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Speaking, uh, Mrs. Gray. Uh, I'm gonna ask you some personal data first, and, uh, I also, I'd like to thank you for coming and thank you on behalf of a number of people, you know, for your participation. Thank you for asking me. So if you will

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sort of tell me your maiden name and where you were, uh, born, I will start there. My maiden name is May Evelyn Hudson, H U T S O N, and I was born in Jackson, Tennessee. OK. And when did your family, uh, come to Kansas City?

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Uh, my family did not move to Kansas City. I came to Kansas City after marrying a United Methodist minister, uh, and he was assigned to a church here in Kansas City. I grew up in Jackson, Tennessee, went to college there and then to graduate school in

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Atlanta, where I met my husband. Well, can you tell me something about your parents? My parents, uh, I am the daughter of a preacher and a teacher. My father was a CME minister and my mother was a teacher. And one of the best teachers I've ever

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known. And we grew up in the days of segregation in Jackson, Tennessee, and it's so interesting. She taught me, my sister, and my brother. That to prepare ourselves so that we could market our skills anywhere in the world. I thought that was a very brave woman

00:02:02.339 - 00:02:21.009

in the throes of segregation, but she really meant that. Now when you went off to college, uh, and you, uh, had an opportunity to, to meet your husband there, yes, I, I went to college in Jackson, Tennessee at Lane College, and after college I went to

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Gammon Theological Seminary for a master's degree in Christian education, and that's where I met, uh, C. Jarrett Gray. And what was his background? He grew up in Texas, uh, and had joined the ministry, gone into the ministry at a very early age and after college, he

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went to uh Gammon Theological Seminary and we were both there the same year. And met that year. And uh then you came to Kansas City after he completed uh his work at the seminary. Uh, he was assigned as an associate minister at Centennial United Methodist Church

00:03:08.660 - 00:03:36.309

under the pastorate of Reverend EL McAllister in those days. And you remember those, the years for those days. Oh, that was 1947, 1947 and we were actually there a matter of months. Uh, now, uh, 47, Uh, and Centennial is, uh, in what is now called the

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18th and Vine Historic District. It's in that district, yes, and, uh, that makes it a very historic church. Indeed it is, uh, 100 years old this year. Uh, could you tell me something about the church membership and maybe that whole area, uh, at this time or

00:03:55.000 - 00:04:15.889

back then. As I am not uh, a member of that church. My membership is at Saint Andrew United Methodist Church, but, uh, we frequent Saint, uh, Centennial quite often. Uh, the membership is growing, but most of the membership I knew in the early years, many of

00:04:15.889 - 00:04:43.750

them have gone, but they were good citizens, strong citizens of the community, and they had, uh, wonderful opportunities for church and for cultural activities that they've sponsored at the church. So the church, uh, under the pastorship of your, um, husband, uh, it was, uh, sort of

00:04:43.750 - 00:05:12.089

a, uh, institution in the community with many activities during his pastorate, yes, or his pastorate was from 1964 to 1973. It was indeed, uh, a part of the community. Interestingly enough, while he was minister there. The church started presenting Handel's Messiah. And for about 37 or

00:05:12.089 - 00:05:34.559

39 years, they have continually presented that each December. And that is quite a cultural affair in Kansas City. Now when you all came to Kansas City and he was assigned to uh Centennial of the Church, uh, what, uh, was your career going to be or you

00:05:34.559 - 00:05:51.679

thought it would be and, and how did you, uh, come to fall in love with Kansas City? Well, I admired Kansas City. You want to know, I really admired. The people and the trees in Kansas City. I just thought the trees were most beautiful, but we

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were here too long for me, too short of a time for me to make a decision of what my life's work would be. We were actually here from June till October of that year, and my husband was moved to a church in Little Rock, Arkansas. Well,

00:06:12.350 - 00:06:35.649

now, uh, how did you become associated with Penn School? With pardon? with uh Penn School in Westport. Oh, after, uh, a pastorate in Little Rock, my husband was returned to Kansas City to pastor Saint Andrew United Methodist Church when it was located at 24th and Trust.

