Reba Wooden Diggs - Class of 1950

A year and a half after graduating from Phenix in t 950, Reba Wooden Diggs obtained an Associate Degree in Business Administration and started working as a Supply Officer at the U. S. Navy Department (USN) in Washington. D. C. After working several years for USN and saving the organization significant dollars byrevamping some of their forms and processes for greater efficiency, Reba became Section Chief for the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission ... now the, Nuclear Regulatory Commission (USNRC) ... overseeing a staff of 25 and responsible for compilation of nuclear licensing statistics. She held various positions from the onset of employment to her retirement but the ones she enjoyed the most were Licensing Assistant, Section Chief,Branch Chief and Program Manager. As a Licensing Assistant, Reba worked with nuclear engineers and legal staff reviewing and issuing nuclear plant construction permits and licenses. The positions as Section Chief,Branch Chief and Program Manager enabled her to lead teams or people to accomplish the originating, approving (via the Federal Register process s) the rules and regulations for plant construction and operation and ultimately publishing them. The positions also entailed establishing permit and license fees for nuclear power operations and collecting millions of dollars in fees. During her 34-ycar career of distinguished service at the USNRC, Reba received numerous awards (plaques and dollars). In 1989, she was awarded USNRC's second highest award, the Meritorious Service Award for unusual and sustained excellence in supporting USNRC's license fee program.

Reba not only distinguished herself in her career, but also distinguished herself as a consummate public servant,and unlike her retirement from her career the public servant role is one she continues to fill. Her public service activities started over 60 years ago at the time she became a member of the Brightwood Community Association (when she moved into the area in 1959) and later serving as President and Treasurer for many years. She is still very active and spearheads programs focused on community and individual needs. Reba also served as Treasurer and Vice President [or the D.C. Federation of Civic Associations, Inc. (DCFCA}-the umbrella organization for 46 local civic groups. For 20 years, starting in 1980, Reba was chairman of the Scholarship Committee and is still an active member. In 2000, the DCFCA Scholarship was named the DCFCA Reba M. Diggs Scholarship. Reba was appointed to the governing Board of the 105 year old Phyllis Wheatley Young Women's Christian Association in 1995 and has been Treasurer since 1998. Reba was also President of the 20~member Women's Ministry at Metropolitan Baptist Church. Since becoming a deaconess in 1981, Reba has served in positions of Vice President and President of the Deaconess Board. She is also an active member of the D.C. League of Women's Voters and a volunteer hostess for special events and programs at the Kennedy Center. For her volunteer services, Reba has received numerous recognitions, including a mayoral citation.

Anyone doing just a limited amount of research on Reba would quickly discover that Reba's adult life has been one of dedication to and concern for, family and others. She has balanced her career and service work with travel (visiting every continent except Antarctica), reading and poem writing. Reba and her husband, Raymond have been married over 60 years, are the proud parents of Keith Diggs and Sharon Jenks and grandparents of Quinton Lewis Diggs and Jessica Thomas.

Julia Billups Lumpkins Roberts - Class of 1962

Judy completed her early education years at Semple Farm Road Elementary, Union Street Elementary, and Y. H. Thomas Junior High School.  She graduated from George P. Phenix High School in the class of 1962.  After completing high school Judy enrolled in the Hampton City School/Hampton General Hospital Practical Nursing program and graduated in 1965. She worked as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) for 7 years in a variety of health care settings.  She attended Thomas Nelson Community College Nursing Program and graduated in 1974 with an Associate in Applied Science Degree (AAS) R.N. Judy matriculated in the Hampton Institute/University and earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing in 1977, continued as a graduate student in Nursing.  She completed the requirements for a Master of Science in Education/Adult Nursing in 1982 and in 1994 completed the requirements to become a Family Nurse Practitioner.  She was licensed by the Commonwealth of Virginia Board of Medicine and Nursing and became board certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) as an Advanced Practice Nurse Practitioner Board Certified (APNP-BC) and received Prescriptive Authority. Judy’s work experience has spanned over 41 years in a variety of evolving and expanding nursing roles in inpatient and outpatient settings ministering to individuals, families, groups and communities.  She has worked at several hospitals on the peninsula formerly Hampton General Hospital, Whitaker Memorial, Riverside, Mary Immaculate (Bons Secours) and in three physician’s office as a Nurse. In 1982 Judy joined the faculty of Obici Professional Diploma School of Nursing and taught Medical-Surgical Nursing in the class room and hospital.  The Obici School of Nursing Students honored and dedicated their school yearbook to her in 1988 and 1994. In 1999 she was honored to receive the CHI ETA PHI Sorority, INC. ETA Chapter Glowing Lamp for the Nurse. Judy retired from Virginia Department of Public Health in 2007 and decided to become a Parrish Nurse.  Judy has continued to work in the Health Ministry at Ebenezer Baptist Church in the development of health education topics on HIV/AIDS, Domestic Violence, Teenage Dating Violence, Sex Trafficking, Breast Cancer, Men’s Day out Program focusing on Men’s Health, Hampton University Proton Cancer Presentation and involved with Healthy Churches 2020 which focuses on Health Disparities in Faith Based Churches and recent program on “Medicare Made Clear” by United Health Care. In 2017, Catherine received Hampton University dedicated and sustained services award in Nursing from Hampton University Alumni.  She has volunteered for the last 10 years in Hampton Roads Ecumenical Lodging and Provisions (HELP) ministries in helping the homeless.

Chauncey E. Brown - Class of 1963

Chauncey Brown is the youngest of three sons of Elmore and Marinda Brown.  Chauncey was born in Hampton, Virginia and proudly educated at Union Elementary School, Y.H. Thomas Junior High School and George P. Phenix High School.  He was mentored by community elders such as Al Smith, Mary Christian, Dr. A. W. E. Bassett III, John Mallory Phillips, James Francis Sr. and Mrs. Ida Binga Atkins. He grew up in the neighborhoods of Old North Hampton and Downtown Hampton, witnessing the unfolding of Hampton History from segregation and through its various periods of redevelopment. He grew up as a child of Queen Street Baptist Church serving on the Junior Usher Board, singing in the Youth Choir, Holiday Serenity chorus, Senior Choir, Gospel Choir and now the Men’s Chorus and PBIC Music Ministry. Chauncey is a historian with a specialty in Church History, Community History and the preservation of African American Oral History. For several years he organized and led walking tours and history of the African American Churches and the vibrant black business districts that grew up around them. He believes that “all History, is God’s History”.

He is a he is the owner of C and M Diversified Enterprises LLC, a land development company, and Hidden History Tours and Consultations. He is a licensed home improvement contractor and is also currently employed by the City of Hampton as a Visitor Information Specialist. Achievements include:

PAST

• Youth member of The Citizens committee for Pride and Progress.

• Member of the Citizens Advisory Committee for Community Development Block Grants.

• One of the founders of The QSBC Brotherhood and the Young Brotherhood. Initiated The Men’s Day Awards; Chaired The QSBC Building Committee (for Queens North Worship Center project);

• YH Thomas Neighborhood Center Steering Committee / Former Board Member

• Licensed Realtor- 11 Years - Abbitt Realty Co, BASF Corp 26 yr. 

• Textile plant Head Operator

CURRENT

• Ordained Deacon ( May,1992)

• Church Historian

• Facilitator QSBC History Ministry

• Hampton Development Partnership

• Hampton History Museum Oral History Project Steering Committee

• Little England Chapel Foundation (Board Chairman)

• Member The United States Colored Troops Ensemble (Vocal ensemble preserving the songs of The USCT and Contrabands).  

Having lost the love of his life, his wife Malinda, to a brain tumor Chauncey established The Malinda Brown Foundation For Brain Cancer Research. Its purpose is aid others going through this terrible diagnosis and  to advocate for more funds for brain cancer research.

Chauncey has continued his education and hopes to pursue Degrees in History and Religion in the very near future. Chauncey declares himself to be a Man of God and wherever he goes he carries with him the Presence and peace of God. With his former wife Malinda, he has one Daughter, Leneicia Godfrey, one son Edward Donnie Morrison (deceased), six grandchildren and one great grandchild, along with three godchildren.

Vivian Walker - Class of 1959

Vivian M. Walker is a retired educator.  From an early age, she knew education would be her profession.  Vivian graduated from George P. Phenix High School in 1959.  She earned a BA degree in elementary education from Blackburn College in Carlinville, Illinois in 1963, and a MA in elementary education from Hampton University (then, Hampton Institute) in 1968.  With many more classes, courses, seminars, and experiences, she has continued to hone her craft.

Vivian retired from public education in 2001, having been a classroom teacher for most of her career.  She taught young people from very impoverished situations as well as those from very affluent families.  Her classroom   practices earned her the Teacher of the Year Award for Newport News Schools, and the opportunity to serve on the SREB Team for the school division.  In this capacity she traveled and learned from some of the top minds in education in the country.  Once she decided to leave the classroom, she worked in Staff Development for the school division until her retirement.  In this capacity, she designed and facilitated workshops for teachers and   administrators.  After retirement, Vivian joined the staff of aha! Process as a consultant.  In this capacity, she traveled throughout the United States facilitating workshops on economic diversity, and its impact on the classroom.  Some of her most rewarding teacher training was done in Kenya.  As a member of her church’s mission team, she helped design workshops for teachers there, and assisted with the facilitation of these workshops in both Nairobi, and on the island of Rusinga.

Vivian served as the Christian Education Director for her church, Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Temple, in Hampton for five and one half years. In this position she wrote curriculum, selected resources, designed classes, assembled teaching staffs, did teacher training, monitored classes, and collected data to help the educational program of the church flourish. Vivian enjoys making quilts and has been doing so for 30+ years.  It is this love of quilting that brought her back to a classroom. She now teaches beginning, intermediate, and advanced quilting classes in the OSHER Program at Hampton University.

Vivian and her husband, Elbert have been married for 56 years, and have two wonderful children, Michael, and Myra.  These two have given their parents the world’s greatest grandchildren.

Her favorite scripture is Ephesians 4:11-13 and believes God did create her to teach.  A couple of years ago, a friend told her, “You seem happiest, when you are in front of a group teaching.”  She smiled and agreed.