Interview of Lethesa Reliford by Helene Zebrauskas, as part of the Keeper of Stories project at the Seminole County Library.
Transcript
Helene Zebrauskas
This oral history interview recording is being made as part of The Keeper of Stories collection for the Seminole County Public Library. These interviews capture the stories and experiences of residents in the area, and students and educators from the Rosenwald School located in East Altamonte, Florida. Today is Wednesday, April 24th, 2024. My name is Helene Zebrauskas, and I’m interviewing Ms. Lethesa Reliford at the Central Branch Library in Casselberry, FL. Ms. Reliford, do I have permission to record this interview and make it publicly accessible on the library website?
Lethesa Reliford
Yes, you do.
Helene Zebrauskas
I confirmed that I have received the signed agreement and copyright forms from Ms. Reliford. Do I have permission to share this recording and any transcripts created from the recording with other repositories, including the Longwood Historical Society?
Lethesa Reliford Yes, you do.
Helene Zebrauskas Thank you, let’s begin. So my first question for you is: where were you born?
Lethesa Reliford Winter Park, FL.
Helene Zebrauskas And what year, Ms. Reliford?
Lethesa Reliford 1968.
Helene Zebrauskas When did your family move to Seminole County?
Lethesa Reliford My family, I believe – well, they came from Georgia. Both my mother and father are both descendants of Georgia, and I’m not really sure what year they came — because it was before my time — but somewhere in the between the 50s I’m guessing.
Helene Zebrauskas And what brought your family to the area?
Lethesa Reliford
Work.
Helene Zebrauskas
So, your grandparents?
Lethesa Reliford
Yes.
Helene Zebrauskas
What was their occupation?
Lethesa Reliford
My paternal grandfather worked for the city of Winter Park. He came here to herd cows. He was a cowboy initially. My grandmother was a housekeeper for Mr. Milwee, who was the, I guess the startup of the Milwee Middle School and my maternal grandmother was my maternal grandfather did drywall work so that brought him here with the build — the construction of of the towns and the cities nearby and my grandmother was also a domestic housekeeper for the Stouffers — Stovers from Maitland.
Helene Zebrauskas
And what side of your family was this?
Lethesa Reliford
That was my my mother’s side — was the — my grandfather was a construction worker and domestic
[house]keeper for the Stovers and on my father’s side, my grandmother was the housekeeper for Mr.
Milwee and my grandfather was originally came to herd cows. He was a cowboy and then he began work at the City of Winter Park.
Helene Zebrauskas OK. So tell me about your parents: What were their occupations?
Lethesa Reliford
My father owned a pool company which went by the name of Leroy’s Pools and Patios, and he ran that company from 1970 until his later years. He passed away in 2015, so roughly about 2012 ended his business due to his illness. My mother was a supervisor at an electronics company by the name of Siemens Electric in Lake Mary, FL, and she worked there until 1987 when her health took a turn for the worse as well.
Helene Zebrauskas And I think I forgot to ask, but what were your parents’ names?
Lethesa Reliford My father’s name was Leroy Reliford. My mother’s name was Ceola Jackson Reliford.
Helene Zebrauskas Thank you. So what did your family look like growing up? Did you have any brothers or sisters?
Lethesa Reliford
I have two brothers, one older, one younger. So, we were a five household family.
Helene Zebrauskas
How would you describe your family growing up were there — were you close knit or any particular shared values?
Lethesa Reliford
We were very close. We spent a lot of time going to the beach, New Smyrna Beach, which is now known as Bethune Beach. Spent a lot of time going downtown Sanford to the — the zoo was downtown at that time on the riverfront — so we would spend a lot of time there. We also spent a lot of time at Big Tree Park, which is located in Longwood.
Helene Zebrauskas
And that’s the park that had burned — the tree had burned down?
Lethesa Reliford
Yes.
Helene Zebrauskas
OK. So, where did you grow up?
Lethesa Reliford
I grew up in Altamonte Springs, East Altamonte.
