10 Education


PPS Superintendent Named Honoree of CCIA


Bracy has been selected as the honoree in the field of education.


“This is a tremendous honor,”


Bracy said. “I am humbled to be recognized at an event


highlighting


the historic work of Dr. King, and I am grateful to the CCIA’s leadership for including me in this year’s selection of honorees.”


Bracy joined Portsmouth Public Schools in 2015, bringing with him more than 20 years of experience as a guidance counselor and school administrator.


Dr. Elie Bracy, III BY PORTSMOUTH PUBLIC SCHOOLS Portsmouth Public Schools


Superintendent Dr. Elie Bracy, III has been named an honoree of Church and Community in Action (CCIA) for the organization’s Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast, which will be held Monday, Jan. 20, 2020.


Annually, CCIA breakfast uses the


legacy while also highlighting “the service and commitment


to honor King’s life and of our


leaders in the community who make a compelling difference within our city, community and in the lives of our citizenry.”


Bracy


In his tenure as Superintendent, has led


Dr. Bracy expanded Portsmouth Public


Schools to a sharp increase in school accreditation from 6 of 19 testing schools to 14 of 19 accredited. In addition,


classroom opportunities for students throughout the city. He increased career and technical education programs that prepare students for industry-level jobs right out of high school. He also helped expand a dual enrollment program called


First College, in partnership


with Tidewater Community College. The CCIA Martin Luther King,


Jr. Breakfast will be held Jan. 20, at 8 a.m., at the Edmonds Center (2714 Frederick Boulevard, Portsmouth VA).


Volume 14 Number 3


Mary Christian good education.


FROM PAGE 1


She graduated from Phenix High School in Hampton in 1941; received her Bachelor of Science in Education, Hampton Institute, 1955; M.A. in Speech and Drama, 1960, Columbia University; and Ph.D., Michigan State University, 1967 according


to the


Barrett-Peake Foundation website. In all


maintained Heritage


her endeavors, Dr. C. a sense of community.


As part of that work, she founded the Barrett-Peake


Foundation


in 2013 “whose mission is to preserve African American Heritage, to upgrade and secure signage for historic cemeteries,” according to the foundation


website. Dr. Christian’s


advocacy and activism did not slow down as she aged, thus displayed by her community service, when in May “she helped organize a cleanup of an historic African American cemetery in downtown Hampton, “according to the Daily Press (Newport News, Va.)


Dr. Christian began her lengthy career in academia at


Aberdeen Elementary until her


as a teacher School


with Hampton City Schools from 1955-1960, then ultimately


the Dean of Education at Hampton University


retirement. Her


decision to delve into local politics was successful as she ran for and won a seat on the Hampton City School Board of Education in 1973. She has been touted as the first African American woman to serve on the board.


A proponent of education for all,


including students with disabilities and the underserved, Dr. Christian entered the state political arena, and in 1985, ran for a Virginia House of Delegates seat and won. “She was the first African American female since reconstruction to win a delegate seat and represented the 92nd district, city of Hampton for nine terms—from 1986-2004,” according to her foundation website.


One of her longtime friends,


W. Ross Boone of Suffolk, Virginia, described Dr. Christian like this-- “Dr. C., Mary, Mrs. Christian was a beautiful human being.” During our telephone interview her friend, colleague, and coworker, Mr. Boone said, “she was an unforgettable person, someone you would never forget.” He first met Dr. Christian at Hampton Institute around


1968 and remained a friend for more than 50 years. Dr. Christian was his boss and he worked with her for more than 10 years, but felt more like a part of her family instead. He explained that part of her personality was to “embrace everybody, no matter what their condition; she was an amazing person and never lost sight of a way to help someone.” Toward the end of


became


our conversation, Mr. Boone said that everything that I had read or heard about her was true, “she was a dynamic personality. She was a servant for, and to the people. I thank God for bringing her into my life.”


diligence


As a testament of Dr. Christian’s for


her Delegate Jeion Ward,


causes, Virginia current 92nd


district delegate, issued the following statement upon learning of her death: “She was my predecessor, my Soror, and my friend. Dr. Mary T. Christian was the epitome of a phenomenal woman. Her incredible work, not only in the House of Delegates but as a humanitarian touched many lives….”


and political acumen reached to the heights of federal


as


Her tenacity, focus on education, government


well. In a press release, Virginia U.S. Senator Tim Kaine said, “there was no greater champion for education than Delegate Mary Christian. While we are saddened by her passing, we can celebrate the amazing life Dr. C. lived and her tireless advocacy on behalf of her constituents and students.”


The Hampton University family


were recipients of Dr. Christian’s longtime activism for her students and alma mater. Hampton University President, Dr. William


R. Harvey


said, “Dr. Christian has always been an outstanding lady, colleague, academician, alumna,


administrator, leader, legislator and friend. She


was loyal and supportive of Hampton University, her alma mater, up until the very end.” Dr. Harvey continued his remarks by saying he “will personally miss this kind-hearted, effective and productive lady.”


Among the plethora of honors


and accolades Dr. Christian earned and received during her lifetime are the


Mary T.


following: Naming of the Dr. Christian Auditorium and


Theatre, dedicated in 2003, on the Thomas Nelson Community College, Hampton


Campus; Resolution of


Hampton City Council, December 13, 2006; and establishment of the Dr. Mary T. Christian Scholarship Fund at Hampton University.


Dr.


Christian was a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. A pillar of the community is how many residents of Virginia have defined her public service; she leaves a vacuum in the community.


passing, her second husband, Wilbur Bernard


two


Dr. Christian leaves to mourn her Christian,


daughters


and a sister. At press time, a funeral service was tentatively scheduled at the Hampton University Convocation Center for Monday, November 18, 2019.


December 2019


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