Phelts to address Amelia Island Genealogical Society – May 21

Amelia Island Genealogical Society
Press Release
Submitted by Rob Portegies-Zwart
Program Chair
May 17, 2019 3:00 p.m.

Marsha Dean Phelts is a fifth generation Floridian who has spent her life on the northeast coast of Florida in Jacksonville and American Beach.

The Amelia Island Genealogical Society will hold its regular monthly meeting at 7:00 PM on Tuesday, May 21, 2019 at the Community Room of the Fernandina Beach Public Library, 25 N 4th St. Marsha Phelts will present the story of an enclave now known as American Beach, a 200-acre coastal community of African Americans on the southern end of Amelia Island. She will discuss the pioneering families, some of whose descendants still live in the area.

Marsha Dean Phelts is a fifth generation Floridian who has spent her life on the northeast coast of Florida in Jacksonville and American Beach. Her rewarding career was spent as a children’s librarian in the Duval County Public School System and Florida Genealogy Librarian in the Jacksonville Public Library System. She is now a full-time resident of American Beach. She is the author of An American Beach for African Americans, The American Beach Cookbook, the 75thAnniversary Edition of The American Beach Book of Homes, St. Philip’s Episcopal Church: History and Heritage, Landon Williams: The Boy from Jessie Street, Sollie Mitchell’s 1st 100 Years and her first children’s book 20 Pieces of Peppermint Candy.