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And it was there, while during those years, we were there 5 years that I, uh, made an application to become a teacher in Kansas City because I had 3 small children then and I wanted to do something where I would have holidays and days that I

00:06:56.010 - 00:07:18.380

could share with them. And I was sent to Penn School. That was my very first job. And that was an interesting experience, but what a wonderful learning experience it was. There were only 2 full-time teachers at Penn School in those days. I had 1st, 2nd, and

00:07:18.380 - 00:07:42.630

3rd grade. And you can imagine that as a beginning teacher. But, and the principal had 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th grade. She was a teaching principal. In the afternoon, kindergarten children came in because they had added to the two-room school building. An L-shaped room that doubled

00:07:42.630 - 00:08:10.059

as a cafeteria. Where children were served lunch and then after that, The children, kindergarten children came in for an afternoon session. And uh you remember some of the uh classes um you were teaching? I remember quite well, uh, the children were, I thought, outstanding children because

00:08:10.500 - 00:08:32.869

they were eager to learn and I really enjoyed and evidently they knew I was a beginning teacher and so they were very kind to me, but those children learned to read. And they learned to do many, many things quite well. An interesting thing came here about

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4 or 5 years ago. I got a letter from one of the students who had been in my class. She lives in Fulton, Missouri. And the letter says that uh in Fulton, each month they have what they call a teacher feature, and she was featured that

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particular month. And she sent me the paper clipping, clipping from the paper. And she was asked the question, how early did you know you wanted to be a teacher? She said, I knew when I was in the 2nd grade that I wanted to be a teacher.

00:09:13.869 - 00:09:41.270

She said, my teacher, Mrs. May Gray. Made every child in that room feel as though he or she was the most important person. In the room. What a compliment. What a statement. Now, Mrs. Gray, um, Uh, what was the, uh, Uh, sort of relationship with teachers

00:09:41.489 - 00:10:02.729

and parents at this time. I thought the parents were very supportive. I got to know the parents of the students there and of course the the principal and I and the kindergarten teacher were very supportive and worked very well together. Do you remember um where maybe

00:10:02.729 - 00:10:20.929

some of the uh parents worked and what their jobs were? I'm not sure that I recall exactly what their jobs were, but some of the parents did work, but for activities and for any reason they needed to come to school, they were there and very supportive

00:10:20.929 - 00:10:40.969

of their children and of what we were doing at the school. Now, uh, Westport, uh, at that time and now is surrounded by, um, what we might call the white community. Uh, were there any white students at Penn school? No, no. You see, this was back

00:10:40.969 - 00:11:07.340

in the 50s before uh the Brown versus the Board of Education. And Penn School was among the very first schools to close after the decision, the Brown decision, and we closed, I think, in 1955. And do you recall any um sort of, uh, what did your

00:11:07.340 - 00:11:27.419

early your years in Kansas City about um segregation and, and sort of uh boundaries that you know? Well, segregation was alive and well in those years, and I have seen a lot of things change, and of course we know that there are other things that need

00:11:27.419 - 00:11:55.630

to be changed. But I've seen Kansas City grow, and I think that's wonderful. Um, In your own, um, personal family life, uh, were you, uh, associated with any, um, uh, fraternities, sorority, well, sororities and other, um, you know, uh, social organizations, um, including church functions? I've

00:11:55.630 - 00:12:21.830

been very active in church functions. Uh, in college, I became a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority. And I am still a member of that organization, that sorority. Uh, I, I'm a part of a lot of organizations here in town serving on boards of, uh, agencies.

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Um, one of the things that, um, Um, you know, we have in life is, uh, we have church and, uh, we also have fun. Uh, and we shop and, uh, what were some of the fun places and places that, uh, uh, African Americans, uh, Where they

00:12:46.109 - 00:13:05.820

went to shop, went for picnics and things that you might remember from uh the times around, it appeared you were teaching at Penn School. In the early years, I took my children to a number of places for their own, uh, education, for their own growth. I

00:13:05.820 - 00:13:24.719

took them to the art gallery and as small children, they participated in the art classes there for children. And I still have some of the things that they made at the art at the art gallery. And in my house, I have pictures that my daughter painted

00:13:24.719 - 00:13:47.640

one summer at the uh Art Institute. So I wanted to make sure that they had that part of life too and shared in things that if we weren't careful, we could've could've missed. But, uh, these were some of the things that I shared with them. Now,

