NEWS

On Sunday, November 17, Davidson’s newest street, Annie Lowery Way, was officially dedicated in a ceremony that recognized the life and legacy of Mrs. Annie Mildred Mayhew Lowery. Mrs. Lowery is nearly 97 years old and a lifelong resident of Davidson.

The dedication was held at the corner of the newly named Annie Lowery Way and Jetton Street at Parkside Commons (the former Hoke Lumber site). A large crowd attended the event, including family members, local officials, and many friends and neighbors. The ceremony featured warm remembrances and anecdotes, poetry, singing, as well as the reading and presentation of three Proclamations written for the occasion.

The Reverend Etheleen Jetton of Arms Wide Open Ministries was actively involved in planning and organizing Sunday’s ceremony. Reverend Jetton said that despite the very large extended family in attendance, many from out of town, she and a small number of others had managed to keep the details of the event a secret.

As emcee for the event, but also as a close friend of the family, Reverend Jetton glided back and forth between formal and familial. “It is difficult to remember to call her Annie Mildred Mayhew Lowery,” joked Jetton. “I call her Momma Lowery or just Momma.”

The dedication of Annie Lowery Way comes after “about two years of effort, starting in Raleigh,” said Reverend Jetton. Jetton and others pursued the street name as a way to honor Lowery’s significant contributions to the community.

The crowd gathered for the ceremony. (Photo by Bryan Hall.)

The street-naming process began when Reverend Jetton was invited to a meeting with one of the developers of the Hoke Property, Jacob Anderson. Anderson was in the beginning stages of planning the development. Reverend Jetton offered her assistance. Anderson asked Reverend Jetton if she could write down the names of the people in the neighborhood and what they did for their neighbors. Annie Lowery’s name and legacy were a perfect fit for a prominent connector street in the new development.

Reverend Jetton spoke about the historical importance of Davidson’s Westside as a strong community and a force for good. “Get to know your neighbors,” she said. She recalled moving to Davidson from Huntersville in 1996. Her young family was selected to be the new owners of the first all-brick Habitat home built in town. Her family was embraced by the community right away. She remembers that Annie Mildred Lowery was always checking on neighbors, often driving around with a car loaded full of food, offering groceries to anyone who might have a need that day. Jetton remembers thinking, “This lady is just amazing.”

A granddaughter of Annie Mildred, Christina, presented an original poem celebrating her grandmother’s strength as a leader and a role model. “My grandmother has always been a noble woman of her word, creating a path for others to follow. Today, we gather to give her the flowers she deserves, while she is here.” Mrs. LaGretta Neal, one of Annie Mildred’s daughters, released a bright bouquet of balloons as part of the dedication.

Town Commissioner Tracy Mattison Brandon appeared at the ceremony on behalf of Mayor Knox and the Davidson Board of Commissioners. Commissioner Brandon read and presented three separate citations honoring three remarkable sisters: Evelyn Mayhew Carr, Daisy Mayhew Raeford, and Annie Mildred Mayhew Lowery.

The three sisters have been pillars of the Davidson community, acting as leaders, visionaries, and nurturers. Their individual and combined accomplishments, recited in the three proclamations at the ceremony, demonstrated to all in attendance that the Town of Davidson has been forever changed for the better because of their lives and work.

The first proclamation read honored the late Evelyn Carr, who passed away in December 2023. The proclamation noted that Evelyn was a lifetime resident of Davidson, and that she and her husband Orlandis had raised nine children. While raising her family, Evelyn worked for Davidson College and General Time. She was instrumental in creating the Lakeside Housing Development, the first neighborhood for African Americans living in Davidson, and for helping to raise federal funds to build the Lakeside Apartments.

Further, Evelyn served as a member of Common Grounds Community Committee, the Police Advisory Committee, and the Stakeholders Committee for Westside planning. She also helped organize the Neighborhood Youth Corporation, the first summer recreation and employment program for African American children and teens in Davidson. Commissioner Brandon then presented Evelyn’s eldest child, Bo Carr, with the signed, bound proclamation and a bouquet of flowers.

