1934
Mona Blake
2023
Mona Blake
October 27, 1934 — November 16, 2023
Sandy Spring
Mona Blake was born October 27, 1934 in Harlem Hospital
New York City to progressive parents Charles White and Shirley Blacker who were involved in
social activism and sharing socialist beliefs in tolerance and equality. Both migrated to New York
to strive for a better life. One’s family originated from the share cropper fields of
Georgia/Alabama and the other from the Jewish ghettos of Russia, now Ukraine. Although her
parents union dissolved before she started school, their values in social justice foreshadowed her
own. Shirley Blacker later married Elmer Hurst Williams who she met through his sister, Edna, a
civil rights icon in Des Moines, IA. The Williams’ moved to the Bronx and her brother Larry
was born April 1940. Soon thereafter they moved to Springfield, MA. Mona often spoke
lovingly about her father’s unique roots in Bellows Falls, VT and his experiences training 5-
Gaited show horses with his father. She admired his blue-collar work ethic and her mother’s
efforts as a unionized garment worker. Mona was a diligent student and attended Brookings
Elementary School, Buckingham Junior High School and Classical High School in Springfield,
MA. She later spoke nostalgically about the diverse ethnicities of Springfield families and the
progressive attitudes of Reverend Cleage (father to Pearl) who gave the youth a voice. She
played basketball in school and in summer did activities at Camp Unity, one of the first
multiracial camps in the US and New York. The camp was founded by the mostly Jewish
International Ladies Garment Workers her mother was a member of, and also had a legacy of
fostering diversity of class, religion and social ideology. Camp theatrical and music arts
programs were influenced by accomplished guests including names like Paul Robeson, Dizzy
Gillespie, Harry Belafonte and Lorraine Hansberry who exchanged their time for free resort
stays. It is noteworthy that Mona was an accomplished pianist who could have received a
music scholarship and she had a gift for sketching and drawing. Mona met her first husband,
James Somers at Camp Unity and they married after high school and had a son, Michael Paul.
Michael also shared similar artistic gifts.
Early college years were spent at University of Massachusetts where she studied to be an
educator despite her career counselor’s discouraging comments about black female teachers.
Sadly her marriage ended and she was invited by Springfield friend Sid Hall to Washington, DC
to transfer to Howard University to complete her BA degree. She lived on Adams Street with
Larry and his wife. Family connection and higher education was foundational to the Williams’
siblings.
During the Howard years there was a flurry of activity from the civil rights movement and
Muhammad Ali and Stokely Carmichael spoke to students on campus; Nina Simone performed.
Mona met her future husband, a professor by the name of Dr. Elias Blake, Jr., who shared her
social justice values. They both were profoundly inspired by attending the March on Washington.
They wed in May 1964 in Ft. Valley, GA at sister-in-law Allene Blake-Lawson’s house. The
Blake siblings also shared similar values for family and higher education. The two families
would spend many holidays together in DC or GA for decades. After marriage Mona started
teaching history at Spingarn HS in DC and continued her education at Catholic University before
the Blakes moved to Reston, VA.
Around this time, Dr. Blake co-founded the ISE think tank to research Historically Black
Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and equal opportunity in education. In 1969 Mona Blake
was a co-founder of Reston Black Focus, created to raise awareness and support “a diverse
integrated community where men can comfortably and meaningfully live, work and raise
families” and to “lose the fears of the unknown other”. November 1972 son Elias Ayinde was
born in D.C. Mona soon thereafter was appointed the first black woman on the Fairfax County
School Board from 1972 - 1975 and she sought to change a policy for testing black children for
sickle cell anemia. Life long friendships were forged from her Reston experiences.
The Blakes were called to Atlanta, GA from 1977 to 1987 to be the first family of Clark College.
During this time Mona decided to attend Emory University Law School where she received a
Juris Doctorate and taught law in Clark’s expanded mass media program. She also obtained a
real estate license.Mona passed the bar in GA, VA and DC and started a practiced privately
between 1980 - 1986. Additionally she served as the Deputy Director of Elections for the State
of Georgia from 1983-1984 working closely with secretary of state and senator Max Cleland.
While practicing law she took on cases in business, housing, domestic relations and juvenile
courts, keeping in tune with her ideals of fairness and empowerment for the marginalized and
had interest in wrongful incarceration.
As the First Lady of Clark College she also did public relations activities and showed her eye for
design at cultural and social events she hosted. The president’s house was a welcoming
environment and students often had cherished impromptu invites to have intellectual discussion.
The Blakes shared a reverence for jazz and black music and ironically Dizzy Gillespie was also a
recurring guest who enriched the schools jazz programs. The Blake family returned to
Washington, DC in 1987 at which time Mona took on the position of General Counsel for the
D.C. Lottery. She became an expert in charitable gaming and traveled domestically and abroad to
conferences and did extensive continuing education until 2004. She traveled at least annually to
visit her network of Reston friends in Durham, NC, New York, NY and Martha’s Vineyard, MA
and debates on current events and literature would abound.
Mona began her retirement years and continued her interest in art and piano and engaged in
cultural activities including Smithsonian association events.
She was valued mentor, colleague and friend and shared wisdom with many who crossed her
path. She showed enduring courage and strength in a decade long battle with
Alzheimers/Dementia (AD) but her intellect and concern would still shine thru.
On Thursday, November 16, 2023 she transitioned to her heavenly home with God. Predeceased
by her father(s) Charles White and Elmer H. Williams; mother-Shirley Blacker Williams; aunt
Evelyn Blacker Vafiades; cousins Jeannie Vafiades Wheeler and Noah Blacker; brothers
Lawrence E Williams and Charles Anthony White; son – Michael Blake; husband Elias Blake
Jr.;family friends “Reg and Floss”
She leaves to cherish her memory, her son Elias A Blake; granddaughter Eliza Blake; sister
Illona Williams; nieces - Vietta Williams, Celine White, Ruth Lawson-Lingo; nephews –
Donald and Claude Lawson; sister-in- law- Francis Williams; close “famfriend” Ursula Davis;
multiple other nieces, nephews, cousins and family friends.
A larger memorial service will be planned at a future date after the visitation and interment on
Saturday 12/2 from 12-3 pm.
Flowers maybe sent to Gaschs funeral home or AD donations may be made here,
ce=bing&utm_medium=paidsearch&utm_campaign=giving_bing&msclkid=84fd132baedc16631
5d8764d80cc9567![]()
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Mona Blake, please visit our flower store.
Service Schedule
Past Services
Viewing
Saturday, December 2, 2023
12:00 - 2:00 pm (Eastern time)
Gasch's Funeral Home P.A.
Burial
Saturday, December 2, 2023
3:00 - 3:30 pm (Eastern time)
George Washington Cemetery
Guestbook
Visits: 150
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors