2025 Scholars

LESLIE BRAMLETT (Treasurer Living History) is a Certified Public School Teacher who holds certifications in Elementary, Social Studies, Reading, English as a Second Language. She works as a Historical interpreter for several museum and historical sites in the Delaware valley and is the owner of From the Grey Fortress LLC, an educational consultancy dedicated to telling American history and spotlighting the contributions of African American women throughout time. This involves costumed 3rd and 1st person interpretations, curriculum writing/lesson planning as well as workshop presentations.

KEVIN CHAPMAN is a living history interpreter that has served as a member of The 1st Rhode Island Regiment Reeanctors for the last 5 years, and is secretary of the unit. He is also the event coordinator and operations manager for Living History Co LLC, which staffs and casts African American interpreters and reeanctors for venues accross the country.  Kevin is a former college baseball player and has a BA in Sociology from William Paterson University in Wayne NJ. He is also Chaplain and Member of Woodlin Lodge #30 Prince Hall Affiliated, Free and Accepted Masons in Bordentown, NJ. 

MICHAEL COARD  is an opinion contributor, attorney and radio host, and columnist for the Philadelphia Tribune. As a criminal defense attorney with more than 25 years of state and federal trial experience, specializes in murder cases and worked at the Charles W. Bowser Law Center after serving as Legal Counsel for State Senator Hardy Williams. He received his degree in law from Ohio State University and his undergraduate degrees in English Education and Political Science from Cheyney University. He is an adjunct professor in the Africology Department at Temple University and a volunteer instructor of the Criminal in the university’s Pan African Studies Program. As a national thought leader, he will participate in a discussion on how our communities should properly preserve the history and legacy of our ancestors past and connect with the descendants for the future through traditional and emerging media at the national and local levels. 

DOUGLAS CORNWALL is currently the Treasurer General of the Society of the First African Families of English America. He began his genealogical journey 10 years ago with many questions to be answered about his ancestors. The Cornwall family lineage traces back deep into the earliest colonial periods of New York, Massachusetts, and the Canadian Maritimes and while the research in this family is impressively thorough, it is his mother’s family that is the current focus of his Genealogical research. This journey has uncovered a deep history in the Mid-Atlantic states of Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania, as well as Midwest branches in Missouri and Illinois. Further work has uncovered connections to the 1619 “Twenty and Odd” Africans through the famous enigma Anthony Johnson and a long history of free people of color making a way for themselves and their families in the early centuries of this country, and to John Gowen and Margaret Cornish. Douglas is an AAHGS member, a charter member of the Sons and Daughters of the United States Middle Passage and a charter member of the Society of the First African Families of English America.  He is also a seasoned technology and business leader with over 25 years of experience in delivering strategic insights, developing competitive intelligence, driving business growth and contributing to several major corporate business transformations. He has worked in diverse companies ranging from early-stage technology start-ups to Fortune 500 to Wall Street Investment Banks and is ideally positioned for a leadership role in the Society. 

JOI EDWARDS-HAYNES is the Organizing Secretary General of the Society of the First African Families of English America. She is a member of DAR, and is the 4th great granddaughter of Revolutionary War Patriot Henry Dorton. Additionally, Joi is a seasoned operations and manufacturing leader with over 30 years of experience across a number of industries. Along with her husband Arthur, Joi leads the Helen Haynes/William and Shirley Edwards Family Foundation.

She will lead a national discussion on Community and Organizational Engagement and the need to develop foundations at the regional and community level to research, document and preserve information and artifacts ensuring that our ancestors are remembered as valuable contributors to American history. The discussion will help to establish a blueprint to take and expand our national organization regionally, and to expand the rich body of knowledge at the local level. 

CLARE GALLOWAY JONES is a member of SOFAFEA and is a licensed educational leader and executive director of educational equity, a leader in several equity-based organizations. She is a descendant of the historic Ames family of Massachusetts, a lineage that has played a significant role in the fight for educational equity. The family includes Forgotten Patriot Private Prince Ames, Eunice Ames Davis, an original Daughter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, several members of the United States Colored Troops, and Sarah C. Roberts, the plaintiff in Roberts v. City of Boston (1849), the precursor to Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) and Brown vs Board of Education (1954). 

LENA GALLOWAY REDDICK is the Vice President for SOFAFEA's New England District. She is an administrator at the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth. She is a descendant of the historic Ames family of Massachusetts, a lineage that has played a significant role in the fight for educational equity. The family includes Forgotten Patriot Private Prince Ames, Eunice Ames Davis, an original Daughter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, several members of the United States Colored Troops, and Sarah C. Roberts, the plaintiff in Roberts v. City of Boston (1849), the precursor to Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) and Brown vs Board of Education (1954). 

