was passed down to me from many generations of healers, teachers, and artists. Sadiqua has expertise in programs, marketing, community outreach, social media, and public relations. Her goal is to raise awareness among a younger audience and to utilize the space for creative projects and healing arts work.

JESSIE ATTRI Board Member Ill for several months, we continue to keep Jessie in our prayers, praying for her speedy recovery.

Henry Smith, Board Member shown in the living room of the historical Washington home, is in the process of editing the unpublished works of Dr. Washington.

THANK YOU TO OUR VOLUNTEERS

HAROLD LINCOLN Linc’s General Contractor LLC All things big and small Around the Washington House

CHRISTINA REED, Artist Cataloging more than 1000 Washington slides

THE HONORABLE JUSTICE CHARLES Z. SMITH (1927-2016) Washington Stat Supreme Court Photo by Josef Scaylea

Personal friend of James & Janie Founding President of the Washington Foundation Author of the Foreword Poems of Life by James W. Washington, Jr. Extracted from the Foreword: In the year 1911 it came to pass that in Gloster, Mississippi the Reverend James W. Washington and his wife, Mrs. Lizzie Morris Washington, welcomed the birth of their son, James W. Washington, Jr. I do not know when they became fully aware of his genius. I do not think it would surprise them that he would become celebrated throughout the world as a sculptor, a painter, a humanist and a scholar. . . . . Even in ordinary conversation, my friend, James W. Washington, Jr., speaks with the voice of a poet. His choice of words, his syntax and his subject matter - at times esoteric to the point of being mystical have made me wish I could see those words in writing.

ELEANOR MARTINEZ SMITH (ELIE) Wife of the Honorable Charles Z. Smith A Charter Member of the Dr. James W. Washington Jr. & Mrs. Janie Rogella Washington Foundation.

Retired from the Washington Foundation, her contributions to the Washington Foundation cannot be measured. She served unconditionally, over and above the offices that she held. She did everything from cleaning to sorting. Her voice and her presence were unmatched.

James and Janie knew who to invite to be founding/charter members of their vision. The hands and hearts, time and talents of the Smith Team were a must.

Thanks very much Charles and Eleanor!

The Washington Foundation • PO Box 22952 • Seattle WA 98122 VISION OF THE WASHINGTONS’ Through the art, philosophy, and life stories of Dr. and Mrs. Washington, the Foundation endeavors to illuminate the bond between creativity and spirituality by emphasizing the universal wholeness seeking expression through everything. This wholeness, synonymous with what we mean when we say God, has the power to bring stone to life. # # #

Depository for his collections - art and books A setting [the home, studio, and gardens] where one can grow beyond the book, spiritually and artistically A desire to share his legacy with the public

For Information, questions, comments, and contributions contact Dr. James W. Washington Jr & Mrs. Janie Rogella Washington Foundation (The Washington Foundation) 1816 26th Avenue

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P PO Box 22952 P Seattle WA 98122 206 P 709-4241

James and Janie Washington Cultural Center