00:13:47.710 - 00:14:07.849

uh, uh. Getting to Penn School as a teacher and then going to different activities and places in Kansas City. How did you get around? Well, we had one car. And so we arranged it so that if I needed the car in the afternoon, uh, I got

00:14:07.849 - 00:14:26.109

the car. But uh. My husband would take me to work in the morning, so he would have the car during the day. So we just worked together. And cooperated so that we could do the things we needed to do. And what street did you live on

00:14:26.250 - 00:14:49.929

back then? Well, I lived on Lydia at the time I taught at uh Penn School at 23rd and Lydia. Because he was pastoring at Saint Andrew at 24th and Trust, and that's where the parsonage was. And um when you were teaching at uh Penn School, uh

00:14:49.929 - 00:15:17.119

I think did you say you had 3 children 3 children, OK, and their names uh one, my oldest child, a son, is C. Jarrett Gray Junior. And uh my second child is Francis Lorraine Gray. And my 3rd child lives here in Kansas City, John R. Gray.

00:15:18.880 - 00:15:43.669

And uh he. We called him. I know him as Judge Craig. Yes, he has been a judge for almost 21 years here in Kansas City and just recently left the bench. Mhm. My daughter, Francis lives in Indianapolis and is a pediatrician. And my son, uh, Jarrett

00:15:43.669 - 00:16:09.609

Gray lives in, uh, Durham, North Carolina and is a theologian. Uh, he taught for six years at Saint Paul's School of Theology here in Kansas City. Um, As you look back on the years that you were a teacher, um, in, uh, Westport, um, um, what are

00:16:09.609 - 00:16:27.679

some fond memories of, of that community and maybe, uh, I know we have Saint Luke's Hospital there, we had, uh, two churches, uh, in Westport. What are some of your fond memories? I guess I would have to say the people, knowing the people. Uh, I did

00:16:27.679 - 00:16:46.650

not attend church in the community at that time. I did not, uh, uh, attend Saint Luke's. I do at this stage in my life. But um I knew some of the people and there were one or two persons in the community who were members of uh

00:16:46.650 - 00:17:08.160

Centennial. So I got to know a lot of people through that. The custodian and cook, she held both jobs at Penn School, lived in the community, and she was a dear friend and I knew her and visited in her home. And in several of the homes

00:17:08.160 - 00:17:38.449

there in the community. Well, um, As an educator, uh, Uh, well, after Penn School, uh, what was your teaching career when Penn School closed, I was sent to, uh, Phyllis Wheatley School. And stayed there for a couple of years and my husband moved to Illinois. And

00:17:38.449 - 00:18:03.510

then when we came back to Kansas City, I went to Co school. And stayed there until I went downtown as an elementary consultant. I worked with teachers all over the city. Uh, 1st and 2nd grade teachers all over the city. And uh finally, I became what

00:18:03.510 - 00:18:26.150

we call uh an elementary principal and I retired from there in 1995. So I had a wonderful and very interesting uh life in this district, Kansas City, Missouri School District. All three of my children started school in the Kansas City, Missouri school district and finished in

00:18:26.150 - 00:18:50.020

the Kansas City, Missouri school district. Um, after, uh, leaving Penn School and holding some of the other positions, including a principalship, uh, did you ever meet any, uh, youngsters who were from the Westport area? Yes, I did. I, I have come in contact with them and

00:18:50.640 - 00:19:09.719

about 2 years, well, 1 year ago, um, it was in the paper that my husband and I were celebrating our 60th wedding anniversary. And two of the students called me from seeing that article in the paper. So occasionally I've run into several of the students and

00:19:09.719 - 00:19:29.109

not very long ago, Rebecca Russell, one of who lived in this, in the Penn community. and her husband were at my church and it was just a delight to see her. So I've run into, uh, on occasion, some of the students in the community. No, we

00:19:29.109 - 00:19:47.790

have a, uh, a sort of historic picture of when, uh, a famous museum musician went to Penn School, Charlie Parker. Did you hear about that? Yes, I've, I've heard that. I knew that, and, uh, one of the families, the Ryan family, has promised me that I