DR. WENDELL GOINS  is a retired surgeon currently practicing physician living in Charlotte. Member of the Society of the Descendants of Charlemagne; Society of the Descendants of the Founding Fathers of New England; Sons of the American Revolution.  is a retired surgeon currently practicing physician living in Charlotte, NC. Member of the Naudin-Dibble Family Heritage Foundation, the Society of the Descendants of Charlemagne, the Society of the Descendants of the Founding Fathers of New England, and the Sons of the American Revolution. He is SOFAFEA's Chaplin General. He is SOFAFEA's Surgeon General and will honor the ancestors by introducing then to those who joined them this past year.  

ERIC HARDAWAY served as a non-Commissioned Officer, and trainer in the US Army (Retired).  Served as the Director of Military and Veterans Affairs for a member of Congress where he provided counsel on matters relating to the Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security. Currently sits on the board of a local Civil War Museum and volunteers with the Philadelphia National Cemetery; a cemetery managed by the National Cemetery Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs and gives his time to Philadelphia’s Junior ROTC Command and the local Boy Scouts Council as a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) advisor and trainer. He will discuss strategies on how to engage our nation’s students in the history of our ancestors, and SOFAFEA’s America 250 pilot program with our nation’s future military leaders, the ROTC Cadets from the Philadelphia schools.  

JUSTIN HILL, Executive Director of the The Philadelphia Why Project. Mr. Hill is a native Philadelphian who is a current Juris Doctorate of Law candidate at Temple University and previously earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Political Theory at Columbia University. His work centers on Community Education Solutions by way of The Why Project, which was established in 2021 to be Community Solutions Corporation.” The Why Project is a national community based, community-oriented, youth led organization designed to engage our nation’s young people a voice through digital media. He  will participate in a discussion on how engage our young people through traditional and emerging media at the national and local levels. And how do we engage our young people in American history, the history of our people, and the importance of America 250 on our communities.

DARYIAN KELTON (Vice President Living History),  has been a Historical Interpreter for 11 years. He started young as a drummer of the 1st Rhode Island/6th USCT reenactors and became involved with museums as a volunteer at the Old Barracks Museum and has consulted on African American interpretations for institutions such as The Museum of the American Revolution and The National Association for Interpretation. Currently, Daryian is the Lead Military at the Old Barracks Museum and Vice President of the 1st Rhode Island/6th USCT.

BREN LANDON  is the Director of Public Relations for the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution where she oversees the internal and external communications efforts for the 133-year-old women’s volunteer service and lineage organization. She counsels the DAR President General on special initiatives of the National Society including the E Pluribus Unum Educational Initiative a project to bring awareness to underrepresented Patriots of the American Revolution. She will share how DAR brings awareness and dignity to underrepresented Patriots of the American Revolution. 

L. JACQUELINE (JACKIE) LONG is currently the Secretary General of the Society of the First African Families in English America. She has been expanding research on her New England roots building on decades of family history research given to her branch by cousin Bob Greene. With such a good start. she was able to prove colonial and revolutionary lineage and be accepted for membership by the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR); the Sons and Daughters of the United States Middle Passage (SDUSMP), and the Society of the First African Families of English America (SOFAFEA). Jacqueline is also a member of the African American Historical and Genealogical Society (AAHGS), the New England Historical and Genealogical Society (NEHGS), Georgetown Historical Society (GHS), and the Pejepscot History Center (PHC). Based in Harlem New York, Jacqueline is an independent real estate practitioner.  She is a designated Member of the Appraisal Institute and holds New York State Real Estate Broker and Real Estate Appraiser licenses. 

REVEREND DOCTOR KHADIJAH MATIN  is currently the Chaplian General of the Society of the First Afriah received he Doctcan Families in English America. She has an MS in Education from Fordham University. At OneSpirit Interfaith Seminary Khadijr ordination in Interfaith Ministry, and a Certificate in Interspiritual/Interfaith Counseling. She earned heror of Ministry from New York Theological Seminary, with a specialized focus in multi-faith ministry.  She was designated as a Rothschild Fellow, where she created coaching program designed to support diverse clergy and faith-based service providers. Khadijah currently serves as co-facilitator of the OneSpirit Interspiritual Counseling/Companioning program. Her research focus areas include an examination of faith and family history in the shaping of identity and community, and the varied ways in which service and spirituality intersect. Presently Khadijah serves as an advisor to the Afro-American Historical & Genealogical Society and the Association of Muslim Chaplains. She is SOFAFEA's Chaplin General and will honor attendees with an opening prayer honoring the ancestors of the past, those of the present and for those of the future. 

STEPHANI MILLER is a national Vice President of the South Atlantic District, and at Friday's Black Tie event she will have the honor to co-present the Annual Honorees. She advocates for the empowerment of women, young girls, and persons with disabilities, civil rights, and family history. Stephani has over thirty years of experience in the field of nursing and twenty-three years of experience as a Chief Executive Officer of her own agency that provides Life Coaches and Direct support to young professionals.  

LAJOY Y. MOSBY is the President, Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society. Ms. Mosby is a member of the National Genealogical Society, Inc., a charter member of African American Genealogy Group of Kentucky as well as a member of the Woodford County Historical Society, the Kentucky Genealogy Society, and the Alabama Genealogy Society. 