Helene Zebrauskas
Did you stay in Seminole County — or Altamonte Springs — for most of your upbringing?
Lethesa Reliford
Yes, I did.
Helene Zebrauskas
You attended the Rosenwald School. What year did you begin your education?
Lethesa Reliford 1972, at the age of five.
Helene Zebrauskas
How would you describe your experiences at the Rosenwald School?
Lethesa Reliford
I went to Rosenwald from kindergarten to 2nd grade. Due to segregation, we were bussed to English Estates [Elementary School], which is right down the street from here. So my time there was short, but it was sweet. So I do have, you know, I remember the principal was Mr. Jesse News. My kindergarten teacher was Miss Cora Snead. So I do have some great memories of my short time there.
Helene Zebrauskas
Well, with that in mind, how would you describe your experience at the Rosenwald School?
Lethesa Reliford
They were very strict on education, we had recess, but education was first. I can remember in kindergarten, feeling like I was being punished, actually, but it was — it helped me throughout life. My kindergarten teacher, which again was Miss Cora Snead, she made sure that we knew our addresses. So she carved out a house on construction paper and we would have to write our address on there until we learned it and she did the same thing with the telephone. We would have a replica of a telephone and we had to write our telephone number until we remembered, and then it would go on a board. So we will get stars for those accomplishments. So those were great memories.
Helene Zebrauskas
OK. So, what are some other memories that you have of the school?
Lethesa Reliford
It — well again, my time there was short, but those memories were valid enough for me to, you know,
feel that Rosenwald is still near and dear to my heart.
Helene Zebrauskas
So, knowing that you were a bit younger [attending Rosenwald], how do you feel looking back on those memories?
Lethesa Reliford
I feel that it imparted a lot in me as far as values, core values as far as going throughout life, because again, they were strict on education. So that’s always been — you know I’ve had perfect attendance all throughout school in Seminole County.
Helene Zebrauskas
[laughs]
Lethesa Reliford So that says a lot. For my — my early years educational years.
Helene Zebrauskas
Good to know. So, I know that you had attended the school not for very long. So, if you don’t know the answer to this question, that’s fine. But did you have a favorite subject while you were at Rosenwald?
Lethesa Reliford
No, I didn’t get a chance to.
Helene Zebrauskas
So, OK, good to know. When you were a student in your — you know, middle high school, later elementary — did you have a favorite subject?
Lethesa Reliford
It would probably be math. I enjoyed math. I enjoyed trying to figure things out and, you know,
calculating and helping my classmates, you know, do their work as well.
Helene Zebrauskas
Which math class was your favorite?
Lethesa Reliford
I’m going to say algebra in my later years. Algebra was. So.
Helene Zebrauskas
OK. So, who was your favorite teacher? Regardless if it was at Rosenwald or if it was at another school?
Lethesa Reliford
Honestly, I’m going to say Miss Cora Snead based on my — like I said, the information that she imparted in me, the caring and concern that she displayed at the time of — as her student. She was also my neighbor growing up. So, we were kind of close knit, so that that made a big difference. I felt really comfortable like she was a second mom at that time.
Helene Zebrauskas
Do you feel that reflected the essence of Rosenwald — the relationship that you had with Ms. Snead?
Lethesa Reliford
I believe so, yes. And because as a kid, I mean, you’re what, five years old? I started kindergarten, five years old, which was very fretful, you know, leaving your mom’s side and not really knowing this big old school. And you’re a little kid. So that was kind of, you know, it was frightening initially, but she made it comfortable. The easy process, and I remember always, you know, enjoying the chocolate milk in the classroom. [laughs] So we had nap time, which was also a bonus. But some good, good memories.
Helene Zebrauskas
And what are some of your favorite memories of Ms. Snead?
