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Charles S. Lucas
100th Birthday Celebration
The First State Foundation Inc., in conjunction with the New York Association of Chapters of Alpha (NYACOA), are proud to celebrate a century of life of Mr. Charles Sylvester Lucas. On February 14, 2021, Mr. Lucas will be turning 100 years young, and oh, what a life he has lived. A native of Holly Springs, North Carolina and proud Shaw University alum, Mr. Lucas has spent nearly three quarters of a century dedicated to education and teaching others. In his honor, the First State Foundation, Inc. is proud to announce that it is raising scholarship funds in the name of Charles S. Lucas to support students as they pursue higher education.
With Mr. Lucas celebrating a century of life this month, we are seeking to raise a minimum of $20,000 in scholarships through generous contributions of family, friends and everyone who understands the importance of education and support youth towards their degree. During his birthday month and in honor of black History Month, we are seeking at least 200 contributions in the among of $100 or more to achieve our goal. Through your generous contributions we will achieve our goal, and all donations will go directly to funding students in the name of Charles Lucas. We hope that you will support this scholarship fundraising effort and help to make this century of life celebration for Mr. Lucas even more special and meaningful. We thank you for your support. Contributions can be made via: CashApp: $FirstStateFoundation PayPal: [email protected] Checks: Made payable to “First State Foundation, Inc.” Mailed to: First State Foundation, Inc. 206 West 180th Street Bronx, NY 10453 |
Biography - Charles S. Lucas
Charles Sylvester Lucas was born on February 14, 1921 in Holly Springs, North Carolina. After graduating from Washington High School (Raleigh, North Carolina) in 1938, Lucas went to Shaw University. Lucas ran the Campus Inn providing hamburgers, fries and snacks. However, running the Campus Inn daily for tuition, and keeping up his grades made most extra-curricular activities difficult.
In 1943, he graduated from Shaw University with a History degree and a minor in Sociology. After graduation, his professor recommended him for a job at Barber Scotia Junior College, an all-female institution in Concord, North Carolina. Lucas was hired as a History professor. After teaching for a school year, Lucas went to join his parents in Braddock, PA. He worked in the steel mill for part of the summer before leaving for Cleveland, Ohio where he was determined to use his new degree. He was hired as a Field Work Secretary at the segregated Cedar Branch YMCA. He worked there until 1946 when he was fired for speaking out against discriminatory practices.
He became a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Delta Alpha Lambda Chapter, in 1943. Lucas continued to work in the community with Alpha and made many strong bonds there. He attended Cleveland Law School for a year, but the tuition and expenses were so high, he left to pursue higher paying work.
In 1947, he got a job at Columbia records in Connecticut. He met Virginia Martin during a trip to NYC. They married in 1954 and had two children, Melvelyn and Regina. Lucas continued to work at Columbia records commuting from Connecticut to Brooklyn. When his residence in NYC qualified him for a city job, he took the exam and became a social (work) investigator in 1956. The couple lived happily, but the marriage was short-lived as Virginia passed away only 4 years later. Lucas continued to raise his children alone. He got a supervisor job in 1959, first supervising case workers and then units. During this time, he met Elsa Sealy, who also lived in Brooklyn, NY. They married in 1961. They moved to Queens in 1963 where he resides to this day. They had one daughter, Donna. They remained married until her passing in 2018.
Lucas joined Zeta Zeta Lambda chapter at the suggestion of a co-worker in 1966. He immediately enjoyed the chapter and the brothers greatly. Elsa bought Lucas’ life membership as a gift in 1969. He grew in leadership with the chapter serving as Treasurer, Vice President and Chaplain. He remains an active member providing a historic perspective of the chapter and fraternity while embracing the young brothers, programs and new technology. Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. remains a constant with Lucas regardless of what else may be going on in his life.
When Lucas became a Program Coordinator for the City of New York, he learned everything from the Director. This job prepared him for the Director position because he had to often create and explain social work programs to workers, clients, the Director and the Commissioner. He became the person called to talk to clients when there was problem because he had a knack for creating mutually beneficial outcomes. He became a Director in 1981 and retired in 1994.
