Reverend Calvin Ronald Woods

November 8, 1938

He shares that the transition at times was a bit challenging and uncomfortable. “You were kinda new, very new… not too many people I knew came here.” Although his race somewhat marginalized him, Woods was not deterred: “All the things you go through, all the things you experience, prepare you for life.” It is with this tenacity and strength that Rev. Woods overcame the racial or social barriers he encountered.

Transportation to school was not available, so he trekked to school every day. “There was no bus that came here… basically, I walked. It was quite a walk from Saddlertown to Haddonfield. Whether it rained or snowed, you still had to make it.”

Woods’ affinity for mathematics and his love for education allowed him to excel in school. Because he scored well on placement exams, he was enrolled in advanced math courses.

“The love of math started with Mr. Beer here at Haddonfield,” recalls Woods. The Reverend credits his teacher with having a significant role and positive influence in his life. “Mr. Beer actually encouraged me to go to school to be a teacher, understanding my love of math and education.” At this time, Rev. Woods was not sure which path he would choose after high school. He was considering an invitation from his town’s mayor to join the National Guard; however, Beer’s recommendation resonated with him. He recalls that Mr. Beer questioned him about what he would do after his time in the service.

He urged Rev. Woods to think of his long-term future and the marketable skills he would need to have without a college degree. Grateful for the support and vote of confidence, he proudly attended Glassboro State College, which is now known as Rowan University, in the Fall of 1958. He majored in History and minored in English but changed his major because the “love for math stayed with [him].” At that time, Glassboro didn’t have a math major program, so he took additional classes at Rutgers-The State University in New Brunswick and Camden.

After graduating from college, he went on to teach math at Cherry Hill High School for nearly four decades before retiring in 2011. When Rev. Woods was not teaching, he traveled to different states preaching to young people. He once declined a position to serve as pastor for a Black congregation, yet changed his mind when he encountered a small church that could not afford one.

“I was teaching, so I didn’t need the money, so I said OK I’ll serve there.” Acceptance of this position began Woods’ lifelong pursuit to help others and minister messages of his faith.

During high school, he sought socialization in surrounding towns. Although he played many sports and made friends easily, he opted to walk to Lawnside or even Camden after school most days to be part of a community of Black teenagers. The walk to Camden was almost five miles, but he reasoned that the bus would cost ten to fifteen cents. He also recollects that “there weren’t many (African-American) young people'' in Haddonfield, which only added to the fact that there “wasn't much to do.” However, he recalls playing basketball occasionally with friends and HMHS classmates at the “church on Warwick Road.”

Lawnside offered a diversity that Haddonfield didn't have, as well as an abundance of activities, such as dance parties and barbecues. “Down near The Park they had barbecue places…you had this one place you could go and dance, I don’t think it cost anything. I think they made their money by selling sodas and hotdogs and hamburgers—whatever you wanted—while you're there."

Life experiences help him to believe that, “Everyone has gifts and talents and, if you use them to help others, it is never wasted.” As evidenced by his participation in various charity organizations and boards for the underprivi- leged, Rev. Woods has dedicated his life to helping others. This isn’t just charity work for him, this is what he enjoys, what he does for “fun.” Whether it is distributing donuts to a Camden food pantry or offering to “carry out something to the car if it is too heavy [for others] to carry,” his kindness and community contributions were recognized by the Haddonfield Alumni Society in 2019 when he received their Lifetime Achievement Award.

Despite her arrest, Ms. Kirby graduated from Bennett and went on to become a social worker and, subsequently, a Director of Admissions for Bryn Mawr College School of Social Work in Pennsylvania.

TEXT BELOW EXCEEDS 900 WORDS

REPORTERS’ NOTE: Ms. Kirby is a versatile woman with an ex- traordinary life; her personal history illuminates an essential part of Haddonfield, NJ’s and America’s history. Without dynamic and resilient people like Ms. Kirby and her mentor Mrs. Dansbury, who risked everything protesting injustice, vital change would not have happened. Her story should be shared and celebrated.