Lethesa Reliford
Ms. Snead is caring even now today. I mean, we share conversations from time to time. She’s always remained the same. She’s Ms. Snead, you know, and I respect her a lot. And I feel that she does the same. I have a nickname, she does not use it; she calls me Lethesa. So, that’s just what you know…She taught me how to spell my name. So, I think that’s, you know, she’s just ensuring that I am who I am.
That’s who she taught me to be.
Helene Zebrauskas
Wonderful. And in what way did Ms. Snead shape you as a person?
Lethesa Reliford Again, she instilled core values as far as respecting others, even as kids, we had to respect each other.
There was no pushing, shoving that was not tolerated. Making sure that we were educated enough to know where we live, know how to contact someone if we got in trouble, or if we needed to make a phone call. She taught us to share, which was challenging at five years old. You don’t want to share, you know, and most of us had other siblings, so that was a challenge for us as well for her. But she taught us the core values of how to make it on a day to day basis, which I really appreciate.
Helene Zebrauskas
Wonderful. What are some of your favorite childhood memories of growing up in Seminole County?
Lethesa Reliford
Being able to go outside and play. We had to be home before the streetlights came on, but we had freedom, we could ride our bikes. Probably within 3 miles and not, you know, be anybody worried about anybody snatching us or taking us. Or, we could leave our doors unlocked. There was just a sense of community, as I grew up in East Altamonte and we shared as families. We shared good times, bad times,
and different times when we were really community-based. Growing up as a kid, so if I did something down the street, then they were going to reprimand me, and then when I got home it was going to be double. So, I appreciate all of those lashings and all of those, you know, corrective words.
Helene Zebrauskas
So, I know we talked a bit about your favorite places that you visited — like the different parks in Seminole County — what changes have you noticed about any of your favorite places from childhood?
Lethesa Reliford
Well, the beaches are not the same. They’re more — they’re overcrowded. They’re not as clean as they were when we used to go Big Tree [park]. The governor [Editor’s note: The Bald Cypress tree was called The Senator. It was destroyed by fire in 2012.] is no longer there, which is heartbreaking. The Sanford riverfront is beautiful. The zoo has been placed in another beautiful location. So those things I appreciate because our, you know, the zoo was smaller, it’s now larger. But I still enjoy going. Those are things that were again imparted in me that I still enjoy doing. I love going to the beach. I love outside.
We’ve spent a lot of time outside so. [Screaming child in background]
Helene Zebrauskas
So how do you feel about some of these changes?
Lethesa Reliford
They’re not bad changes. There’s a lot of growth in Seminole County which, you know, I remember shopping centers used to be places that are now apartments. I remember places we used to hang out there now also become an apartment. So, the growth in Seminole County is drastic. It does not look the same at all. So, it’s — it’s good, but it’s not so good if you didn’t capture those moments.
Helene Zebrauskas
Right. What was your education — Well, after leaving Rosenwald — but you can sort of just walk through what that looked like.
Lethesa Reliford
Going to English estates, which was a predominantly white school, was frightening. Again, due to segregation, we were bussed from East Altamonte to Fern Park. And we were, as the students were, not as comforting and welcoming as leaving Rosenwald, so we had to make those adjustments throughout my remainder of elementary school, middle school, and I don’t think that kind of evened out until I went to high school, which was at Lyman High School. So I went to elementary school from Rosenwald to English Estates, from English Estates to South Seminole, and from South Seminole to Lyman High School.
Helene Zebrauskas
OK. And so how did you adjust to these changes after leaving Rosenwald?
Lethesa Reliford
They were frightening, but again, based on the community values that have been instilled in us, we stuck together, because we felt like we were all alone. We didn’t have our moms, they couldn’t come walk to the school like they could at Rosenwald. So they had to get in their car and come to English Estates.
There was probably not — probably was not going to be a nice encounter, so we knew going there to stick together again because of the changes — and I don’t think they were ready for us just as well as we weren’t ready for them. You know, just by cultural differences. Not that, you know, anybody hated anybody. We just didn’t understand each other.