Lucas was baptized at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Richmond Hill, shortly after moving to Queens. In 1972, he and his family became members of Grace Episcopal Church where he held the leadership positions of Junior and later Senior Warden. He was considered to be a trusted advisor to several ministers over the decades, one of whom became of a bishop in Cincinnati.
In 1970, Lucas and his wife were concerned about issues in the local public schools so, he ran for the school board. He spoke plainly at various schools in Forest Hills and South Jamaica about what was needed in the schools, creating coalitions of interest, not just color, as the district, (District 28) had both Black and white constituents. Lucas won his election and served for two terms, totaling five (5) years.
Even with the long hours serving in the community, Lucas still found time for the family. When possible, he would make it home for a family dinner and discussion, even if he had to leave again afterward. Each child has stories about things done with Dad. He loves deeply and even when the time was short, the quality was meaningful. He made cartoons, homemade toys, kites and even wrote songs to his children when they were young. He still writes poetry and his stories about growing up in North Carolina are still favorites with his children and grandchildren. He is also an artist and the house is filled with his paintings.
After his retirement, Lucas became the President of the South Ozone Park Coalition of Block Associations in 1995. This organization worked with service providers like the police, Board of Elections and the School Board to ensure the effectiveness of the neighborhood programs and ensure the neighborhood was represented when decisions were made. The relationships built by transparent communication were invaluable to all. The outcomes were very good and the quality of the neighborhood increased.
Lucas was a active member of the group opposing of the “Train to the Plane” to Kennedy Airport. He was concerned the area houses would lose value and there would be no financial benefit to the community with a train running through it. Whether you agreed with the construction or not, it made the City of New York discuss how neighborhoods should be compensated or how communities should be approached going forward. His actions also set the stage to hold the city accountable for any issues incurred during construction as the neighborhood did not choose to have the train built through its center.
Lucas also became the Chair of the Board of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Senior Center in 1995. He remained the Chair for 15 years. The center started in the basement of a community church. He was part of the group that negotiated with the Salvation Army to purchase the current building. He and the Board fundraised, wrote letters to the city and built relationships with those who could finance the building or its programs. He is so pleased that the senior center has been so successful at reaching seniors in the community.
Lucas’ newest project is called “Grandparents Matter”. He periodically convenes his now adult grandchildren to provide the practical wisdom of living so they can have a safe space to talk, bond, ask questions, learn how to invest, learn from his mistakes/successes, avoid common pitfalls and stay close to God and one another. Because his grandchildren have responded so positively, he has created a website and is guiding other grandparents to carve out similar time with their grandchildren. He is also in the process of creating a virtual/recorded reading schedule for his great-granddaughter, Aria.
The life of Charles Lucas is one of family, faith, community activism and fraternity. He often exclaims, “What a life!” “We are blessed and highly favored!” He marvels at what he has done in 100 years and is content to just let God continue to use him.
In 1943, he graduated from Shaw University with a History degree and a minor in Sociology. After graduation, his professor recommended him for a job at Barber Scotia Junior College, an all-female institution in Concord, North Carolina. Lucas was hired as a History professor. After teaching for a school year, Lucas went to join his parents in Braddock, PA. He worked in the steel mill for part of the summer before leaving for Cleveland, Ohio where he was determined to use his new degree. He was hired as a Field Work Secretary at the segregated Cedar Branch YMCA. He worked there until 1946 when he was fired for speaking out against discriminatory practices.
He became a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Delta Alpha Lambda Chapter, in 1943. Lucas continued to work in the community with Alpha and made many strong bonds there. He attended Cleveland Law School for a year, but the tuition and expenses were so high, he left to pursue higher paying work.
