George Ford Sr & Victoria (Smith) Ford

Vanee Robinson was born on August 20th, 1922 to Viola and Robert Toliver on a farm near Bryant, Texas. She is the oldest of six siblings.  Her family moved to Bryant, TX when she was 8 years old, where she began her education career.  While at school, she met Jacob Robinson.  Her mother wasn’t thrilled with the idea that she was dropping out of school to marry Jacob, but they had their minds made up, and nothing could change them.

Vanee married Jacob "J.C." Robinson, who was the son of James and Pearl Robison. From their union they were blessed with seven children: Curtis, Verna, Melvin, Willie, Thomas, Green (died at infancy), and George.  She remembered there being good times and hard times.  Both parents had to work hard to raise their large family, and she said it was hard leaving the children each day, in order to make ends meet.

Little did Vanee know that by moving to Alaska she would be making history.  Her children were among the first black children to attend school in Anchorage,  AK. She is also a founding member of the first African American church in Anchorage, Greater Friendship Baptist Church. 

Vanee began her career with the Government, but after her job ended she sought work with a janitorial service company. While working there, she saw an opportunity to go into business for herself. So, keeping up with the family legacy, Vanee and her friend Martha Fair opened up a janitorial service company. Her business grew from just the two of them to six employees. Soon after, Vanee opened up her own barbeque cafe.

Vanee has written articles that were published in the first African-American monthly newspaper in Anchorage, Alaska, the Spotlight. In 1966 Vanee was awarded Mother of the Year by the City of Anchorage. She is a member of the NAACP and the National Association of Colored Women.  She is considered a pioneer of Anchorage, AK and was honored by the Alaska State Legislature on March 20, 2002.  Also, the story about her move to Alaska has been published in a book call, We Alaskans: stories of people who help build the Great Land: Volume II. Recently, Vanee was named Pioneer of the Year by North to the Future Business and Professional Women

Her youngest son, George Robinson, passed away in the earlier part of 2002 after a long battle with diabetes.   Was an active member at Greater Friendship Baptist Church, which is still located on the corner of 13th and Ingra. 

Her family has grown substantially over the many years, and today she has many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren. 

Robert Webb “Tardy” Toliver was born on August 26, 1924 to the union of Viola and Robert Ira Toliver in Bryan, Texas.  He was educated in the public school system.  He joined the Roans Chapel Baptist Church as a child and loved Jesus very much.  While he was a teenager, he organized a quartet at Washington Chapel Baptist and they truly sang for the Lord all over the state. 

When he was 18 years old he joined the army and served his country well for three years in World War II.  Following the armed services, he moved to Denver, Colorado and joined the Ford clan there. 

On September 16, 1947 he married Millie Stoker and to this union four children were born, Robert, Jr., Brenda, Patsy and Patricia.  He loved his wife and children unconditionally.  Then came the grandchildren that changed his life and name forever.  He became “Gramps” to five grandchildren and four great grandchildren.  He adopted many other children who also called him Gramps. 

He was truly concerned about youth.  Robert Toliver had five sisters that he dearly loved and they visited with him and his family, in Denver, every chance that they got. He was owner/manager of ABC Landscaping for 50 years providing employment for many unemployed young men. 

He taught young men how to work and took care of themselves and their families.  He taught by precept and example.  He also, worked evenings at such places as C &S Railroad, C.A. Norgren, Empire Oldsmobile, and many others.  He owned a clothing boutique for about five years until his health started to fail him. Deacon Toliver not only worked hard in his professional life, but he worked even harder for Christ. 

He joined Union Baptist Church in 1949 under the leadership of the late Reverend John. T. Walker.  He became an ordained deacon at Union Baptist Church and served faithfully in many capacities for 25 years.  He was a Deacon from his heart, singing, praying, teaching Sunday School, and serving as the Sunday School Superintendent.  

Whatever God told him to do, he was obedient and willing.  In the words of Mrs. Sarah Foster, “Robert Toliver was a Deacon every where he went.”  In November of 1974, he became a member and Deacon at Divine Baptist Church.  Deacon Toliver truly loved his church and served as a faithful soldier in the Army of the Lord until he was ushered into his eternal home in Glory. 

Iris Jean Toliver Scott was born on June 15, 1931 in College Station, TX. That was her birthday until she retired, then her birthday changed to June 16, 1930. She found out a long time ago that her birthday was in 1930, but didn't use that birthdate until it helped her retire early. She was the third child of Jack and Viola Toliver, and grew up at 1617 Park Place with her loving parents, four sisters, and one brother.

Iris loved to read romance magazines, novels, and poetry. It was her favorite passtime until she discovered movies. She has a library that is the size of a room of books and movies.

As a young women with three children, Sharon Frances Tyson; Larry Dornell Toliver; and Rondall Lynn Toliver, Iris married Emmitt Watson. To this union her last child, Donna Gayle Watson was born. She has 12 grandchildren, and eight great grandchildren, with one due on May 9th, 2006.

