Lakeland's Black community began receiving public facilities and services around the 1920s.  While the white community was funding projects for its section of town, it made smaller distributions to its black neighbors.

 

The funding was targeted mostly at facilities for schools, housing and recreation.  The Black facilities in many ways were offered to accommodate Blacks who were only getting a measly amount of the funds available for public services.

 

Over time, a number of Blacks were appointed to oversee the public projects and programs for Blacks

 

 

Diggs, Paul

 

 

 

 

Duke, Martin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dunbar, Elsie

 

 

Hodge, Thomas

 

 

 

King, Samuel

 

 

 

McCaskill, Jenny

 

 

Niblack, James

 

 

 

 

Negro Auxiliary Police

 

 

 

Odom, Rev Russell

 

 

 

 

 

Pickett, Edward

 

 

 

Riles, Larry

 

 

 

Roberts, Yvonne

 

 

 

 

Shields, William

 

 

 

Williams, Samuel

 

 

Lakeland Housing Authority

 

 

 

Director, Negro Recreation Program

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Librarian

 

 

Police Officer

 

 

 

Police Officer

 

 

 

Fire Fighter

 

 

Battalion Chief, Fire

Department

 

 

 

Volunteers

 

 

 

 

Director, Neighborhood Service Center (NSC)

 

 

 

 

Police Officer

 

 

 

Fire Marshall

 

 

 

Librarian

 

 

 

 

Director of Lakeland Housing Authority

 

 

Police Officer

 

 

Managed Black housing projects including Lake Ridge and Washington Park.  Also, social activist and entrepreneur.

 

In the late 1930s, he lead protest against County decision to shut down schools for black children for four months so the children could be put to work picking strawberries.  He won the battle but lost his job.  He moved to Washington, DC.  Also father of Floretta Duke McKenzie.

 

Served as the first librarian at Lakeland's Negro Library.

 

One of the first four Blacks to integrate the Lakeland Police Department

 

One of the first four Blacks to integrate the Lakeland Police Department.

 

The first Black female fire fighter in Lakeland's Fire Department.

 

A Kathleen graduate in 1981, he became the first Black Battalion Chief in Lakeland's Fire Department.

 

Blacks who were deputized to police the Black community.  They could detain Blacks and initiate an arrest a Black only--no whites.

 

Expanded services and groups served by NSC which provided clothing, a food pantry, training and educational programs for low income and elderly residents.

 

The first Black hired as a police officer for the Lakeland Police Department

 

The first Black in Lakeland's Fire Department to earn the rank of Fire Marshall

 

Succeeded Elsie Dunbar as librarian of the Negro library--later named after attorney Larry Jackson.

 

Managed Lakeland public housing including Lake Ridge, Washington Park and Moorehead

 

One of the first four Blacks to integrate the Lakeland Police Department.

Page Under Construction