The predominately African American Royal Terrace neighborhood bordering Moncrief and Edgewood Avenue on the Northside with over 2000+ residents is surviving against the odds. Despite being surrounding by absentee landlords, most residents own their homes. For lifelong friends that grew up in the area, the neighborhood represents their childhood memories, family gatherings and school reunions comprising “the village” for a healthy lifestyle.
Nurtured in local schools including Susie Tolbert Elementary, James Weldon Johnson Middle School and Raines High school, children grew up developing life long bonds that last a lifetime. Many of the friends enlisted in the military and pursued higher education to become entrepreneurs with careers as engineers and corporate executives to secure futures for their families.
To this day, Royal Terrace families to continue the tradition of friendship and camaraderie. In 2015, several friends formed the Royal Terrace Veterans breakfast club Roundtable. Every second Friday for the past four years, the gentlemen have gathered for breakfast and decide who they will assist next. The group volunteers at local shelters in addition to mentoring youth in the school system and on the street to the youngsters in an effort to show them that someone cares outside of their household about their future.
“It takes a village to raise a child, and Royal Terrace was that village,” said member William Turpin. “its only fair we return God’s grace.”
Shown l-r is RTVC members Chico King, Blane Cross, Jerald Jackson, Louis Benton, William Turpin, John Meuse and Harold Scott.
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