OUR HOST FOR THE EVENING

Museum of the American Revolution
Independence National Historical Park
101 S 3rd Street
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19106

(picture courtesy of Museum of the American Museum)

President General Ric Murphy (VA)
welcomes society members and honored guests to the Museum of the American Revolution,
and kicks-off the evening's activities

African American Historical and Genealogical Leaders: Genealogist General Dr. Shelley Murphy (VA); 
Chaplin General Reverend Doctor Khadijah Matin (NY); President General Ric Murphy (VA); with former President of the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society Tamela Tenpenny (AR).

Historian General Gigi Best Richardson (FL) shares a tender moment with Beverly Lloyd (GA)

(picture courtesy of Verity Media)

Museum of the American Revolution
Grand Staircase

(picture courtesy of Museum of the American Museum)

The always fashionable: Secretary General
Jackie Hill Long (NY).

Good Friends Reconnecting: SOFAFEA’s Genealogist General Dr. Shelley Murphy (VA) and 2024 Honoree
Attorney Rohulamin Quander (DC).

New York Model and business woman: 
Ruth D. Hunt (NY), a Daughter of the
American Revolution. 

Revolutionary War Scholar Eric Hardaway (PA) chats with Thom Reed (UT), program manager for African heritage in North America for FamilySearch International.

SOFAFEA Member Sonya Bostic (NJ); and guests Tony Curtis Vaughn (GA); and Milton Hilton (NJ).

SOFAFEA member Joan Cornwall Murphy (MA & VA) with Bob Burns (VA); background Chantel Murray (MD). 

(picture courtesy of Bob Burns)

2024 Honoree Dennis Lloyd with Beverly Lloyd (GA) and Dr. Gregory and Denise Dunham (GA)

SOFAFEA Secretary General Jackie Hill Long
with Daughters of the American Revolution
Director of Public Relations Bren Landon

SOFAFEA member and a Daughter of the American Revolution Taryn Kennedy (MD).

The Museum of the American Revolution opened all their galleries for a private showing, so it was impossible to get everyone’s photos: DAR Ruth D. Hunt (NY); and Tony Curtis (GA); and Secretary General Jackie Hill Long (NY).  

(some of the) Members of the
Forgotten Patriot's Project Team

First Row (L-R) SOFAFEA’s Chaplin General Rev. Dr. Khadijah Matin (NY); Jill Marie Synder (CT); Dr, Marjorie Powell (MA); Dr. Shelley Murphy (VA);
and Lyndra Marshal (MD)

Second Row: Robert F. Burns (VA); Eric Hardawy (PA);
and Tim Stephens (PA). 

SOFAFEA Chaplin General Rev.
Dr. Khadijah Matin (NY); former AAHGS National President Babe Gene Stephenson (GA); former AAHGS Public Relations Director Toni Vann (GA);
and former AAHGS National President Tamela Tenpenny (AR).

2024 Annual Conference Booklet 

SOFAFEA Member Dee Dee Roberts,
History General Gigi Best Richardson and
2024 Honoree A’Lelia Bundels share a private moment.

(picture courtesy of Verity Media)

(picture courtesy of Jennifer Horsley)

SOFAFEA Member Taryn Kennedy (MD) and Daughters of the American Revolution's Veronica La Du.

(picture courtesy of Verity Media)

Daughters of the American Revolution's Bren Landon and Veronica La Du; and SOFAFEA Member Taryn Kennedy (MD); and SOFAFEA Member Carla Clarke. 

SOFAFEA Founding Members Harold R. Cornwall (NY)
and Joan Cornwall Murphy (MA & VA)

(picture courtesy of Verity Media)

SOFAFEA Guests: Anthony and Geraldine Smoot, and
Ronald and Lyndra Marshall (all of MD). 

(picture courtesy of Verity Media)

Dr. Gregory and Denise Dunham (GA); Members Skip and Gigi Best Richardson (FL); Beverly Lloyd with 2024 Honoree Dennis Lloyd (GA)

Seated: Historian General Gigi Best Richardson

(picture courtesy of Skip Richardson)

President General Ric Murphy (VA)
with Ruth Hunt (NY); Secretary General Jackie Long;
Dr. Mercedes Franklin (NY); Stephanie James Stewart (MD); Claire Galloway Jones (MA); Vice President Lena Calloway Reddick (MA);
and Founding Member Joan Cornwall Murphy

(picture courtesy of Verity Media)

An evening of elegance: Guests were seated
throughout Oneida Indian Nation Gallery
and were treated to music and an endless
round of hors d'œuvres and great conversation
under the museum's grand rotunda

(picture courtesy of Verity Media)

2024 Honoree Dr. Shirley Green (OH); Lorrelle Becton and 2024 Summit scholar and Revolutionary War Reenactor
Joe Becton (PA) 

(picture courtesy of Verity Media)

Past and Present President(s) Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society: LaJoy Mosby - current president (MD); past president's Babe Gene Stephenson (GA); Tamela Tenpenny (AR); and SOFAFEA Chaplin General Rev.
Dr. Khadijah Matin (NY).

(picture courtesy of Verity Media)

Guests Toni Vann (GA) and Janice Bryant (NC) 

Welcoming some of SOFAFEA's Newest Members: (L-R) 
Saundra Russ Cropps (NC); Claire Galloway Jones (MA)
accepting on behalf of her mother Claire Galloway (MA); 
Alexandra Sutton Lawrence (MD):  Karen Henry (PA); Laura Harver (MD);
and Gloria Barksdale Harver (MD).

(picture courtesy of Verity Media)

Founded in 2019

Society of the First African Families
of English America

If you missed this year's events, we look forward to seeing you in 2025 !

