LUSBY, Md. — Inside Middleham and St. Peter’s Episcopal Parish Hall on April 26, the room fell quiet as two lifelong friends sat side by side — their hands clasped, a simple gesture that spoke louder than any words.
For the Rev. Irvin Beverly and Dr. Charles Bennett, that moment reflected a friendship that began on Sollers Wharf Road during segregation and has endured for a lifetime.
A Story Rooted On Sollers Wharf Road
The event, “A Conversation Between Good Friends: Growing Up Black and White on Sollers Wharf Road,” brought community members together to hear firsthand accounts of life in Calvert County from the 1940s to today.
The afternoon began with a welcome and prayer, followed by a historical overview of Sollers Wharf Road before the two men took the stage for a moderated conversation and audience discussion.
Beverly, one of 10 children, described growing up in Lusby in a segregated community where his family walked to church each Sunday and attended segregated schools. It was during those early years — working on local farms — that he first met Bennett.
“We were not white or black, we were just friends,” Beverly said.
Though they lived under the realities of segregation, their friendship formed naturally — rooted in proximity, shared work and mutual respect.
A Lesson In Love Through Tragedy
One of the most powerful moments of the afternoon came as Beverly shared a deeply personal story that shaped his life.
He recalled a devastating crash caused by a white drunk driver that killed his brother, sister and two cousins. Struggling to make sense of the loss, Beverly turned to his mother for answers.
“I went to my momma and asked, ‘Momma, how can this be?’” he said.
Her response, he told the audience, became a guiding principle.
“She said, ‘Son, promise me that you’ll love them anyway.’”
Beverly said he made that promise — and has carried it with him ever since.
A Friendship That Came Full Circle
As the two men grew older, their lives took different paths, but their bond remained.
Bennett went on to become a family physician, later returning to Lusby to open his own practice. When he did, Beverly’s family became some of his first patients — a moment that underscored the trust and connection they had built decades earlier.
Bennett, who grew up attending segregated schools before integration began in the mid-1960s, reflected on how his understanding evolved over time.
Faith, Respect, and the Power of Connection
During the conversation, Bennett spoke about the deeper meaning behind their enduring friendship.
“Christ. It is a powerful example, but when it’s possible, when respect, faith and humanity rise above division … it reminds us that even in times of separation and inequity, connection is still possible — and transformation … can begin with something as simple … as friendship,” Bennett said.
Moderating the discussion was Carol McCabe Booker, a noted author and former journalist who covered civil rights issues both nationally and internationally. Her work — and her connection to Calvert County — helped frame the conversation within a broader historical context.
Justice, Reconciliation And Reparations Committee
The event was part of a broader, ongoing effort by Middleham and St. Peter’s Episcopal Parish to confront its historical ties to slavery and systemic racism.
Through its Justice, Reconciliation and Reparations Committee, the parish has spent more than a decade researching and acknowledging its past, including the use of enslaved labor in the construction of Middleham Chapel in the 18th century.
According to materials provided at the event, the committee’s work centers on four key commitments: telling the truth about the church’s history and race, fostering repentance, promoting reconciliation and working toward repairing the lasting impacts of injustice.
The committee supports these efforts through education, open dialogue and community engagement, with the goal of building mutual understanding, respect and equity among people of all racial and ethnic backgrounds.
Organizers noted that the work is ongoing, with a continued focus on strengthening relationships within the parish and the broader Calvert County community.
A Community Moved By Memory
During the audience question-and-answer session, attendees shared personal reflections, including one individual who spoke about Beverly’s mother, recalling her as “such a great person and a Christian.”
Throughout the event, the room remained attentive — at times quiet, at times filled with nods of recognition — as stories of hardship, faith and friendship unfolded.
A Living Example Of What’s Possible
As the conversation came to a close, it was not just the words that lingered, but the visible bond between the two men at its center.
Their story — shaped by segregation, strengthened by faith and sustained through decades — offered more than a look into the past.
It provided a living example of what is possible.
And in a room filled with neighbors, history and shared reflection, that message was clear: even in the face of division, connection can endure — and sometimes, it begins with something as simple as friendship.
Related Article: A Friendship That Defied Segregation: Lusby Event Explores Life on Sollers Wharf Road
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