"All the memorable things about my life were centered around my family," explains Harvey Johnson, a 78-year-old attorney born in Camden, NJ. Today, his home is adjacent to Tavistock Country Club, local townsmen like former mayor Jack Tarditi are close acquaintances, and underprivileged youth are the beneficiaries of his locally led philanthropic efforts.

Harvey Johnson spent his childhood in Lindenwold, NJ. Then, it was a community with approximately ten Black families. He remembers them as an encouraging and supportive group of people who were like an extended family. Mr. Johnson reminisces about how Sunday was a significant day in his house: “It was a holiday for us, a very special day." Family and friends gathered to feast and hear Bible stories that taught about kindness and respect for others. He recites his grandmother’s favorite and most frequent lesson: "If you don't have anything good to say, don't say it at all." Her words have resonated with him and guided his interactions with others.

By the third grade, Mr. Johnson recognized racial disparity and often pondered why white students did not invite Black students to their parties. He recalls that white students would even hand out invitations to their white classmates in front of the few Black students in the school. He admits, "By that time, segregation was presumed to be the right thing by some people." Still, he was marveled by the unfair treatment he received. Despite being socially active, involved in school functions such as serving as class president from eighth to eleventh grade, and being "the star of the football team, captain for two years," he still was not invited to his white classmates' parties. Mr. Johnson also recollects how a local delicatessen near Overbrook High School would give out milkshakes for anyone who scored a touchdown.

"Well, I was the one scoring the touchdowns, and I couldn't go because they didn't serve Black people," he shares. According to Mr. Johnson, “It was the nature of the society" and “true for all of South Jersey." He recalls how segregation made him feel isolated and lonesome, while all he wanted was to feel connected to his school environment.

Throughout his elementary and secondary schooling, Mr. Johnson admits that he had only one African-American teacher—a substitute teacher. He recalls signing up to "look at a vocational school," but the partially disabled substitute from Lawnside insisted, "You don't want to do that. You want to go to college."

Mr. Johnson credits her as one of the most supportive people in his life for encouraging him to follow his passion. He reflects, "It is something to have someone from your own race supporting you."

Inspired by Rosie Miller, former president of the Lindenwold NAACP, to “protect and improve the lives of Black people,” Mr. Johnson studied law and became an attorney. His life's work has been dedicated to helping others. Johnson expresses, "I never wanted to be a selfish person, looking out for only me. That doesn't help you grow at all."

Mr. Johnson was fortunate to be athletically gifted enough to earn a scholarship to the University of Delaware where he helped lead the football team to a division championship. President Joseph R. Biden and, now retired, New Jersey Supreme Court Justice John Wallace were classmates. Subsequently, he went to the University of Pennsylvania Law School where he wrote a paper about using tax incentives to alleviate poverty, which captured the imagination of scholars as well as influentials and was submitted to Harvard University Press for publication.

Because of his own experiences with poverty and racism, Mr. Johnson believes that too few African-American adolescents have sufficient resources and opportunities to help them achieve their dreams. Following college and law school, he set out to pro- vide equal access and opportunity.

He revisited Camden and became president of the Black People's Unity Movement. Under his leadership, this organization was successful in revitalizing the community with the development of corrugated box and pallet factories and three Burger King restaurants. His companies thrived, and he encouraged other Black entrepreneurs to go into business for themselves.

Now, in his Golden Years, Mr. Johnson often reflects on and enjoys singing along with the lyric of a popular Mahalia Jackson hymn:

If I can help somebody, as I travel along (the way)

If I can help somebody, with a word or song

If I can help somebody, from doing wrong

No, my living shall not be in vain

EDITOR’S NOTE: Mr. Johnson’s mother Carrie O’Neil and her sister Pleasant O’Neil are Haddonfield Memorial High School alumnae.