Helene Zebrauskas
So in what ways did these challenges from moving out of the Rosenwald School — how did that shape you as a person?
Lethesa Reliford
Well, one thing that I learned at home, and I think it starts at home, is my mom told us to love everybody. Everybody wants the same. Our blood is the same. We are the same. We’re the same people, just different skin tones. So, we will taught not to be prejudice where some people were not taught that. So we endured a lot of racial comments that were not so nice and as a kid, 6-7 years old, you don’t know what that means. So when you go home and tell your mom. They called me this. You know, it’s like, OK, well, don’t say it back. Don’t you know react to it. That was challenging. It really was.
Helene Zebrauskas
Those values that your mother instilled in you: Were those widespread across the students that you grew up with?
Lethesa Reliford
Pretty much. I think, honestly, the starting — I’m going to start back with kindergarten. I can’t think of any of us that have been imprisoned or, you know, on drugs. or got into any illegal activity. So again, I want to applaud Ms. Snead for what she instilled in us, because that says a lot.
Helene Zebrauskas
So in a sense, you felt that Rosenwald protected you for your future.
Lethesa Reliford
Yes, I would say so.
Helene Zebrauskas
So that kind of leads into my follow up question: In what ways do you feel that your education at Rosenwald prepared you for your future?
Lethesa Reliford
Again, they were very strict on education, so I knew to go to school to learn, not to play, not to hang out with friends. I never got into this groupie thing or, you know, skipping under the bleachers. That was not allowed So I – again — I had perfect attendance from kindergarten until graduation, 12th grade at Lyman. So, that…they just instilled in us that we go to school to learn. You have time to play after school and we did that. A lot as well.
Helene Zebrauskas
OK. And what did your education look like after high school?
Lethesa Reliford After high school, I attended Seminole…It was called Seminole State College at that time, attended Orlando Vo Tech, and also a college that was on Fairbanks called Central Florida College, where I basically studied medical classes.
Helene Zebrauskas
Did you earn a degree?
Lethesa Reliford
I did.
Helene Zebrauskas
What degree did you earn?
Lethesa Reliford
I have an AS in health information technology and Certified Nursing Assistant, medical billing and coding.
So, I pretty much — I like helping people, so that kind of kept me in the medical field.
Helene Zebrauskas
Right. So, it sounds like you have a pretty solid work ethic thanks to Miss Snead and Rosenwald. Did you find that your college experience was challenging, or did you find it — was it — did it come naturally to you, since you had such a solid foundation for your education?
Lethesa Reliford
It actually did, and I’m glad you asked, because even when I wanted to take the certified Nursing Assistant course, I went to school for three days and I was bored.
Helene Zebrauskas
[laughs]
So they allowed me to challenge the test and I scored a 98 on it.
Helene Zebrauskas
So, you took the test only after studying for a few days?
Lethesa Reliford
Yes, because I was bored in the class, so — that was like — I was like, no this is not gonna work. Because I knew it. You know, I’ve been — I had been around it for so long that I pretty much knew what to expect and what you know, the job in detail.
Helene Zebrauskas
Did you work as a CNA?
Lethesa Reliford
For a very short time, I did, and then I got a job as a private duty aide. So that is a hard job and it was not for me.
Helene Zebrauskas
So, knowing your educational background, how long did you work in healthcare?
Lethesa Reliford
I am actually still working in healthcare, so I would say from 1987 until present.
Helene Zebrauskas
So, what interested you in pursuing health care?
Lethesa Reliford
Again, I like helping people. I like finding out different things, so — I’ve had courses in phlebotomy, again,
medical billing and coding, certified nursing assistant, home health aide, health information to learn how to do all the background, and you know, the details billing and that so.
Helene Zebrauskas
Did you have a favorite course in college?
Lethesa Reliford Again, I’m going to say math.
Helene Zebrauskas
Was your degree math intensive, or did you have to take any math for your degree?
