Fran Silver, my mentor and friend, died June 17 at the age of 94.
I had an opportunity to meet her at a youth race relations event at the United Presbyterian Church in the late ’70s where young adults shared their experiences of growing up in Oak Ridge during the ’60s and the Oak Ridge civil rights era. I still remembered her cornering me.
“Young lady, you have a great way of conveying your experiences and you need to research and share information of your community.” She went on to say ”I can help you” in that effort as I was a part of the civil rights events in Oak Ridge. I shrugged my shoulders and told her thank you but ”I am really not interested at this time.” I further thought, Who is the lady trying to empower me to research more? I mean I had not long graduated from Berea College and was trying to find work, not become an unpaid social researcher.
I shared with my mom the encounter and my mom said she is an important person and contributed much to furthering education as a volunteer at the Scarboro High School. I was somewhat embarrassed as I had not been very friendly with her. No problem. Fran called me within two days and I was apprehensive about her call and wondered how did she get my number? I could not get a word in, and we met and she shared some important resources on the history of the Scarboro Community and Oak Ridge.
So you might say the relationship between Fran and Rose, like Bonnie and Clyde, began. Fran was a detailed educator and writer who encouraged me to interview and tape individuals so documentation would be concise.
“Rose, you have to go to these individuals and interview them, you should not believe everything I say,” she said. So she was instrumental in me researching more information on the community I grew up in.
As years passed, she would invite me to collaborative events sponsored by the Jewish synagogue, the community, and sometimes the state. She would sometimes travel with me to these events or just encourage me to attend to learn more about my community and history throughout the state.
As stated in her obituary, Fran was one of those rare people whose presence changed the lives of everyone she met for the better. She had a a passion for social justice, radical inclusion of marginalized people, and was able to lift the spirits and strength of those she met, enabling them to accomplish change in their lives and in her community. Indeed, she did that for me.
There was quite a large difference in our ages, but she had an appreciation of all art forms, especially music, and I found both of us attending programs sponsored by the Oak Ridge Civic Music Association, where sometimes I was the only Black person in the audience. Since she usually had a yearly subscription, she would call me and we would attend programs together.
Fran was also a community socialist. She supported soul and jazz music events and invited her friends. We collaborated and that enhanced our friendship. I enjoyed her company and she was apprised of my appreciation of all art forms.
Fran was active in the Civil Rights Movement and sometimes protested at the laundromats and skating rink. I remembered one time when prior to a demonstration I joined with her and others trying to integrate the skating rink and the manager said tonight is for special organizations and we are not opened for your kind. She opened her mouth and said what kind, and the manager responded “not you either.” If you knew Fran, she was one with words and went on to say. “So, because we are not white, with long hair, the correct color or accent we do not have admission to your establishment.” To think this small stature of woman was stern with no thought of leaving the establishment. I could see the fear in the manager’s eyes. He shut the door and we left.
Fran also provided me background information through newspaper articles, publications and oral histories of individuals in my community and the city of Oak Ridge, but specifically of the Scarboro High School and hers and others’ work to ensure that there be a high school.
Fran was one of those rare people whose presence changed the lives of everyone she met for the better. I did not realize her age because she had a great deal of energy and spunk. I will miss the telephone calls, her evaluations of information I submitted and just genuine feedback. Thanks, Fran, for being my friend.
She Embodied All
Written by Rose Weaver in memory of Fran Silver
She embodied kindness and concern,
Was accessible whenever you phoned.
Never changing in façade,
Supportive on good and bad days.
This small statue of a woman could convey,
Changes that would eventually take place,
For she was one not for color but the entire human race.
Better than gold was the time she gave,
To console a friend or…