Alicia Jones

My story

I came to Lewes DE originally in 2005 and bought a house on Pilottown Road which took two years to knock down* and build. At the time, Theresa, Owen's sister suggested Lewes as a place of retirement, and it was thought she would be moving here also.

In 2015 we moved here full time after retiring at 70. I noticed immediately that I saw no Black people: in the streets or even behind the counters. I joined the Episcopal Church as a latent Episcopalian, and met a group of friends.* However, I missed the sounds of gospel music so went on to attend the two remaining Black churches: Friendship Baptist and St. George AME.

This is where my story really begins. After trying to find my way through retirement, I saw an article in Friendship Baptist Church's outside bulletin board, requesting that W. Fourth Street be renamed Dr. Martin Luther King Drive 18 months ago. Since I noticed no change in this nearby street, I asked Rev. Edwards what was the outcome, and was sad to learn that he was still awaiting a response. Here began my letter writing career as I was incensed with the lack of response. I went on to write many other letters on different racial issues which can be found under my name in the Cape Gazette. As a result, I became quite active and joined the following organizations and clubs:

• Sunshine Circle Club
• Community Liaison Committee
• Community Budget Oversight Committee
• Community Resource Center
• Southern Delaware Alliance in the following committees:
     • Education, Book, Film and Events as well as started Community Resources.
• St. Peter's Book Club
• Renee Kenner Book Club
• Cape Henlopen High School Revised Code of Conduct
• Under SDAR] worked on the Charlotte King Scholarship, Paraprofessional scholarship, workshops and recognition of Black students as well as workshops on Black history and the beginning of Community resources which listed K-12 books for Black parents and a source for book reports, along with a list of African American Inventions.
• Started the African American Achievement Awards published in the Cape Gazette.
• Began Open Houses/Meet Ups in 2018 to promote diversity and networking.
• Joined a luncheon group for Black Women
• Johnnie Walker Beach Pamphlet

As a result of one activity, the library of reading books for grades K-12 (choices for teachers and students writing book reports - inspired by my cousin Ryan Williams), I discovered that my Godmother, Lillie Paterson, had received the first Coretta Scott King Book Award which inspired me to start my own 501c3 charity.

After COVID in 2024, I began to renew my interest in travel, and

at age 79, began to focus on my own projects:

• Current Projects
• Honorary Renaming of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Way
• Relocation of the Net Reel
• Little Library focusing on Black student reading at Friendship Baptist Church
• Application for Obie Evans - State marker for the second Black man to be lynched near Smyrna, Delaware