Joan Elaine Groves Briscoe

Interviewed on April 10, 2004, Joan Briscoe’s family moved from New York to St. Mary’s County following a family tragedy where her brother was killed by a disgruntled teenager. She talks about the schools she attended which include Phyllis Wheatley, Jarboesville, Cardinal Gibbons, and Great Mills. Mrs. Briscoe mentions the “three-sided” house that her father built and the work he did as a licensed electrician. She speaks at length about working with the Court specifically the NAACP to enroll in a white school and the experience attending Great Mills High School specifically with her brother, Conrad. She talks about the integration policy and proceedings with the Board of Education along with the topic of St. Mary’s residents being “indoctrinated in the local ways”. Mrs. Briscoe speaks at length about her parents, specifically her mother, marriage, moving to the Cayman Islands and the importance of education. She concludes with discussing segregation's impact on black people, community activities, and experiences with the church leaders in St. Mary’s County. Interviewed again on August 8, 2007, Joan Briscoe discusses living with her parents William and Rebecca Groves in California, Maryland. There were five children, her father was a member of the NAACP who wanted to help with the integration process. She speaks at length about attending an integrated school from New York to St. Mary’s County and not only her educational experience but her brother, Conrad as well. She talks about her positive experiences with the educational system such as keeping in touch with students and teachers. Mrs. Briscoe expresses her gratitude at being able to attend Great Mills High School and she concludes with hope that children now are taking advantage of the opportunity to get an education. 

Estelle Clayton

Mrs. Estelle Clayton was interviewed on August 3, 2005, by the UCAC. Mrs. Clayton grew up in California, Maryland, with her maternal grandparents, Mr. Joseph Arthur Chase and Mrs. Edith Estelle Biscoe Chase. Ms. Clayton discusses her mother, Ms. Alice Rebecca Chase, and her employment in D.C. and Baltimore. She grew up with her cousins and sister, Ms. Gloria Cecilia McCutchen Kittrell, and discusses playing games with them and dancing. Mrs. Clayton graduated from Jarboesville High School and attended Bowie for College. After receiving her education, she worked as an elementary school teacher for many different schools, including Carver Elementary School and schools in Baltimore City, Prince George's County, and D.C. All of these schools included different challenges in student behavior. Mrs. Clayton raised three children with her husband, Mr. John Solomon Clayton. Throughout her interview, Mrs. Clayton describes how segregation affected her in education, religion, and medical care. She describes the small ways that she and members of her community would resist the adverse effects of segregation. Mrs. Clayton ends the interview by reflecting on how times have changed, noting a difference in children's behavior.

Joseph Curtis

Mr. Joseph Curtis was interviewed on April 9, 1997, and February 18, 2024, for the UCAC. Mr. Curtis was born in Leonardtown, Maryland. His father, John Henry Curtis Sr., ran a car shop, which Mr. Curtis would eventually own. Mr. Curtis would attend Ridge Elementary and Carver Heights for elementary school. Afterward, he attended Great Mills High School before going to Washington, D.C., where he graduated from Lincoln Tech with a degree in automotive technology. Mr. Curtis would work in Alabama before returning to St. Mary’s County to take over the family business, Curtis Tire Center, Inc., located in Lexington Park, MD. Mr. Curtis spends much of his interview discussing the business lessons he learned from his father. Namely, he focused on being a welcoming employer and greeting customers respectfully. He also focused on being honest with his customers, even if it cost the business money. Mr. Curtis hopes to share these lessons with his three children.

Donald M. Barber

Interviewed on September 18, 2004, Donald Barber begins the interview by talking about schooling, Hollywood, Banneker, and St. Mary’s College of Maryland. He was employed at Pathways and then goes on to talk about his parents. He speaks at length about education experiences, siblings’ experiences in segregated schools, experiences in 1960s integration, and the overall impression of an educational experience. He mentions discrimination, integrational relationships, generational struggles, political system importance, and voting. Mr. Barber concludes the interview by speaking at length about his early days at Sotterley, being on the Board of Trustees for the Sotterley Foundation, and the importance of Sotterley being a resource for African Americans. 

Lovell Eugene Grymes & George Thorton Grymes

Interviewed on December 9, 2003, George Grymes was president of Carver School PTA around 1956, he moved to St. Mary’s County in 1946 and began a ministry in 1956. He was president of Carver School PTA during segregation, it was an all-black school, and he was active with the NAACP. He mentions the Groves children being the first two children integrated into Great Mills High School; he recalls stories discussed at the NAACP meetings regarding how these first children were treated during integration. He is asked questions about how the children got along at Great Mills High School, he was also treasurer of the PTA at Great Mills. His son's names are Lovell and Mitchell and his daughter lives in California, he discusses ever being concerned about his children leaving segregated Carver to attend integrated Great Mills. Mr. Grymes speaks at length about community relations, equity in education, and socially on the streets. The interview then switches to Lovell Grymes discussing the desegregation of Great Mills High School, he went to Great Mills High School in 1967 and graduated in 1969. He speaks at length about the different activities he participated in throughout high school and how he has gone to class reunions. Mr. Lovell Grymes concludes the interview by discussing other people to interview and his science teacher Don Magnani.

George Thorton Grymes

Viola Cutchember

Interviewed on June 1, 2002, Viola Cutchember was born in 1932 in Pierson, MD, where the Pax Naval Base is currently located. Mrs. Cutchember attended Patuxent Beach Elementary, a one-room school built by her grandparents where she studied at from 1st to 7th grade. She later attended Jaboesville High School when Patuxent Beach Elementary closed down. Mrs. Cutchember then went on to become a school teacher, attending Bowie State College and teaching at Carver, Park Hall, and Town Creek. Mrs Cutchember recounts that Black History wasn’t taught when she was in school. When she was a teacher in the mid-60s, schools became integrated for teachers first and then for students. Mrs. Cutchember also has a daughter who is a teacher at Oakville, following in her mother’s footsteps despite the poor pay teachers receive.