Lethesa Reliford
A few math classes that was one of the prerequisites, so that was I mean, I just enjoy even now I just start adding stuff up. So then, again, I want to say that was based on my early education years.
Helene Zebrauskas
OK, so you mentioned working in healthcare, what is your current occupation?
Lethesa Reliford
I work for a cardiology group in Orlando, and so I guess you would call it authorization benefit specialist.
Helene Zebrauskas
So, you work with insurance claims?
Lethesa Reliford
Yes.
Helene Zebrauskas
Oh, OK. And, so how long have you been at that job?
Lethesa Reliford
This job I’ve been at for a year now.
Helene Zebrauskas
OK, and what do you think of it?
Lethesa Reliford
I love it. I love it. Again, helping people, being able to provide the best benefit details as possible. Once I perform my insurance verification benefit investigation, so. They’re not always happy with their co-pay amounts, but again.
Helene Zebrauskas
It sounds like a good fit for you, as you seem to be very detail oriented.
Lethesa Reliford
Yes, I enjoy it.
Helene Zebrauskas
So, what is your relationship status? Are you married?
Lethesa Reliford
No.
Helene Zebrauskas
What’s your current relationship status?
Lethesa Reliford
Single.
Helene Zebrauskas
And what does your family look like now? Do you have any children?
Lethesa Reliford
I have one son and I have 3 grandchildren.
Helene Zebrauskas
You want to tell me more about them?
Lethesa Reliford
My son — Well, I have 3 grandkids, 2 boys and a girl. My son, his father passed away, 2016, so it’s just us. You know, I have my brothers and they have — one of them has ten kids and one has five. So, I’ve had to mother them as well so.
Helene Zebrauskas
Oh, and how old is your son?
Lethesa Reliford
My son is 34.
Helene Zebrauskas
OK. And – so, you’re very close to your nieces and nephews as well.
Lethesa Reliford
Yes. What does that look like? Do you spend a lot of time with them, like on a regular basis, or is it more visits now and then? What does that look like?
Lethesa Reliford
Coming up, it was every weekend. Now that they’re older, and they all have jobs or occupations, the time is kind of limited, but we talk on a regular basis, and we do visit when whenever possible.
Helene Zebrauskas
What are some of your favorite things to do with your family?
Lethesa Reliford
Probably have a cookout, go to the beach, go on vacation, travel.
Helene Zebrauskas
Do you still — which beaches do you like to go to now?
Lethesa Reliford
I still enjoy Bethune – or New Smyrna. I love it because there’s no cars on.
Helene Zebrauskas
Oh, yeah. What’s your favorite part about the beach — besides the lack of cars?
Lethesa Reliford
It’s relaxing. I don’t go too far in the water because I cannot swim, believe it or not. But I just enjoy the tranquility of, you know, the sound of the waves and the sand between your toes and won’t throw the water once you get used to it.
Helene Zebrauskas
[laughs]
Helene Zebrauskas
So, in what ways do you contribute to the community?
Lethesa Reliford I am, actually — I started a community garden about two years ago, with the help of Seminole County Agricultural Department, and I also attend regular community meetings. If someone’s in need, I do my part to assist. We had a fire last year, and we came together as a community to get the older gentleman back into his home, and that meant cleaning , retrieving supplies, providing lunch, providing drinks – just being supportive for him.
Helene Zebrauskas
How long have you been involved in the community?
Lethesa Reliford
I would honestly say, pretty much all my life. I mean, I love my community and — You know, I care about the appearance, which is not the same. People have moved in, that they were not an original part of it.
So, they brought their ways of along with the ways of people that may have been there that may have been left, properties that didn’t maintain them. So that’s a big concern of mine is kind of keeping the place clean as much as possible.
Helene Zebrauskas
And what does that look like for you?
Lethesa Reliford
That looks like getting code enforcement involved, getting the Seminole County Sheriff involved, going out, speaking to different homeowners about, you know, maintaining their properties. So that’s a big pet peeve of mine.