In July 1963 she relocated from Texas to Palo Alto, California to start a new life. Iris went to work at El Camino Hospital in the Housekeeping Department. They purchased a home, but she was widowed in 1968 due to an accidental death of Emmitt. She later married Herbert Scott, and relocated to San Jose, CA.   However, that marriage ended in divorce with no children. 

 Iris worked hard at El Camino, and jumped at the opportunity to participate in the nursing assistant program. After completeing that stepping stone, she continued up the ladder to become Unit Administrator Secretary for Six West until her retirement. She retired in 1994 after 33 years. The quality of her work was so superior, that she received four raises, after she retired. They still called her to work regularly for eight more years.

She was active in the missions in St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church, and was often called for her writing and speaking skills. 

  Marjorie Toliver Thompson (Fan), was born January 2, 1933.  Her hobbies are creative writing, canning, floral designing, and “shopping ti'l she drops.”  She currently resides in Millican, Texas, where she stayed after returning to help her husband care for his ailing mother. 

   Marjorie is married to E. Lee Thompson; they moved to California in May of 1953 after Lee spent time in the Army. She has traveled to Alaska, Colorado, and has traveled along the Pacific Coast.  As a child she traveled to Vancouver, Washington with her parents, and returned to Texas in 1945.

Marjorie serves as the Chairperson
of the Roans Chapel Baptist Church Shepherd’s Staff (same as the
Trustee Board in some churches).
She is an accomplished public speaker, beginning her career in California and continues today in Texas.  She speaks on Biblical issues, Leadership, Sunday School, and she teaches training on Church Development of Leaders on the local, district and state levels.

She is a member of the Brazos Valley Community Action Board of Directors and the Board for the Medical Committee of Bryan/College Station Medical Center. 

 Marjorie is the mother of 8 children: Paul L. Thompson, Yolanda Thompson-Holley, Vicki L. Thompson, Rachelle Thompson-Scott, Russell Thompson, Ricky Thompson, Lonnie Thompson and Phillip Thompson.  She has 12 grandchildren and great grandchildren AND great-great grandchildren. 

Marjorie retired from El Camino Hospital in 1983 and from Drew Medical Center in 1993. 

Currently 2021 "Fan" is the last living child of Viola Ford-Toliver.

Eleanor Joyce Williams was born in College Station, Texas.  At a young age she traveled to Vancouver, Washington, with her mother and father and returned to College Station in 1945.  She attended Lincoln High School and graduated in 1955 as class Valedictorian.  She attended Prairie View A & M and received a four year academic scholarship after the first semester. 

She married Tollie Williams, Jr., and to this union 7 children were born: Rodrick L. Williams, Viola Kaye Williams-Smith, Darryl D. Williams, Eric “Randy” Williams, Dana D. Williams-Robinson, Sheila Williams-Watkins and Kenneth R. Williams.  She is the grandmother of 21 and has four great grandchildren. 

Eleanor moved to Anchorage, Alaska, in 1963 thanks to the assistance of her sister Vanee Robinson.  In Alaska she attended Gambell Street Business College, Anchorage Community College and the University of Alaska Anchorage.

She later began workwith the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as a Clerk Stenographer, GS-4, and later became the first African American woman to be certified as a full performance level air traffic controller in the FAA.   Eleanor worked in Anchorage, Alaska; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Atlanta, Georgia; Washington, D.C.;Olathe, Kansas; Kansas City, Missouri; Oberlin, Ohio; and Chicago, Illinois.  She retired after 32 years and received a number of accolades. 

Mary Nell Toliver Maddox was born on May 18, 1939 in College Station, TX to Viola and Robert Jack Toliver. Mary Nell graduated from Lincoln High School in 1957 in College Station, and moved to Alaska the same year.

She married Carl Maddox in June 28, 1959 in Anchorage, AK. Carl was in the Air Force, and the military transferred them to Sumter, SC. They remained there 21/2 years, and Carl was honorably discharged. Mary and her family then moved to Wildwood, New Jersey. In Wildwood, Mary worked as a presser in a laundry and Carl worked in accounting.

After moving to the Bay Area, she attended San Jose City College where she received her Associated degree in General Education. With her degree, she did research work for the Standford Regional Medical Program with Dr. Fowkles. This was the most rewarding job of her work life. Mary Nell then went to work for East Pallo Alto Community Council, a political position.

Mary Nell and Carl had five children. They were born all over the United States, due to her military lifestyle. Karl was born in Anchorage, AK; Dale was born in Sumpter, SC; Bridgette was born in Bryan, TX; Kabiba was born Wilmington, DE; and Aisha was born in California. She currently has 20 grandchildren, and five great grandchildren.

Mary Nell moved back to Anchorage in 1990, and became a foster parent.