In 1947, he got a job at Columbia records in Connecticut. He met Virginia Martin during a trip to NYC. They married in 1954 and had two children, Melvelyn and Regina. Lucas continued to work at Columbia records commuting from Connecticut to Brooklyn. When his residence in NYC qualified him for a city job, he took the exam and became a social (work) investigator in 1956. The couple lived happily, but the marriage was short-lived as Virginia passed away only 4 years later. Lucas continued to raise his children alone. He got a supervisor job in 1959, first supervising case workers and then units. During this time, he met Elsa Sealy, who also lived in Brooklyn, NY. They married in 1961. They moved to Queens in 1963 where he resides to this day. They had one daughter, Donna. They remained married until her passing in 2018.
Lucas joined Zeta Zeta Lambda chapter at the suggestion of a co-worker in 1966. He immediately enjoyed the chapter and the brothers greatly. Elsa bought Lucas’ life membership as a gift in 1969. He grew in leadership with the chapter serving as Treasurer, Vice President and Chaplain. He remains an active member providing a historic perspective of the chapter and fraternity while embracing the young brothers, programs and new technology. Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. remains a constant with Lucas regardless of what else may be going on in his life.
When Lucas became a Program Coordinator for the City of New York, he learned everything from the Director. This job prepared him for the Director position because he had to often create and explain social work programs to workers, clients, the Director and the Commissioner. He became the person called to talk to clients when there was problem because he had a knack for creating mutually beneficial outcomes. He became a Director in 1981 and retired in 1994.
Lucas was baptized at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Richmond Hill, shortly after moving to Queens. In 1972, he and his family became members of Grace Episcopal Church where he held the leadership positions of Junior and later Senior Warden. He was considered to be a trusted advisor to several ministers over the decades, one of whom became of a bishop in Cincinnati.
In 1970, Lucas and his wife were concerned about issues in the local public schools so, he ran for the school board. He spoke plainly at various schools in Forest Hills and South Jamaica about what was needed in the schools, creating coalitions of interest, not just color, as the district, (District 28) had both Black and white constituents. Lucas won his election and served for two terms, totaling five (5) years.
Even with the long hours serving in the community, Lucas still found time for the family. When possible, he would make it home for a family dinner and discussion, even if he had to leave again afterward. Each child has stories about things done with Dad. He loves deeply and even when the time was short, the quality was meaningful. He made cartoons, homemade toys, kites and even wrote songs to his children when they were young. He still writes poetry and his stories about growing up in North Carolina are still favorites with his children and grandchildren. He is also an artist and the house is filled with his paintings.
After his retirement, Lucas became the President of the South Ozone Park Coalition of Block Associations in 1995. This organization worked with service providers like the police, Board of Elections and the School Board to ensure the effectiveness of the neighborhood programs and ensure the neighborhood was represented when decisions were made. The relationships built by transparent communication were invaluable to all. The outcomes were very good and the quality of the neighborhood increased.
Lucas was a active member of the group opposing of the “Train to the Plane” to Kennedy Airport. He was concerned the area houses would lose value and there would be no financial benefit to the community with a train running through it. Whether you agreed with the construction or not, it made the City of New York discuss how neighborhoods should be compensated or how communities should be approached going forward. His actions also set the stage to hold the city accountable for any issues incurred during construction as the neighborhood did not choose to have the train built through its center.
Lucas also became the Chair of the Board of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Senior Center in 1995. He remained the Chair for 15 years. The center started in the basement of a community church. He was part of the group that negotiated with the Salvation Army to purchase the current building. He and the Board fundraised, wrote letters to the city and built relationships with those who could finance the building or its programs. He is so pleased that the senior center has been so successful at reaching seniors in the community.
Lucas’ newest project is called “Grandparents Matter”. He periodically convenes his now adult grandchildren to provide the practical wisdom of living so they can have a safe space to talk, bond, ask questions, learn how to invest, learn from his mistakes/successes, avoid common pitfalls and stay close to God and one another. Because his grandchildren have responded so positively, he has created a website and is guiding other grandparents to carve out similar time with their grandchildren. He is also in the process of creating a virtual/recorded reading schedule for his great-granddaughter, Aria.
The life of Charles Lucas is one of family, faith, community activism and fraternity. He often exclaims, “What a life!” “We are blessed and highly favored!” He marvels at what he has done in 100 years and is content to just let God continue to use him.