Helene Zebrauskas
How have those efforts resulted? Have they been successful?
Lethesa Reliford
They actually have recently. Code enforcement has been very helpful in assisting us in — helping or encouraging people to maintain their property. So, we’re seeing old cars being moved, old debris being taken away, so. The efforts are not in vain.
Helene Zebrauskas
Do you have any examples of that regarding any buildings?
Lethesa Reliford
No buildings yet, that’s my next project. I do have some in mind that with the assistance of the code enforcement and our Commissioner, I would like assistance with, you know, getting them either restored or removed.
Helene Zebrauskas Can you tell me more about these upcoming projects?
Lethesa Reliford
Well, there’s a duplex that is a big eyesore that people have been using to place debris in and opposed to it being filled with debris, I would suggest it be removed. So, that’s one of my next projects as far as requesting assistance from Seminole County.
Helene Zebrauskas
So, what inspired you to start giving back to the community?
Lethesa Reliford
I mean, it’s where I’m — where I’m my heart is. I moved away and went to New York for six months,
which was funny.
Helene Zebrauskas
[laughs]
Lethesa Reliford
And then I realized that people were not the same. They didn’t have Southern hospitality, which I’m very big on, and there was no community. You know, there was no — My cousins grew up in in upper state New York and they didn’t have any friends, and I’m like, that’s insane. You know? What do you mean you can’t call anybody? We were stranded one night, and my cousin and I had, I had to push a SUV in the snow at 12:00 at night, because he couldn’t phone a friend. So, I thought, you know, I was there for six months, and I realized that was not for me. So I came back home where I know most of my neighbors and my community.
Helene Zebrauskas
And what are your — some of your favorite parts about the community in Seminole County?
Lethesa Reliford
Well, again, what used to — the churches. I enjoy going to church, I attend churches in my neighborhood. The networking is not as well as it should be, but that’s also something that I’m willing to work on and and, you know, challenge at some point. Disseminating valuable information is important to me as well. So those are some of my goals, is to keep the community in the loop of things that are —
that are taking place, that they may or may not be aware of.
Helene Zebrauskas
You mentioned that the networking has — is leaving some things to be desired. Can you tell me more about that?
Lethesa Reliford
Well, if I get information I want some — and it’s valuable information that could possibly help someone —
I want to share that information. It does mean no good to keep it to myself if it’s only going to benefit me when it could benefit so many others.
Helene Zebrauskas
And what are some examples of this information?
Lethesa Reliford
I believe Seminole County has programs where they can help come and do home repairs or painting or you know if — Duke Energy just performed a project where they came to do weatherization in our homes, that was a big success and it was something that I shared it with my neighbors, so they went
door to door and if people didn’t get it, it was because they didn’t want it — because the information was provided.
Helene Zebrauskas
In what ways do you think this information could be amplified to the community?
Lethesa Reliford
I’m a big fan of canvassing my neighborhood. I don’t believe in sharing everything on Facebook.
Everybody does not have Facebook, or social media, or even a computer. So, if we’re depending on those resources to disseminate information, we’re never going to get it to everybody.
Helene Zebrauskas
In what ways are you involved in disseminating the information?
Lethesa Reliford Again, I’m a firm believer of canvassing, so if there’s some local county has a medical bus that comes to our community the second Tuesday of every month. So, I printed out flyers and I, along with a friend of mine, we passed the Flyers out to everyone in the neighborhood. Again, if the information is out there and people choose not to use it, then I feel like I did my part.
Helene Zebrauskas Mhm. So, what is your favorite part about being involved in the community?
Lethesa Reliford Seeing the results. I mean, if I know that I was involved in a project or anything, just even passing the word along and people react or respond to it, that’s gratifying to me.
Helene Zebrauskas Mhm. So, what are some of the results of being involved in the community that you are most proud of?
