About Us
The Havre de Grace Colored School, established in 1912 in Maryland, was crucial for African American education during segregation.
The HdG Colored School offered primary and secondary education to Black students, despite limited resources and inequities. The school was a community center and produced many successful graduates. It operated until public schools were desegregated in the mid-20th century and now stands as a historical landmark reflecting the African American community's struggles and achievements in Harford County.
The HdG Colored School Foundation is a nonprofit organization run by a dedicated group of volunteers committed to preserving the rich history of the HdG Colored School.
.png)
 |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
 |  |  |
Executive Team
Ms. Patricia D. Cole
President
Occupation: Federal Government Employee and Retired Army Colonel
Professional Experience: A transformational leader with more than 40 years of federal service, with extensive managerial and leadership experience in senior-level positions. Demonstrated expertise in leading diverse organizations, fostering teamwork, promoting workforce engagement, and advancing inclusive workplace environments.
Education: Aberdeen High School, Class of 1977; Bachelor of Science, Morgan State University, Baltimore, Maryland
Havre de Grace Colored School (HdGCS) Affiliation: Her father, Mr. Bernard J. Cole, was a graduate of Havre de Grace Colored High School, Class of 1949.
Memberships & Affiliations: Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.; NAACP Life Member; Morgan State University Life Member; Hosanna School Museum Board Member; and Fraternal Order of Police, Washington, D.C.
Awards & Recognition: 2018 NAACP Community Service Award; 2019 Allen Hillard Legum Humanitarian Award; and 2019 Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Iota Nu Chapter Citizen of the Year Award.
Ms. Leslie Williams
Vice Presidnet
Occupation: Federal civil service employee, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD.
Professional Experience: 12 years as Biological Laboratory Technician as a Department of the Army Civilian. Duties included testing and evaluating equipment to be fielded to soldiers along with various scientific research projects.
Education: Southern High School, Baltimore, MD; Associates of Applied Science,
Baltimore Community College, Baltimore, MD.
HdGCS Affiliation: Mother, Mrs. Constance I. Ridgley Williams, was a graduate of HdG Colored High School, class of 1951. Father, Mr. Joseph P. Williams, Sr., was a
graduate of HdG Colored High School, class of 1951.
Memberships & Affiliations: Board member of the HCSMCC.
Ms. Brenda James
Secretary
Occupation: Retired Federal Government Employee (Audit Director)
Professional Experience: Nearly 40 years of leading, conducting, and reporting to the U.S. Congress on the results of audits of Federal programs—defense, health, justice, transportation, and law enforcement—while working for the Government Accountability Office, Department of Transportation, and Office of Management and Budget.
Education: Master of Business Administration, University of Maryland, College Park, 1981; Bachelor of Science, Business Administration, Bowie State University (BSU), Bowie, MD, 1974; Havre de Grace High School,1970.
HdGCS Affiliation: Father, Mr. Bernard L. James, was a graduate of the HdG Colored School, Class of 1946.
Memberships & Affiliations: Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.; NAACP Life Member; BSU Life Member; and Secretary of the Montgomery County Chapter of the Bowie State University National Alumni Association, Inc.
Ms. Jordan Dodson
Treasurer
Occupation: Federal Government Department of the Army Civilian.
Education: Goldey-Becom College, class of 2017. Graduated with a bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Information Technology.
Memberships and Affiliations: Board member of the HCSMCC
Mrs. Yulonda Garvette Jackson
Financial Secretary
Occupation: Government Contractor, SharePoint Developer
Education: Largo Senior High School, Largo, MD; Morgan State
University, Bachelor of Science; Strayer University, Master of
Business in Contracts and Acquisitions; Strayer University, Master
of Public Administration
Membership and Affiliations: Member of Harford County Alumnae
Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and NAACP Cecil
County. Member of Working for the Advancement of Women in the
Government (FEW).
Mrs. June Conley
Assistant Treasurer
Occupation: Federal Government Employee
& Retired Military
Professional Experience: Servers as Lead Budget and Management Program Analyst for a Federal government agency with more than 21 years of executive level experience. Duties include the day-to-day management of the formulation, programming, execution on more than $38.5M in operations and maintenance resources. Specialized certifications include: Level I “K” Business – Financial Management (3/22/2013), Level II “K” Business – Financial Management Certification (8/29/2013), Contracting Officers Representative Course (06/24/2007), and Information Assurance Security Officer Certification Course (05/30/2007)
Education: University of Maryland University College, Master’s Degree, Business Administration; Troy State University, Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice; and Pierce College, Associate in General Studies, Technology
Memberships and Affiliations: Member of Harford County Alumnae
Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and Order of Eastern Stars.
Board Members
Dr. Iris Leigh Barnes
Board Member
Occupation: Curator of the Lillie Carol Civil Rights Museum, Baltimore, MD
Professional Experience: More than 30 years of experience as a museum curator
Education: Aberdeen High School Class of 78, BS Degree Temple University, Master’s Degree Morgan State University, Doctorate Degree Morgan State University
HdGCS Affiliation: Brothers attended HdG Consolidated, Class of 1961
Memberships & Affiliations: Appointed by the Governor of Maryland to the MD Commission on African American History and Cultural, Executive Director, Hosanna School Museum, and board member to the Harford County Preservation Committee
Mrs. Turshandah Cole
Board Member
Occupation: Federal Government Department of the Army Civilian and retired military.
