Part II
By Nunnie Robinson
Legacy Ball founder Audrey Warren, still on cloud nine after detailing the overwhelming support from the West Park/Carver Ranches community, symbolically passed the mic to Cynthia Strachan-Saunders, but only after Stephanie Bevel extolled Cynthia’s special talent as a historian, which led to her publishing, Promises from the Palmetto Bush, a detailed account of Carver Ranches’ genesis as a community.
Cynthia began by assuring us that this powerful, important and inspiring depiction was unplanned. However, she sheepishly admitted, “ If you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans.” Cynthia said that she moved to the Virgin Islands, traveled extensively, started a very successful singing telegram business, was thriving as an entertainer, a jazz singer, expanded by assuming a clown business left vacant after an individual’s departure because of COVID and was experiencing a great social life with all of its trappings. A Cat 5 Hurricane impacting the island couldn’t compel her to leave. Successful, joyful and content, leaving wasn’t even an afterthought, but God had other plans for her, though she didn’t heed them immediately. After spending seven years in St. Thomas, she moved back home and just out of curiosity began questioning her father and his side of the family about its Bahamian roots. As an only child who didn’t know his father, Cynthia’s dad would often travel with siblings to the Bahamas where she gained invaluable knowledge. Much of what she learned from him pointed back to early settlers in Carver Ranches, piquing her curiosity. The very building that houses the Bowles-Strachan Museum was one of four display homes that her grandmother, Mrs. Evelyn Bowles, purchased. Cynthia’s inquisitive mind and yearning to learn more about her family’s history became entwined with Carver Ranches. One final excursion to Atlanta to pursue personal and professional goals failed miserably, so she returned home humbled, depressed and broke. Perhaps now she was prepared to follow God’s plan for her. Still curious, she found a willing subject in Mrs. Blossie Hale, a robust, staunch and classy woman who had lost much of her physical prowess after being stricken with a serious illness. Cynthia arranged the interview and was shocked to see the drastic physical change and decline in Mrs. Hale, who lay peacefully at home in a hospital bed, and whom Cynthia remembers as a reader or prophetess visited by many in her darkly lit room, which proved foreboding and frightening for impressionable young people.
Surprisingly, the interview went well, once she confirmed who Cynthia was, (Mrs. Hale knew her grandmother) lasting over three hours. Mrs. Hale had a plethora of knowledge regarding the Carver Ranches and its pioneers. There was one problem: Cynthia had only a pad and pencil so retaining all of the information was difficult to say the least. So she sought advice from Kitty Oliver, another local historian who used cassettes tapes to record her subjects. Interviewing became easier after borrowing her brother’s video recorder. Kitty advised that receiving permission to record residential pioneers was paramount from a legal perspective. Needless to say, the primary motivation was simply a burning desire to learn as much as possible about the trailblazers of Carver Ranches. I noted the obvious, genuine passion from all – Stephanie, Gussie, Audrey and Cynthia – for their hometown and wondered where it came from. The very first thing emanating from Cynthia was, “Let’s sing the song. ”Their beloved Carver Ranches Elementary School actually had a school song written by two of their teachers. Cynthia said didn’t even remember the lyrics from her high school song, but she knew these. That revelation speaks to community investment in its children: values that espoused a foundation based on Christian principles, a sound education, parental guidance, personal responsibility and growth, unity and morality. In their own words, everyone knew everybody; this was the village, Black Wall Street. The men even looked out for the young ladies and if they saw strange young men from other areas like Hallandale or Miami, flattening a tire to send a clear message was not beyond the pale. Her mother, seeking the best educational opportunities, sent Stephanie to Nova, a high school with a novice, innovative approach, which she found traumatizing, experiencing an integrated environment for the first time. Stephanie referred to Carver Ranches Elementary as their Seedbed. She further stated that everyone associated with Carver Ranches knew the song because it just pierced their hearts. So the best way to answer my question was to sing the song, which they did with great pride and fervor. I remember my high school song, lyrics and all, but an elementary school having its own was a first for me. Audrey said that she couldn’t remember one word of her school song, but these passionate alums sang the Carver Ranches song at every gathering, reunion or event. Cynthia recalls attending a school board meeting with one agenda item calling for the closing of a charter school located at Carver Ranches Elementary. When given an opportunity to speak, instead of saying something, she just started singing the song and other alums in attendance stood up and sang along with her. It didn’t alter board plans to close school, but that’s just a poignant illustration of their passion. Gussie even remembered the composers: Mrs. Ariental Ware and Mrs. Julia Parks Green, both teachers at the school. Following are lyrics to song:
Carver Ranches Carver Ranches , how we love thee.
We’ll protect thee and we’ll will praise thee all through the years. Carver Ranches
how we love thee, love thee dearly and sincerely, all through the years. You have been our inspiration all through the years.
Second verse:
When we leave these halls of knowledge in future years, we will dearly always lead her
All through the years.
Carver Ranches how we love thee, love thee dearly and sincerely all through the years.
You have been our inspiration all through the years.
The song inspired and Carver Ranches
how we love thee, love thee dearly, and sincerely, all through the years.
The song united all school constituents. Gussie recalls starting grade school at Carver Ranches when she was five years old and in her late 70s, wonders pensively how many years it’s been.
They raved about their principal, Mrs. Susie Daniel, and how strict and stern she was in collaboration with parents. How they had incurred the wrath of a paddle. Audrey remembers being the initiator, always starting things, stirring the pot if you will. She said that she could never lie because her mom had slapped all the lies out of her. If she did something unacceptable or contrary, she readily admitted it. Everyone chuckled at that revelation.