Two Generations Serving Davidson College, 1987

Title

Two Generations Serving Davidson College, 1987

Description

Newspaper article about Enoch Donaldson and his son Hujohn Donaldson

Creator

Marjean Torrence

Date

April 22, 1987

Text

The people at Davidson College and the citizens of Davidson remember Enoch Donaldson as a friendly, loyal and dedicated person whom everyone shared a mutual respect for.
He lived a long distinctive life and most of it was spent working as a custodian at Davidson College. He was also called the vice president of the college when Dr. John B. Shearer was president because there were no telephones and Dr. Shearer utilized him to carry messages to students and professors.
Donaldson was paid $1 a month by students who wanted their rooms cleaned and their beds made. While working for the students, Enoch also worked in the old physics building.
In the 1950s some decided he was too old to work, but he refused to hear anything about retireing [sic]. To him, it was a privilege to work at the college and he would not be deprived of doing so.
Out of friendship and deep respect, he was kept on the payroll. His new job was to keep th [sic] front steps of Chambers clean. When students would return back to campus for homecoming or graduation or other events, Enoch Donaldson would greet them on the steps of Chambers.
Mr. Enoch Donaldson died February 25, 1962. His age was based on when he got married and when he began working at the college. It was estimated that Enoch was 93-years-old. He was a lifelong member of Reeve's Temple A.M.E. Zion Church and served on many committees.
Everyone in Mecklenburg and other surrounding counties, except the very, very young, knew and adored "Hujohn", as he was so affectionately known.
He and his wife Eugenia were blessed with 12 children and took in three more, who were treated as their own.
Mr. Hujohn was a member of Reeves Temple A.M.E. Zion Church but he always found time to attend all the other churches in and around the community.
He was the son of Mr. Enoch Donaldson, who was a custodian at Davidson College and helped Hujohn to get odd jobs at the college when he was eleven years old. He later became a custodian and painter.
For 60 years he worked at Davidson College as custodian, handyman, painter and as he used to say, "I'm a counselor for the students".
Mr. Hujohn never retired and said he never would. He would not know just what to do with himself if he could not work.
In his 60 years at the college, he would always look forward to attending the homecoming games. He would say he had to go see his old friends and his students.
His most favorite poem was "Let Me Live In The House By the Side of the Road and Be A Friend To Man."
He really was a friend to everyone and he will always be remembered in Davidson.

Publisher

Mecklenburg Gazette

Language

English

Source

Folder: Janitors at Davidson College