RIC MURPHY is an acclaimed historian, educator, lecturer and documentarian, and has presented throughout North America, Europe, and Africa. As an award-winning author and documentarian, he explores the rich tapestry of African American history by weaving together the personal and heroic stories of amazing men and women, and their rich and remarkable contributions to American history. He currently serves as the President General of the Society of the First African Families of English America and was the former National Vice President for the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society. His family lineage dates to the earliest colonial periods of Jamestown, Virginia and of Plymouth, Massachusetts, and has been evaluated and accepted by several heredity societies, including but not limited to the General Society Sons of the Revolution; the Daughters of the American Revolution; the National Society of the Sons of Colonial New England; the Sons of the American Revolution; the Sons of the Union Veterans of the Civil War; the Sons and Daughters of the United States Middle Passage; and the Society of the First African Families of English America. 

DR. SHELLEY MURPHY founder of the Midwest African American Genealogy Institute. She is also coordinator and Instructor at the Midwest African American Genealogy Institute she has developed educational programs for the Center for Family History at the IAAM. She is SOFAFEA's Genealogist General, and is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and the Society of the Sons and Daughters of the Middle Passage. She holds membership in Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society, National Genealogical Society, Association of Professional Genealogists, and multiple local genealogy societies. She will lead a discussion with two nationally recognized thought leaders on how we should properly preserve the history and legacy of the past and connect with the descendants for the future through traditional and emerging media at the national and local levels. 

STEVE THOMAS is the CEO/Founder of Living History Co, LLC (livinghistoryco.com). He is a trained musician specializing in fife, drum and bugle calls of the 18th and 19th Centuries. A graduate of Valley Forge Military Academy, Steven is also a member of various 18th and 19th Century Fife and Drum Corps, The 1st Rhode Island Regiment Reenactors Inc., The 6th United States Colored Troops Reenactors Inc. and is a board member and Music Director of the 1st USCT Reenactors.  Steve provides musician interpretations for The Revolutionary War, the War of 1812 and the Civil War. 

ADRIENNE G. WHALEY  is Director of Education and Community Engagement at the Museum of the American Revolution, leading a team that helps students, teachers, families and other learners explore the diverse stories and complex events that sparked America's experiment in liberty, equality, and self-government. She has worked in both art and history museums, including the Museum of Modern Art (New York), the African American Museum in Philadelphia, and the Smithsonian's Anacostia Community Museum. She is also a past President and Programming Chair of Philadelphia's African American Genealogy Group. She will help to put the experiences of African American women into the larger context of the Revolutionary Era. 

ANTOINE RANDOLPH WATTS (President Living History), is an American War of Independence and American Civil War reenactor as well as a first-person impressionist. Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and currently a resident of Lansdowne, Pennsylvania, He studied vocal music at Drexel University for 2 years. Portraying multiple real-life historical personalities from our country’s collective past, Antoine helps audiences feel like they have transited a time tunnel. He has been reenacting for nearly 17 years and is the current President for the 1st Rhode Island Regiment/6th United States Colored Troops, Vice Commander of Northampton Country Historical Impressions and Vice President of the 3rd United States Colored Troops.

CHRISTOPHER WILLIAMS is a founding partner and Vice President of Clinical Operations and Compliance at Scientia Diagnostics, a clinical laboratory in Lyndhurst NJ.  Scientia Diagnostics is a specialty laboratory focusing on Clinical Toxicology and Pharmacogenetics. The laboratory is accredited by the College of American Pathologists, the leading accrediting organization of clinical laboratories. His families self-proclaimed historian, Mr. Williams has been researching his family roots for over 20 years.  He descends from a community of free persons of color, who have an over 250-year history in Southeastern North Carolina.  His family includes famed reconstruction Congressman George H. White, and the founders of North Carolina Mutual and Mechanic and Farmers Bank, one of the oldest Blank owned banks in the County. He is Co-Chair of the Annual Honorees Committee and will oversee the awarding of the 2025 Honoree Awards at Friday's Black Tie Event. 

LT. COL. MYRON M. YOUNG (Retired U.S. Army) served with the elite 82nd Airborne Division. LTC Young’s long and distinguished career led him to his final assignment with the 10th Special Forces Group and 11th Group, Special Forces. LTC Young has been awarded the Meritorious Service Medal; the Army Commendation Medal; the Army Achievement Medal; the National Defense Service Medal; the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal; the Army Service Ribbon; the Overseas Ribbon; the Master Parachutist Badge; the Ranger TAB and Special Forces TAB. LTC Young currently serves as the Director of Military Instruction for the City of Philadelphia’s Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC), serving over 1,000 high school students/cadets who attend various schools throughout the Philadelphia community. He will talk about the command structure of the Continental Army and the historical role and importance of the Forgotten Patriots in the Continental Army.