Ray Olive Jackson Clarke, Kaitlyn Greenidge

Description

Ray Olive Jackson Clarke was born on Putnam Avenue, between Nostrand and Bedford, in 1938. Her parents owned their home, and she recalls that her mother bought the house to be closer to her mother, who lived on the same street as the family. Ms. Clarke still lives in the house she was born in, which is located at 98 Putnam Avenue. Ms. Clarke attended PS 3, the Bedford School, which was located on Bedford Avenue between Hancock and Jefferson. Her mother also attended the school. Ms. Clarke graduated from Girls High School, after attending PS 3. She had one sister, who was twelve years older than her. Ms. Clarke reports that her grandmother was born in Brownsville, East New York section of Brooklyn and her grandfather was born and lived in Catskill, New York, Green County, before moving to Brooklyn. Her grandmother attended Bridge Street Church and her grandfather went to Concord Baptist Church. Ms. Clarke’s family was a member of St. Phillip’s Episcopal Church: she recalls participating in moving the church from its location in Weeksville to MacDonough Street in the 1940s. She also recalls that her grandmother would talk about friends who lived in Weeksville: but her grandmother died before Ms. Clarke was able to ask her their names. Ms. Clarke recalls that either her great-grandfather or grandfather (it is unclear which) was originally from Virginia. A white man named Nathaniel Montgomery Harris, he supposedly changed his last name to ‘Jackson’ in order to marry a Native...

Record Contributed By

Weeksville Heritage Center