City of Fort Lauderdale dedicates Dixie Court Building in honor of Black Pioneer Ivory Mizell

City of Fort Lauderdale dedicates Dixie Court Building in honor of Black Pioneer Ivory Mizell

Ivory Mizell was one of 14 Mizell siblings who were raised by Isadore and Min-nie Mizell. He was a successful businessman who owned and operated Mi-zell’s Photography Studios along Northwest Sixth Street now known as Sis-trunk Boulevard during the hay day of commerce beginning in the late 1930’s.

By Charles Moseley

On Friday August 10, 2012 at 1 p.m., the City of Fort Lauderdale will soon be unveiling the newly named Ivory W. Mizell Community Center at Dixie Court in honor of his me-morable legacy. The ceremony will take place in Building 930. Ivory Mizell worked as the property manager at what was formerly known as the Dixie Court Projects from 1940 to 1951.

Ivory Mizell was born on July 2, 1912, the second child of 14 children born to Isadore and Minnie Mizell. The Mizells were among a select group of African American pioneers who help build the African American community in Broward County. The Mizell children never forgot their roots, built upon a strong foundation which put God first, then family and stressed education. These proved to be the keys to success which served them well for generations to come.

Some of the Mizell clan became doctors, some became lawyers while others entered the ministry or educational profession. Still other Mizell siblings inherited their entrepreneurial gene from the family patriarch, Isadore.

The elder Mizell was one of Broward County’s first African Americans to own and operate his own on farm. Isadore also had a very successful career in the construction industry and was known most notably for building the first “Colored School “in Dania. He also built St. Ruth’s Baptist Church there also.

The Mizell Family is one of the most accomplished and historical families in Broward County. Ivory Mizell exemplifies what being a Mizell stands for.

He graduated from More-house College with a degree in theology and became an assistant minister at First Baptist Piney Grove Church. He spent sometime in New York City before returning to Fort Lauderdale where he opened up the Mizell Photography Studio on Sixth St. (Sistrunk Boulevard) in 1938.

He married the former Vera Glass. The couple had two daughters, Lorraine, who own’s and operates Ivory’s Take Out and her sister Myrtis now deceased.

“I feel great pride in the recognition and hoped that the day would come when the Dixie Court Project would bear my father’s name. This event mark’s the many years of his dedicated service that he devoted to our community,” said Mizell.