FAMILY PROCESSIONAL

President General Ric Murphy (VA)
welcomes society members and honored guests before he introduces distinguished families
at the summit's opening.

(picture courtesy of Marjorie Powell)

OPENING PRAYER

Chaplain General Reverend Doctor Khadijah Matin (NJ) offers powerful words as President General Ric Murphy (VA) listens attentively.

(picture courtesy of Skip Richardson)

WELCOME

Vice President of the Mid-Atlantic Region Joyce Mosley welcomes 2024 Honorees, distinguished families, members and honored guests to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

(picture courtesy of Skip Richardson)

Members of the Roundtable Discussion:     
Who Are the Forgotten Patriots of the
Revolutionary War.

Scholars (L-R): Lt. Col. Myron M. Young (PA); Joseph Becton (PA); 
Eric Hardaway (PA) Moderator; and Dr. Shirley L. Green 

(picture courtesy of Skip Richardson)

Members of the Roundtable Discussion:
The Role of Slavery During the American Revolution

Scholars (L-R): Dr. Evelyn McDowell (NJ) Moderator; Dennis Lloyd (GA); and
Rhonda Brace (MA). 

(picture courtesy of Skip Richardson)

 

Society of the First African Families
of English America's

Annual 2024 Conference Room

Museum of the American Revolution
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

(picture courtesy of Museum of the American Revolution)

 Members of the Roundtable Discussion:  
The Role of Women During the
American Revolution

Scholars (L-R):  (L-R) Moderator - Jill Marie Snyder (CT); Adrienne G. Whaley (PA); Tramia Jackson (VA); and A'Lelia Bundles (DC). 

(picture courtesy of Skip Richardson)

 

Members of the Roundtable Discussion:  
How do We Tell The Story of the Forgotten Patriots

Scholars (L-R): Dr. Shelley Murphy (VA); Bren Landon (VA) and Thom Reed (UT). 

(picture courtesy of Skip Richardson)

Members of the Roundtable Discussion:  

Scholars (L-R): Moderator Reverend Doctor Khadijah Matin (NJ): Timothy Stephens (PA); Dr. Wendell Goins (NC); and Dr. Kevin Lombardi (VA).    

(picture courtesy of Skip Richardson)

 

SOFAFEA Registrar General Hope Elliot (VA) and Joan Cornwall Murphy (MA & VA)

(picture courtesy of Verity Media)

Adrienne Whaley  of the Museum of the American Revolution (PA) and Terri Allen (MD)

(picture courtesy of Terri Allen)

Everett Butcher (VA) and Jennifer Horsley (NJ)

(picture courtesy of Veronica Horsley)

Everett Butcher (VA) and Tamela Tenpenny (AR).

(picture courtesy of Veronica Horsley)
 

SOFAFEA Founder Harold R. Cornwall (NY) and Founder and Treasurer General Douglas Cornwall (CA)

(picture courtesy of Vicki Williams Cornwall)

Veronica La Du (DC); Karen Kennedy (MD); Terri Allen (MD); Bren Landon (DC)

(picture courtesy of Terri Allen)

Ruth Hunt (NY) and Terri Allen (MD)

(picture courtesy of Terri Allen)

Timothy Stephens (PA); Dr. Wendell Goins (NC); and Dr. Kevin Lombardi (VA). 

(picture courtesy of Veronica Horsley)

Everett Butcher (VA) and Genealogist General
Dr. Shelley V. Murphy

(picture courtesy of Veronica Horsley)

(L-R) Charter Members Hudson Cornwall and Waverly Cornwall (NY); and Founding Members Harold Cornwall (NY) and Joan Cornwall Murphy (MA & VA)

(picture courtesy of Verity Media)

Founder and President of the Sons and Daughters of the United States Middle Passage Dr. Evelyn McDowell (NJ) with DAR's Bren Landon (DC)

(picture courtesy of Verity Media)
 

Attendees deep in thought during the Roundtable Discussion on the Role of Women During the American Revolution

(picture courtesy of Verity Media)

Thom Reed (UT) FamilySearch
International Scholar

(picture courtesy of Verity Media)

Scholar Lt. Col. Myron M. Young (PA)

(picture courtesy of Skip Richardson) 
 

Member Angela Smith (DC) with new medal and certificate

(picture courtesy of Terri Allen)

Daughters of the Society of the First African Families of English America
who are also Daughters of the American Revolution

Seated First Row (L-R): Gigi Best Richardson (FL); Joan Cornwall Murphy (MA & VA)

Second Row (L-R) Veronica La Du (VA); Ruth Hunt (NY); A'Lelia Bundles (DC); Terri Allen (MD): Kathleen Lee (PA); Joyce Mosley (PA);  Sonya Bostic (NJ);
Saundra Shelley (IL); Dee Dee Roberts (NJ); Lisa White Fox (IL); Jackie Long (NY); Bren Landon (DC).

Third Row (L-R): Joan Branbury (NY); Courtney Smith (DC); Shelley Murphy (VA); Carla Clarke (NJ); Angela Smith (DC); Stephani Miller (FL);
Jennifer Horsley (NJ); Taryn Kennedy (MD); Mercedes Franklin (NY); Laura Harver (MD); Jill Marie Synder (CT); Heather Ware (DC).

(picture courtesy of Skip Richardson)

2024 Annual Meeting Booklet

On behalf of the Society of the First African Families of English America, we would like to once again congratulate our 2024 Honorees, and thank all of you who attended our Black-tie reception, our Annual Meeting and our summit.

We hope we accomplished our planning objectives by paying tribute to those who paved the way, helping to make new family connections, and in providing a learning experience that enhanced each of us personally, professionally and generationally
…until next year – THANK YOU !

2024 Annual Conference Booklet