Next, Commissioner Brandon read a proclamation honoring Daisy Mayhew Raeford. Daisy Raeford attended the ceremony, smiling from the front row of guests. The proclamation stated that Daisy a pillar of the community who was integral in helping with her late husband’s James’s business ventures, from property management to neighborhood retail establishments, to the renowned Raeford’s barbershop on Main Street. Additionally, Daisy is an active, dedicated member of her church, Gethsemane Baptist.

Over many years, Daisy was a “constant companion to countless children in the cafeteria at Davidson Elementary school.” Still active in the community, Daisy is the chair of the Davidson African American coalition, promoting positive relationships between African Americans and the Davidson community, and actively volunteers for Legacy on the Westside.

Commissioner Brandon then presented the signed proclamation and a bouquet of flowers to Daisy Raeford, who rose to thank everyone. She kept her words brief, but she conveyed the idea of imparting truths through stories and history. Raeford told the crowd that it is important to “tell the story, the real story, and to get it straight.”

The third and final proclamation was reserved for the day’s central honoree, Annie Mildred Lowery.

The official proclamation stated that “Annie Mildred Mayhew Lowery is a lifetime resident of Davidson’s historic Westside, and one of eight children born to Johnny and Minnie T. Mayhew.” She married her late husband Louis Gene Lowery in October of 1946 and the couple had seven children. While caring for her family, she worked at Davidson college and later Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools.”

 “She served as the first president of the Community Development Association, and she is a lifelong member of Davidson Presbyterian Church. Annie was instrumental in working with the Town of Davidson to lease the closed Ada Jenkins school property, which later became the Ada Jenkins Center, helping members of our community create lasting solutions for economic stability.”

Because Annie Mildred, at 96 years of age could not attend Sunday’s event, her daughter, Mrs. Brenda Johnson of Charlotte, spoke on behalf of the family to share stories about Annie Mildred.

Johnson began by saying, “My momma has already written her story. Her story has already been told. Everybody who knows my momma– and if they know God, they know my momma–white, black, blue, green, they all love her.”

Johnson said her mother had never closed a door on anyone and taught her children to be active in their community. Johnson said that her mother always told them, “Get up and do something. Don’t just talk about what happened, or what’s going to happen. Do something!”

As for her advocacy, Johnson indicated that Annie Mildred was known to be formidable. When she would talk to the town leaders, sometimes it would be a hard conversation about how things were going, or not going. Johnson said that Annie Mildred would tell the mayor and other town officials “exactly how she felt, and they would be almost chewing nails.” But at the end of the conversation, Annie Mildred would always say, “Ok, I’m finished. Have a good day. I love you!” And then she would be off and about her business.

Johnson told the crowd that she remembers that all seven of the children “had the big black bags to carry around Davidson to clean up these streets.” It is well known that Annie Mildred started an important town tradition of getting Davidson’s neighborhoods, white and black, together to help clean up and improve Davidson. Starting as a six-day “clean-up event,” the tradition grew in popularity and participation until it gradually morphed into Town Day.

In closing, Johnson thanked everyone for coming out to honor her mother. She then encouraged guests to come by and visit with Annie Mildred. While Annie Mildred couldn’t be physically present at the ceremony, Johnson said that her mother was just a few streets over, in her home, resting.

“Go ahead and stop by. She’ll be glad. She’s laying down now, but when somebody steps in that door and says, ‘Mildred, I’ve come to see you,’ she’ll be up on her feet, and she’ll dance for you.” The crowd laughed and applauded.

The ceremony closed with members of the family joining together to sing a beautifully harmonized version of a family favorite, “(Don’t Forget) Your Family Prayer.” Then family members, all dressed in red, proudly posed for a large family portrait under the new street sign bearing the name of their matriarch, Annie Mildred Lowery.

Editor’s Note: former Davidson resident Bryan Hall came to town for the ceremony and graciously allowed us to share his photos of the event. A full gallery of his photos can be found here.