A Friendship That Defied Segregation: Lusby Event Explores Life On Sollers Wharf Road

LUSBY, Md. — A quiet road in Calvert County holds a powerful story — one of friendship that endured through segregation, social change and the passage of time.
Later this month, that story will come to life as two lifelong friends reflect on their shared past and the lessons it offers for today’s community.

A Friendship Rooted In A Divided Time

“A Conversation Between Good Friends: Growing Up Black and White on Sollers Wharf Road, Calvert County, from the 1940s to the present” will be held Sunday, April 26, from 2 to 4 p.m. at Middleham and St. Peter’s Episcopal Parish Hall in Lusby. The event is free and open to the public.

The program will feature The Rev. Irvin Beverly and Dr. Charles Bennett, two men who grew up on the same road in Lusby during segregation, yet experienced very different realities. Despite those differences, the pair formed a friendship as boys that has lasted a lifetime.

Their story offers a rare, firsthand glimpse into life in Southern Maryland during a period marked by racial division, and how personal connection can transcend even the deepest societal barriers.

Lives Of Service, Shaped By Community

Both men went on to become pillars of the community in their own ways.

Beverly currently serves as a pastor for Bethesda United Methodist and has served in churches across Calvert and St. Mary’s counties and is a founding member of SMILE in Lusby, a nonprofit that supports families in need.

Bennett built a long career as a family physician, working with CalvertHealth, caring for generations of local families and serving as a doctor for several high school athletic teams. He has also been an active supporter of Middleham and St. Peter’s Parish and SMILE.

Together, their lives reflect a shared commitment to service — shaped by their upbringing and strengthened by their enduring friendship.

Guided By A Voice In Civil Rights History

The discussion will be moderated by Carol McCabe Booker, a noted author, lawyer and international journalist with deep ties to Calvert County.

Booker was involved in the Civil Rights Movement on a national level and co-authored “Shocking the Conscience: A Reporter’s Account of the Civil Rights Movement” with her late husband, Simeon Booker, a trailblazing Black journalist for Jet, Ebony and The Washington Post.

Today, she continues to write about the region’s history, bringing broader context to local stories like that of Beverly and Bennett.

A Community Conversation For The Future

Hosted by Middleham and St. Peter’s Episcopal Parish, the event is part of the church’s ongoing effort to acknowledge and address its historical ties to racism and slavery.

Over the past 15 years, the parish has worked through its Justice, Reconciliation and Reparations Committee to research its history, foster transparency and build stronger relationships with the Black community.

Organizers Hugh and Diane Davies say the goal of the event is not only to reflect on the past, but to encourage meaningful dialogue about the future — using the lived experiences of Beverly and Bennett as a starting point.

An Invitation To Listen And Learn

As Calvert County continues to grow and evolve, this conversation offers residents an opportunity to pause, listen and better understand the experiences that have shaped their community.

Through one enduring friendship, attendees are invited to explore how understanding the past can help build stronger connections moving forward.

Residents are encouraged to attend, listen and engage in a conversation that spans generations, experiences and perspectives all rooted in one enduring friendship.

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