Edna Baker
Photo courtesy: Jacqueline Bridgeforth Williams
Mrs. Edna Baker
Mrs. Edna Baker was an active member of the Williamsburg community as well as the First Baptist Church. There she served on the Diaconate Board and sang in the choir. Growing up Mrs. Baker attended the Bruton Heights School and Hampton University for college. She continued her love for education by earning her Masters of Education from Wayne State University. She later taught 1st and 2nd graders in Detroit for 20 years to retirement.
She is remembered as a beloved member of both the Williamsburg area where she lived on Scotland Street, and the Detroit area where she taught. She was a devoted member of First Baptist, the NAACP, and her sorority, leaving a lasting impact on her family and communities.
In this oral history, Mrs. Edna Baker describes the historic Triangle Block, the center of Black business and community for much of the 20th century until displaced by the City of Williamsburg's redevelopment efforts. As Mrs. Baker recalls:
"Around the corner was a little grocery store that was one of the Webb's sons. It was more a family affair. This whole area was owned... I think it started with the Webbs. I think they owned it. And the daughter married a Williams, who ran the Triangle itself. And then Dr. Blayton had an office over there. This was all Prince of George Street. And then there was a cleaners there and a beautician there."
Baker, Edna, 3.31.05.mp3Audio of interview with Ms. Edna Baker | Conducted by Katie Shields | March 31, 2005 | Williamsburg Documentary Project Collection | Special Collections Research Center | William & Mary Libraries