Education & Empowerment Through the NAACP Youth Council:
​A Living Legacy of Scholarship and Leadership

By:  Charlotte A. Clark-Frieson aka Wilkie Clark's Daughter
March, 1981
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At the Clark Historic Landmark Site, we do not speak of civil rights as a memory. We speak of it as work. Real work. Measurable work. Transformational work.

One of the clearest examples of that work is found in the educational advancement of young people through the Randolph County NAACP Youth Council — where Wilkie and Hattie Lee Clark were not merely participants, but steady architects of opportunity.

The Agnes Jones Jackson Scholarship: A National Honor

In 1981, Angelia Renee Henderson, a graduate of Handley High School, was awarded the prestigious Agnes Jones Jackson Scholarship, sponsored by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

This was not a local award.
This was national.
Only a limited number of scholarships were awarded across the United States. Recipients were selected based on:
  • Academic excellence
  • Demonstrated leadership
  • Active NAACP membership for at least two consecutive years
  • Recommendations from school officials and NAACP leadership
  • Angelia qualified on every measure.

She had been a committed member of the Randolph County NAACP Youth Council for five years. She served as co–vice president and later president of the Youth Advisory Council. She was art editor of her school newspaper, The Triangle. She had already been recognized by the Tuskegee Institute School of Engineering with an additional scholarship award.

This was not accidental achievement.
It was cultivated excellence.

The Role of the Clark Family in Youth Development.

Wilkie Clark understood something many did not: civil rights without education is unfinished business.
The Youth Council was not a social club. It was a training ground.
Young people were taught:
  • Parliamentary procedure
  • Public speaking
  • Civic engagement
  • Academic discipline
  • Moral accountability

And when scholarship applications were submitted, they were submitted with the full weight of preparation behind them.
Thomas TurnerMr. Thomas E. Turner, Superintendent
Mr. Thomas E. Turner, then superintendent of Roanoke City Schools personally endorsed Angelia’s application, describing her as an extraordinary leader, industrious, courteous, and committed to high ideals. That kind of endorsement does not appear overnight. It reflects a student who had been mentored, challenged, and positioned to excel.
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March 20, 1981 Letter From Superintendent Thomas E. Turner
PictureMs. Angelia Renee Henderson Handley High School Graduating Class Of 1981
From Youth Council to Professional Success

Angelia went on to attend Georgia State University, graduating in 1985 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Journalism. Today, she works in the legal field in the Atlanta area — continuing a life defined by discipline, intellect, and service.

She is one of 27 women who co-authored a book entitled "The Strength Of My Soul, Stories Of Sisterhood, Triumph and Inspiration" presented by ShaRon Jamison.

And yes — we are still proud of her.

Not simply because she succeeded, but because she embodied what the NAACP Youth Council was designed to produce: educated, articulate, ethically grounded young leaders.

She was held up as the model Youth Council member — not for perfection, but for commitment.

What This Means for the Clark Historic Landmark Site

This story matters because it demonstrates impact.

The Clark legacy was not confined to funerals or protests or meetings. It extended into classrooms. Into scholarship committees. Into recommendation letters. Into the futures of young people who might otherwise have been overlooked.

The Clark Historic Landmark Site preserves more than buildings. It preserves proof:
  • Proof that organized Black civic leadership produced tangible academic opportunity.
  • Proof that local NAACP chapters shaped national outcomes.
  • Proof that mentorship changes the trajectory of lives.
  • Education was — and remains — a pillar of the Clark family’s civil rights commitment.
  • And Angelia Renee Henderson stands as one of its shining examples.
The Agnes Jones Jackson Scholarship Current Details

The Agnes Jones Jackson Scholarship is one of many funding opportunities available to students through NAACP's Inspire Initiatives. We offer scholarships to outstanding and qualified students pursuing undergraduate degrees. Through the generosity of our donors, we advance efforts to ensure equity in educational opportunity that prepares students for success in school, work, and life.

The Agnes Jones Jackson Scholarship honors the late Agnes Jones Jackson who was a long-time NAACP member from the San Francisco branch.

Scholarship amount: $2,000

This is a non-renewable scholarship opportunity.