Lethesa Reliford Again, I participate. You know, if needed, I participate in backpack giveaways, soliciting for school supplies with the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, helping to hand out turkeys if needed, gathering supplies for Thanksgiving baskets that we provide in the community. So. just anything that I can put my hands on that’s going to benefit our community, I’m willing to do.
Helene Zebrauskas And what community partnership feels the most meaningful to you?
Lethesa Reliford Again, seeing the results and trying to find likeminded people. Which is also challenging.
Helene Zebrauskas Yeah, I mean, do you have a specific partnership that is most meaningful to you?
Lethesa Reliford Working on that as well. Again, Miss Snead has been very resourceful as far as getting information out.
She played a detrimental [sic] part in disseminating the information for the Duke Energy Project. She text I couldn’t tell you how many people. I was, one of those people that received the text, which was just like a friendly reminder. So, if we can do those type things to continue disseminating information to make sure that we are still networking as a community in – again — sharing resourceful information.
Helene Zebrauskas Wonderful. How do you think you can effectively get younger people involved with the community?
Lethesa Reliford By speaking to them first — having a conversation, because what I’ve noticed, and again, when we were growing up, we had to speak to older people, we had to speak to everybody and there was no — and even now, if I’m somewhere a younger person, or, you know, anybody — I speak to everybody. Which, if that was something that was also instilled in me, but I think that we have lost those values coming out of the household. So, I engage with all people – young, old — and I just engage with people so. I think that’s part of it. Communication is key, and I think that’s the only way we’re going to, actually you know, begin to collaborate as a whole.
Helene Zebrauskas In what ways do you think that the younger population can have an advantage in contributing to the community?
Lethesa Reliford By getting involved, you know, like with the gardening project, again. Turned it over to a older group and then they decided they were tired. So, now it’s not a great looking garden right now. So, I’m going to solicit for younger people to help me, you know, kind of tender it and nurture it and get it back into a feasible state of of use.
Helene Zebrauskas And with the projects that you are involved in, what does the participation — aside from what you had just told me — what does the participation from younger people look like?
Lethesa Reliford Well, I would like to involve male and female, probably starting as young as 12, till 18. You know, when they’re still trying to make decisions as to what their future should look like. A lot of them are really undecided at that point. So, I think if they can pick an interest into something then that may assist them and their goal, their goals in life.
Helene Zebrauskas And what challenges do you face with gauging interest for younger people who want to be involved with the community?
Lethesa Reliford Again, resources and communication. You have kids that — I had both parents, so I don’t really know what a single-family home looks like, but — I think that’s part of our demise as a as a community, is having single-family homes and no one to reach back for those kids.
Helene Zebrauskas And how do you bridge the gap between generational differences?
Lethesa Reliford It’s challenging [Laughs].
Helene Zebrauskas
[Laughs]
Again, communication and making them feel included. You know, a lot of people talk bad about even just their parents, or the way they dress. People say derogatory things, which doesn’t mean that that defines that person. So, I think we need to eliminate that as part of our daily conversation. You know, just based on how they look, you can’t say that they’re criminal or they’re a bad person. So, I think if we start embracing them and encouraging. And more than I think that we could include — they will feel included or want to participate.
Helene Zebrauskas Do you find meaningful relationships across generations with your community involvement?
Lethesa Reliford No.
Helene Zebrauskas Is this something you’re looking to strengthen?
Lethesa Reliford Yes, yes. We always look out for the younger kids — again as far as giving backpacks and school supplies — but I think we need to also reach out to the older people because they paved the way for us. And if that means just stopping by to say hello, giving a kind word, take one pair of socks in the wintertime, just something to show them that they’re still a valued part of our community.
[Pause in recording]
Helene Zebrauskas OK. So what were some events or pastimes growing up that were special to you?
Lethesa Reliford Family time, again. We had this simple meal that was the greatest, my brothers and I used to share when we went to my older aunt’s house, and it was just syrup and bread, and it was the greatest, and there was no if we went home, the syrup and bread wasn’t the same. It just had to come from her house, and she had to put it on the plate and pour the syrup on to serve on it, and it just was so special. So I — and little things like that are meaningful and they’re cherished moments.
