News & Updates

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Essie Wooten (1915-1996)

Essie Wooten was an inspirational woman born into poverty. Wooten was forced to drop out of high school to take on a $4.00 per week job....

Bobby Grier (1933-2021)

Bobby Grier was a member of the Washington High School class of 1952. He played football and basketball during his time in Massillon,...

Lynn Wilson

Wife, mother, and teacher, Lynn Wilson has been a Massillonian all of her life. She enjoys spending time with family and spontaneous car...

Ella Mitchell

Ella and her sister Thelma would go to work with their mother, emptying trash cans at Massillon City Hospital. She witnessed patients...

Lemmie Gibson (1927-1958)

Lemmie Gibson served in the U.S. Army Air Force for six months during World War II, and was employed at the YWCA. He served as a deacon...

Mattie Fowler (1916-2001)

Mattie Fowler (1916-2001) graduated from Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia, and received her Master of Arts degree in French from...

Beverly Evans Smith

Beverly Evans Smith served as the 26th National President and CEO of Delta Sigma Theta (2017–2021). Daughter of Willa Mae (Dumas) and...

David L. Cargill (1923-2023)

David L. Cargill was born in Ramer, Alabama on March 13, 1923 to Johnnie and Sadie Cargill. He was a member of Friendship Missionary...

Dr. Raymond Ballinger (1902-1979)

Dr. Raymond Ballinger (1902-1979) was a doctor in Massillon for more than 30 years with an office at 18 South Erie Street. Dr. Ballinger...

Dr. Phyllis Furlow Holmes

We had the privilege in 2022 to interview Dr. Phyllis Furlow Holmes during her visit to Massillon to celebrate the posthumous 99th...

Chicola Whitfield

Adding to the list of African American educators in Massillon is Academy Principal at GlenOak High School and former physical science and...

Cheryl Whitfield

Mrs. Cheryl Whitfield has taught for almost 50 years. She received her undergraduate from Wichita State University and graduate degree...

PFC Lamont Douglas Hill (1946-1967)

Massillonian Private First Class Lamont Douglas Hill (1946-1967) served in the United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam War in the...

Minnie Burke Traylor (1941-1997)

Minnie Burke Traylor (1941-1997) was the daughter of Charles and Mary Earley Burke, Minnie graduated from Washington High School in 1959....

Evelyn Provitt (1930-2020)

Evelyn Provitt (1930-2020) was born in Massillon to Alfonse and Lucresie Provitt. She grew up on 13th Street SE with her two brothers and...

Lessie Walker Myricks (1915-2011)

Lessie Walker Myricks (1915-2011) was born on April 9, 1915 in Montgomery, Alabama to the late Lemmon and Lucinda Hogan Walker. At age...

Sherry Crenshaw Jackson

Sherry Crenshaw Jackson was born in 1949 to James and Emily Crenshaw. A 1967 graduate of Washington High School Sherry graduated from...

Patricia Johnson Beane

Patricia Johnson Beane was born in Massillon, Ohio, in 1944 to Eugene and Narvella Johnson. She graduated from Washington High School in...

Evelyn Jane Peterson Edwards (1927-2010)

A 1946 graduate of Washington High School, Evelyn Jane Peterson Edwards worked as a secretary for the Massillon Urban League, and was the...

Lori Lightfoot

Lori Lightfoot was born in 1962, daughter of former Massillon Board of Education member Ann Lightfoot, and Elijah Lightfoot. At...