Obituaries

Emma Jean Banks, 1949-2010

The following obituary for Emma Jean Banks was published in the March 13, 2010 edition of the Cumberland Times-News. Among her other activities Emma Jean was a mentor of youth in the community:

INWOOD, W.Va. — Emma Jean Banks, 60, of Inwood, died Thursday, Feb. 4, 2010 peacefully at the home of her daughter after a brave battle against brain cancer. Born Feb. 18, 1949 in Cumberland, Md., Mrs. Banks was the daughter of Theodore Method and the late Agnes Elizabeth (Hurt) Banks.

CARTER E BANKS
March 20, 2000

Carter Edward Banks Sr., 80, of 444 Pine Ave., Cumberland, passed away Monday, March 20, 2000, at Sacred Heart Hospital.

ALAN R ASHBY
October 17, 2003

Alan Richard Ashby, 62, of Cumberland, died Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2003, at Lions Manor Nursing Home.

Ruth Franklin was in the first graduation class of the Frederick Street School, for blacks, in 1923. In 1927 she became the first local teacher hired at that school, which in 1941 became known as Carver High School.

Ruth Franklin was regarded by her supervisor at the Board of Education as one of the most outstanding teachers in Allegany County. Upon the complete integration of Allegany County public schools in 1959 Ruth Franklin relocated to Allegany High School until her retirement in 1966.

Her obituary from the Cumberland Times-News:

Phyllis Virginia Williams, 1919 - 1994

Phyllis Virginia Williams was born on May 24, 1919 in Cumberland, Maryland. She was the daughter of the late William Harris and Dora Massy Harris-Allen.

Virginia was a 1936 graduate of Carver School. At an early age, she moved to Detroit, Michigan, where she met and married George D. Williams, Sr. Virginia worked as many females did in one of the many Detroit factories as the men fought in the war.

Elder J. Lester Clifford, 1912 - 2003

Piedmont, W.Va. Elder J. Lester "Les" Clifford, 90, of 11 Murphy St., Piedmont, died Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2003, at Potomac Valley Hospital. Born March 25, 1912, in Piedmont, he was the son of the late John William and Anna (Washington) Clifford. He was raised by his late aunt, Eliza Washington.

"Baldy" Powell graduated from Allegany High School in 1960. He is the first African American to play on the Allegany football team. Powell was selected to the 1958 All-City team as a Back, and was inducted into the Allegany High School Sports Hall of Fame in 1998. The following article, written by the late J. Suter Kegg, Sports Editor Emeritus of the Cumberland Sunday Times-News, appeared in the Sunday newspaper on December 13, 1998:


"Baldy" Powell again makes Allegany High history