00:19:47.790 - 00:20:14.770

should have a picture. Of uh their father and with Charlie Bryant on the, on the picture. OK. That would be quite a historic piece. Now, um, as you mentioned, uh, The early history of African Americans living in in in Westport, uh, comes from slavery, and at

00:20:14.770 - 00:20:36.959

one time, uh, Forty-third Street Terrace was called Steptoe. Uh, did you ever hear of the street called Steptoe? No, I never really heard of that. I had, I didn't hear of that. But it's interesting that you tell this. When I, years later after I would tell

00:20:36.959 - 00:20:59.300

people that I started teaching in at Penn School and I had 1st, 2nd and 3rd grades. They would immediately say, well, you started in the country. And I said, no, I started in fashionable Westport, and that's in Kansas City. I said, but it was a school

00:21:00.079 - 00:21:31.020

designed for African-American children. And they went there and got a good education in that time, at that time. Well, just uh uh looking at Penn School, uh, it looks like many. Country schools, uh, what, uh, were the, uh, um Chairs, desks, uh, um, potbelly stove, or

00:21:31.020 - 00:21:50.959

what was it like they had the old fashioned regular school desk, as I recall, in, in the classrooms, and evidently there must have been around 30 some children if I remember correctly, it was about 38 children in my 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade, and I think

00:21:50.959 - 00:22:16.390

the teaching principal had a few more children than that. And what about the the um the the uh heating and plumbing. Well, the school was comfortable in the winter, uh, and the plumbing was adequate. We had no air conditioning, you know, but, uh, we made it.

00:22:18.750 - 00:22:42.150

Um, now, as you think about, uh, this, the Westport, um, uh, a community, uh, what would you like to say, um, as we celebrate, uh, uh, you know, 100 years of Saint Luke's and then the story of African-Americans in Westport, uh, being somewhat of a little,

00:22:42.510 - 00:23:00.459

uh, island surrounded, uh, and, uh. And, and many people in Kansas City not knowing that it was there because it was peaceful and quiet. That's right. What, what would you like to say about that? Well, I think it's a wonderful thing to for such a celebration

00:23:00.459 - 00:23:25.780

for Saint Luke's to recognize its history in the community, but I am incredibly pleased that this community was, uh, chosen to be noticed. Because I consider this a wonderful milestone in the life and history of the people in the community. They have contributed greatly, and I

00:23:25.780 - 00:23:51.579

am grateful for all that the parents and the families in this community, all that they have done. It's interesting. About a year ago, I ran into a woman who grew up in this community. And uh I told her that I taught at the Penn School. And

00:23:51.579 - 00:24:13.099

immediately she told me she played with the children. In the community. She said, and I always wondered why they didn't go to the same school that I went to. But that was a part of who we were at that time, segregated. And so, I rejoice that

00:24:13.099 - 00:24:38.239

now the children can go to school wherever they live. And not a separate school is built for them. So it's grateful that this will show a little bit of the history of this community. And I think The African community has a wonderful story to tell. They

00:24:38.239 - 00:25:01.959

have demonstrated wonderful lives, and the people who have lived here have made contributions that are great, and we thank them for it. Now when we think about how, uh, young people and the teachers of uh Penn School and residents who lived in Westwood, um, but, um,

00:25:02.079 - 00:25:22.239

for example, when we take a look at the structure and the building of Penn School and now we have such beautiful schools in the community now and it appears that many of our Young people are not inspired or have the roots to want to become teachers

00:25:22.239 - 00:25:46.250

or pastors. Um, what are your thoughts on that being, um, a, a teacher and then an administrator principal in the Kansas City, Missouri School District? You know, that is one of the things that grieves me. That today's young people have such wonderful opportunities, such beautiful buildings.

