Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-05
JENNIE DEAN DIES
At VIRGINIA HOME
Founder of the industrial
School for CoI0fed Youth
at Manassas.
SUNDAY SCHOOL WORKER
AND CHURCH ORGANIZER
Woman Born in Slavery Becomes
Benefactor of Her Race-Her
Active Career.

Jennie Dean. the founder OF the Manas-
sas Industrial School for CoIored Youth
died al her home near Sudiey Springs.
Va. on the Bull Run battlefield. Satur-
day morning Her remains will be in
TERED in the family lot in Calvary
Church cemetery near her home this
afternoon. The building OF Calvary
Church was her first missionary work.
In the passing OF Jennie Dean the world
loses one of its quiet benefactors. and
the coored people of Virginia one OF their
truest friends. according 10 the popular
estimate Of her career. She made up for
her little educational advantages by the
exercise Of rich natural ability and
practical knowledge OF people and human
needs
Jennie Dean was born during slavery
days. She was about five years old
when the civil war broke out. For a
few years she attended the first public
William county. and later came TO
Washington to enter domestic service.
While performing the ordinary duties
OF household servant she found
time TO attend the afternoon coiored
Sunday school Of the First CongreGa-
tional Church. 10th and q streets
northwest. where she learned the val
ue OF Sunday school work. Later she
became a member of the Nineteenth
Street Baptist Church. OF which Rev.
Walter III. Brooks was pastor, and MT
Brooks. observing her exceptional
abilities, encouraged her to take up
mission work for her own people in
northern Virginia
Outline of Her Activities.
She organized her first Sunday school
in her own home in the early eighties
and from this developed her first mis-
sion church. Calvary Chapel. nearby
Four other Baptist churches We're or
ganized and started through her ef-
forts at Conklin. Wellington, Burkes
and Pilgrims Rest-and all are -four
ishfng churches today.
But her great work was that OF the
Manassas Industrial School for Colored
Youth located one mile from Manassas,
Va Her conception Of this school grew
out of her Sunday school work. Born of
parents who were trained in slavery to do
household garden and farm work with
skill and industry. and having been her
self trained by them, and knowing how
things should be done, her heart ached
for the poorly fed and poorly clad chill
dren who came to her Sunday schools.
and she organized Saturday afternoon in
dustrial classes in cooking and sewing in
connection with her other work. Seeing
the inadequacy of these to meet the needs
an Industrial school, where they could
be taught all ordinary manual pursuits
and this idea gradually took practical
shape.
She found friends among the white
people in Virginia and Washington. who
introduced her in Boston. New York.
Philadelphia and other places, where she
became known as the financial agent of
her school.
Never robust in physique, her strength
gradually gave way under the strain, and
since 1908 she has been an invalid. though
with the help OF friends she has been
comfortably cared for in her own home.
Her Faith in Christianity.
Jennie Dean had an abiding faith in the
Christian religion. and IL was this. her
friends say. that upheld her and helped
her to win success. Those who knew her
intimately say she was cautious, prudent.
self-sacrificing. with personal character
above reproach. and spotless integrity
in handling money as a financial agent.
Among those who aided her in carrying
out her plans were the late Crosby :.
Moves. Rev. Edward Everett Hale. Rev.
s. NJ Newman. Rev. L. g. b. Pierce. Mrs
Burton Harrison, Representative Francis
Burton Harrison. Rev Percy S. Grant.
Bishop Potter, Bishop Greer Mrs. NJ. {.
Whitman Miss Emily Rowland and Mrs
c. e. Hackey.