The Life and Legacy of Hazel Armbrister

(Left to Right) Cathleen Deen, Mrs. Hazel Armbrister, Novice Johnson and Linda Houston Jones.

Personal Reflections

By Novice Johnson

There is a historical void in Northwest Pompano Beach and Broward County. Mrs. Hazel Armbrister is now sharing her wealth of history in her heavenly home. When I thought about writing this piece, I said, there is no need to reprint the obituary; I will just write about Hazel from a different perspective. She came from very humble beginnings and never met a challenge or obstacle that she could not take head on. So many things have been written about her accomplishments as a mother, teacher, civil rights activist, and preserver of history, the awards, and accolades she received.

Perhaps her most recent and prized accomplishment was when she single-handedly saved the ALI Building from demolition in Northwest Pompano. When I asked her why it was so important to save that building, she said, “Novice, that building is more than just a broken-down place. It carries so much rich history, and I want little girls and women from our community to know who Florence Ali was and what she accomplished right here in our community in Pompano Beach in a time of segregation and there were little to no women business owners. And If I must fight this battle alone to save this building, then I’ll fight it.” Right then and there, I knew Hazel Armbrister was a woman of conviction and passion. I was talking with Senator Perry Thurston one day and I said, Perry, Mrs. Armbrister wants me to go to this meeting and join this committee and that committee, and he laughed and said, Well Novice that’s Mrs. Armbrister – you can’t say no.”

As she fought her battles in the community with dignity and grace, there were those moments that showed her cunning humor. Her daughter Lydia Armbrister Wilson tells this story. “Momma would take me on road trips, sometimes up to north Florida. We would always eat at Howard Johnson’s because they did not segregate. She would look across the room and say, look at Mary and Suzy. Just over there talking about who knows what. They knew they had better get back to work. Then, when we would leave, Momma would wave at the people as if she knew them. This went on for years until I realized Momma was making up stories and characters for the fun of it all! However, as I reminisce you know another fond memory was when my mother would go buy Easter and Christmas dresses for Anita and me and we got matching everything. Momma was a stickler for us being lady-like!”

Vice Mayor of Pompano Beach Beverly Perkins was somewhat of a surrogate Goddaughter of Mrs. Armbrister. They fought side by side, as Mrs. Armbrister would mentor Perkins. The two were very strong personalities but would always leave each other’s presence with respect one for another. Perkins says, “I remember Mrs. Armbrister ran for State Representative and she asked me to be her campaign manager. We went to a big event hosted by the Democratic Party. I said Hazel, look there is Bob Butterworth, let us go say hello. She replied, he knows me. I saw the governor and said well, let us go over there, she said, he knows me too. I said but Hazel, we have got to work the room, and she said I just don’t see why because they all know me.” Perkins said feeling a little defeated, “I said well what did we come for, and Hazel just laughed and said because we needed to be here.”

Many people worked with Mrs. Armbrister on the Rock Road Historical Restoration Committee. Once again, she wanted the history of Northwest Pompano Beach preserved. Willie Brown, a member of the Pompano Beach Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi said,” Mrs. Armbrister and I served on several Boards of Directors. One was Sunshine Health Center located in Golden Acres in Pompano Beach, Fla. I was about 25 years old at the time and new to the Healthcare industry. Mrs. Armbrister guided me and helped me to understand what the real mission was:  to endure and keep this facility open to provide quality healthcare to those in need and the indigent. Up until her death, we served on the Board of Directors for Rock Road Historical Society. She was the President and I served and Vice President. Rock Road was near and dear to her Heart. She was very passionate about the preservation of our culture and legacies our culture and legacies within the City of Pompano Beach. I know that I have been molded and shape by her genuineness to serve Mrs. Armbrister and I served on several Boards of Directors. One was Sunshine Health Center located in Golden Acres in Pompano Beach, Fla. I was about 25 years old at the time and very new to the Healthcare industry. Mrs. Armbrister guided me and helped me to understand what the real mission was, to endure and keep this facility open to provide quality healthcare to those in Need and the indigent. Up until her death, we served on the Board of Directors for Rock Road Historical Society. She was the President and I served as Vice President. Rock Road was near and dear to her Heart. She was very passionate about the preservation of our Culture and Legacies within the City of Pompano Beach. I know that I have been molded and shaped by her genuis-to serve. Many worked with Hazel Armbrister and learned along the way. Willie Brown- Kappa Foundation of Pompano Beach Vice President – was one of those people.

Linda Houston Jones of Ashanti Cultural Arts says she watched Armbrister as people would come asking for her endorsement for this thing or that. “I remember Hazel would ask them, who are you and who are your people? What are you asking me to do, and what is your mission? She would then take a few minutes to contemplate and then she would say, let me think this over for a few days and I will get back with you. “Jones said Armbrister was a wonderful force to be reckoned with.

Where do you begin to tell the story of Hazel Armbrister, and where does that story end? There are so many who have stories that are not in this article, so many with memories and good tears. Where will we find another to take her place on The Broward Historical Commission or in Pompano Beach? One thing is certain: her legacy will live on because she has passed us the baton in Northwest Pompano Beach, and it is our turn at bat!

Thank you Mrs. Armbrister for not only telling us our history, but also teaching us to pass it on.

About Carma Henry 24481 Articles
Carma Lynn Henry Westside Gazette Newspaper 545 N.W. 7th Terrace, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33311 Office: (954) 525-1489 Fax: (954) 525-1861

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