In 1934, the Franciscan Order of priests sent Father Ronald Scott to Asheville, North Carolina to build a Catholic parish in the black community. Father Scott lived in a house at 56 Walton Street in the heart of south Asheville. He needed a cook and housekeeper, so he hired my mother, Mary Cornelia Wilkes. My mother and I were baptized in his house.

In the wooded area beside the house, Father Scott stood on a huge rock and proclaimed, ‘Upon this rock I will build the Church’. He was supported by many community members, particularly Robert Hoch, who assisted in borrowing money from the bank to build. St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church and School opened in 1936.

My mother became ill and passed away shortly before my 5th birthday. Father Scott had assured her that he would help my grandmother, Eunice Sims, to provide for me. My grandmother was also a domestic worker. She passed away before my 10th birthday.

The first nuns that came to teach were Sister Mary Florentine, Sister Mary Consulla, Sister Mary Natalina, and Sister Joseph Maria. Because of the promise to my grandmother, the nuns enrolled me in school at age 6, despite NC law at that time was 7 years of age. After school they took me home to the convent which was next door to my home, and where I was taught small duties to assist them and the priest.

Sister Francesca was determined to make a singer out of me. I learned to sing parts of the Mass in Latin, from the first through eighth grades, as attending Mass weekly was part of our curriculum. This was the beginning of my love for music. The first solo that I sang was "Trees" by Joyce Kilmer. I have been singing ever since!

As the years passed many things took place in my life - though I remained close to the Church. I was married and gave birth to five children; all of whom were baptized at and attended St. Anthony's Church and School.

In 1968 to our surprise Bishop Waters made rounds throughout North Carolina with intentions of putting an end to racism, and creating integration by merging several churches and schools. St. Anthony's was closed. Father Joseph Lawson Howze, a black priest, was pastor at that time, and was sent to become pastor of the all-white St. Lawrence Catholic Church in downtown Asheville. Over time, Father Howze successfully merged the two congregations, and was well respected by many. He was later appointed as the Bishop of Biloxi Mississippi.

Before he left St. Anthony's, Father Howze had given me the statue of the Christ Child, that was purchased for the church when it was built. I have kept the statue in excellent condition. My heart will not allow me to throw it away. My appreciation, love and respect for what it means is very much a part of me and a memory of my mother.

I am listing names of individuals who were the first graduating class (1948) from St. Anthony's. They were: Doris McClelland, James Austin, Margaret Floyd, Fred Funderburk, Michael Smiith, Kenneth Saxon, Rose Mary Miller and myself. There are only two of us living today (June 2020) from that class and that is Doris McClelland Micheaux and myself.

Community Curation

Angela Anderson