00:25:46.900 - 00:26:07.520

And they can be and do whoever they want to be or whatever they want to be, and too many of them are passing it up. And that simply grieves me when I think about years back. When young people had to struggle. They were located in the

00:26:07.520 - 00:26:34.739

segregated schools. With not all of the plush comforts, if you please. But they made the best of it. And now we have too many youngsters. who are wing away their time. And I do pray that at some point, Our young people will see what opportunities they

00:26:34.739 - 00:27:01.089

have. And grasp those opportunities. For they can be doctors, lawyers, judges, teachers, whoever they want to be. But it's up. I have a saying that if it is to be, it's up to me, so each person has to realize that. Now, if you had the opportunity

00:27:01.349 - 00:27:24.459

and you may already have the opportunity to go and talk to teachers, um, What would you tell them when, when you mentioned that this teacher in Fulton sent you the, the newspaper clipping and said that you were the one who inspired her to be a teacher.

00:27:24.689 - 00:27:47.959

Is that a measure that teachers should, uh, adhere to or want a, a, a, a student to, to do? I think teachers, as teachers, we need to realize that we make a wonderful impact upon the lives of children. And we don't do it just to make

00:27:47.959 - 00:28:07.209

an impact, but we do it because we're interested in those children and we want them to become the persons that God intended them to be. And if we work with them out of a sense of love and care. They can tell it. And they will want

00:28:07.209 - 00:28:33.130

to emulate what they have seen and felt. And teachers as they've grown up. You hear a lot of people say, I didn't think very much of myself until one day, a teacher told me. That I am somebody. Uh, that I can do things. So, we have

00:28:33.130 - 00:28:59.959

a wonderful way. A wonderful opportunity. To make an impact on the lives of children. And I think each person is a teacher, not necessarily just because one is in a classroom. But each adult in each one of us. Each is teaching somebody by what we do

00:28:59.959 - 00:29:32.540

and what we say. Um, Would you, uh, like to, uh, say something about um I guess some uh. Uh, your friends who may be, uh, in the teaching profession and those who, uh, maybe some people from the church that, uh, we can, um, Uh, take a

00:29:32.540 - 00:29:55.130

note on what history has done for them. How far we have come. Well, I could say something about people either church, community, or in school about some people who are doing excellent jobs and making a difference in the world. And I would say that. They should

00:29:55.130 - 00:30:27.869

continue. And I would also say that for every person. Each person should look at their own lives and see how they can make a difference in the world. What is it you can do to say I'm making a difference. I've helped somebody. Um, I think that

00:30:27.869 - 00:30:58.750

um the contributions that you have made are to be noted and that's what we're doing here. Um, is there, uh, maybe one other thing, uh, about, um, joining our organizations, being involved, volunteering. Uh, to help inspire, build communities, uh, that's, uh, important, uh, to you and

00:30:58.750 - 00:31:20.500

the main thing that you said, making a difference. You know, I suppose the one thing I think of now. Is that I had the opportunity to become national president. Of the women's work of the United Methodist Church. I became the first person of color in 125

00:31:20.500 - 00:31:47.089

years to hold that position. And it's simply because of volunteering, of giving my service, of seeking to make a difference when and wherever I could. And that was a wonderful, wonderful opportunity. And I will never forget the, because of that opportunity of the people I met

00:31:47.089 - 00:32:13.349

literally over this country and around the world. It was A thing that I called my opportunity to attend a university that had no walls. And it's simply because nothing magnificent that I did, but I just tried to make a difference. I tried to show people I

00:32:13.349 - 00:32:46.959

cared. Um, I, I I just wanna thank you for uh the beautiful comments that you have You know, you have made here. Uh, with the understanding that, um, you know, we're going to do everything possible to. To, uh, make sure that, um, voices like yours are

00:32:46.959 - 00:33:12.060

heard. And, um, uh, if there is anything else on any subject that you would like to just voice one more time on, Family community, uh, I, I'm, uh, we're so glad that, uh, uh, greet them black sorority life is, uh, been a part of your life,

00:33:12.219 - 00:33:37.359

a church community, uh. Anything you'd like to say? You know, I guess I would, it would be, I, I would be amiss if I didn't say that my experiences at Penn School. were so meaningful to me. I worked with people who were caring, who were helpful,

00:33:38.119 - 00:34:01.969

and I know. That a teacher with 3 grades who had never taught in a classroom before, I know. I've made mistakes. I know I was growing. But the way they accepted me. That kind of feeling has permeated my life, and has been a part of me

00:34:01.969 - 00:34:14.649

in all that I've done. And I appreciate that. Thank you. Thank you for asking me.