Education: Biloxi High School Class of 87, Biloxi, MS, BS and Master’s Candidate, University of Maryland, University College
Occupation: Government Employee & Retired Military
HdG CS Affiliation: Father-in-law, Mr. Bernard J. Cole, was a graduate the HdG Colored High School, Class of 1949.
Memberships & Affiliations: Harford County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and the Order of the Eastern Stars
Ms. Sheryl Coleman
Board Member
Occupation: Retired Federal employee
Professional Experience: More than 44 years of management experience as a Department of the Army Civilian
Education: Graduate of HdG High School; Harford Community College, Associate of Arts Degree, and University of Maryland University College, Bachelor of Science Degree
Memberships & Affiliations: Federally Employed Women Lifetime Member and 10-year member of the City of HdG Street Traffic and Safety
Mr. Emil Cromwell
Board Member
Occupation: Retired Educator from Catholic Charities of Baltimore, Maryland, MD
Professional Experience: More than 54 years of management and training experience as an educator and motivational speaking trainer/coach
Education: HdG Consolidated School in 1961, BS Degree Maryland State College (University of Maryland-Eastern Shore), Master’s Degree in Elementary Education from City College of New York, post-graduate studies at Coppin State College and Morgan State University
HdGCS Affiliation: Father, Mr. Horace Elkins Cromwell, was in the first graduating class HdGCS, the Class of 1932, and grandfather, Mr. Abel Francis Cromwell, served as the grammar school principal for more than 30 years
Memberships & Affiliations: Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Iota Nu Chapter, and the University Maryland Eastern Shore Life Member
Dr. Corey D. Erby
Board Member
Occupation: Retired educator, Harford County Public Schools, Vice President, The Eleganza Company, restaurant management, and an ordained and licensed minister and chaplain.
Professional Experience: Extensive experience in education, business management, hospitality, and ministry.
Education: Attended Havre de Grace High School, Harford Community College and University of Maryland, and First Nations Church Seminary
Havre de Grace Colored School (HdGCS) Affiliation: Great Aunt, Ida Coleman, first graduating class (1932) of the HdGCS, Grandfather, William H. Coleman Sr., Grandmother, Eloise Jenkins Coleman
Memberships & Affiliations: First Nations Ministries Region 3, District 5 South Atlantic District Council; American Legion Post 128; Sons of the American Legion Squadron 128 (Chaplain); Sons of the American Legion Board of Directors Squadron (3rd Vice Commander); Lexus Owners Club of Maryland; Mid Atlantic Lexus Club.
Mrs. Janice Grant
Board Member
Occupation: Retired Educator — Elementary, Secondary, College, and Alternative Education
Professional Experience: Educator, civil rights activist, missionary, and ordained minister with extensive domestic and international service. A former Peace Corps volunteer in West Africa, she also served as a missionary in Africa, Europe, Asia, and the United States. A civil rights activist since 1955, she participated in and organized marches, sit-ins, and voter-registration drives and played an active role in the desegregation of Harford County Public Schools. She later served as President of the Harford County NAACP.
Education: Havre de Grace Colored School, Class of 1951; B.S., Bowie State University; M.A., University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA); M.S., Texas Southern University; graduate studies in Biblical Studies and Ministry, including studies at the University of Liberia.
HdGCS Affiliation: Student, Class of 1951; former teacher at Havre de Grace Consolidated School and Harford County Public Schools.
Memberships & Affiliations: Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., Omicron Chi Zeta Chapter; former President, Harford County NAACP.
Mr. Robert "Bobby" Parker
Board Member
Occupation: Professional photographer, retired factory employee and Vietnam Veteran
Professional Experience: More than 60 years experience as a trained photographer with demonstrated newspaper and print media marketing expertise.
Education: HdG Consolidated School, class of 1962, and photography school, New York.
Memberships & Affiliations: Purple Heart recipient, Havre de Grace High School Hall of Fame, Negro League Baseball Association Member, member of the NAACP and St. James A.M.E. Church
Ms. Lenora Robinson
Board Member
Occupation: Retired Harford County Government, Community Resource Liaison official
Professional Experience: A community ombudsman and a 30-year owner and entrepreneur of “The Eleganza Company,” which provides classes on charm, etiquette, self-development, impromptu speaking and modeling techniques to young men and womenrandson.
Education: HdG Consolidated School, class of 1965- College; BA Degree & MBA (Bowie State & Strayer University); and Flair Modeling School, class of 1989
Memberships & Affiliations: NAACP/ Harford County, Black Youth In Action (BYA) and President of BYA Adults, United Negro College Fund Soroptimist International, St. Patrick Advisory Committee, St. Patrick Lector (35yrs) and Wedding Consultant (10 yrs.), African American Catholic Ministries, Phoenix Festival Theater Advisory Committee, Who’s in Executive Women 1996, Harford Cable Network Advisory Board, Greater Washington Society of Anesthesiology, the New Democratic Club, Harford County Government Children’s Council, Harford County Citizens Review Panel (Certified Case Reviewer) Achievement Counts/Harford/ Cecil County, Life member of Harford County NAACP, 10 yr. member of Zeta Phi Beta Omicron Chi Zeta Chapter of Harford County, Executive Board Member of The Havre de Grace Colored School Foundation,