Helene Zebrauskas What type of bread, is it if you remember?
Lethesa Reliford It was Wonder Bread and Alaga syrup.
Helene Zebrauskas OK, have you tried to recreate that?
Lethesa Reliford This this syrup’s not the same. It’s not — I did try it, to share it with my grandkids, but –
Helene Zebrauskas Why is that?
Lethesa Reliford I think they changed the ingredients. Yeah, I did want to share that with them. And that was – it just was different.
Helene Zebrauskas What did they think of?
Lethesa Reliford It they thought it was disgusting. It was too sweet. [laughs]
Helene Zebrauskas So they’ll stick to pancakes instead, I guess.
Lethesa Reliford Yes.
Helene Zebrauskas What are some other pastimes?
Lethesa Reliford Just being able to ride our bikes, we used to walk to a local sub shop: Sobik’s Subs that was on 436, and our parents trusted us to go. You know, we were — there was a lot of trust and safety. We feel safe. We were secure. We know to be home before the street lights came on. Fortunately, we lived under a streetlight so that was not a problem for us, but. [Laughs]
Helene Zebrauskas
[laughs]
Lethesa Reliford Those are also moments that I cherish because, you know, we could congregate at our house because we had a streetlight, but everybody else’s mom was yelling for them to come home.
Helene Zebrauskas Mhm. Do you remember what your order was at that shop?
Lethesa Reliford It was a cheesesteak sub.
Helene Zebrauskas Oh.
Lethesa Reliford It was awesome.
Helene Zebrauskas Oh. Is that one of your favorites?
Lethesa Reliford It is, but there’s nothing like that one — that Sobik’s cheesesteak sub was the best.
Helene Zebrauskas
[Laughs] And in what ways do you feel that these pastimes brought the community together?
Lethesa Reliford Because we did things collectively, there could be 20 of us riding bikes together. We might take up the whole street, but we were together. I recently spoke with a few childhood friends, and we shared some memories and some laughs. So there was no — I mean, even if we had an argument today, by tomorrow we were OK. So, there was no violence, there was no fighting, there was no guns. We got mad at each other, but there was — the violence that’s displayed today was not an option.
Helene Zebrauskas And how do you feel about these changes since you were a child in Seminole County and how young people in Seminole County live their lives today?
Lethesa Reliford
Again, I think it comes from the home at first, then being in broken homes I think contributes to it, and also a lack of communication. I don’t think that we’re teaching the kids today to speak to each other.
They speak at each other, and not to each other — or they react at each other and not with each other.
So, I think that’s a big problem as far as the promotion of violence. Because again, we were taught to speak. I mean we talk to each other.
Helene Zebrauskas How do you think these issues with the younger generation can be addressed?
Lethesa Reliford Again, it starts at home. It starts at home and — I mean, I don’t know if it’s fair to even knock on a door if you know someone’s having these problems. And say, hey, you know, I mean that that’s scary as well.
Helene Zebrauskas I think we talked a little bit about this, but just kind of reflecting on your life now, and all of your accomplishments, all of your involvement in the community, how would you say that being a Rosenwald student defined you?
Lethesa Reliford Again, it was my early childhood that imparted a lot of positive influences in my life, and taught me how to deal with life honestly. Even at an early age, there were certain things you knew not to do as — even as far as when you walk in a single file line, not cross over the line, those things mean a lot. I mean it, it helps with driving, because you have to stay in your lane. They taught us to stay in our lane and to be respectful of the person in front of us, the person behind us. So again, those early childhood bearing years were very influential.
Helene Zebrauskas Is there anything else that you would like to share?
Lethesa Reliford I can’t think of anything. I think we pretty much covered everything.
Helene Zebrauskas Alright. Well, thank you very much for your time.
Lethesa Reliford OK, you’re quite welcome.
[End of interview.]