Third Place, Sports Picture Story - Jessica Phelps / Newark Advocate, “Coaching Creates Deep Roots For Croom Family”The Croom family has always been tight knit. Starting with Ruby, who raised six children by herself. Her daughter, Shela was a star volleyball player in high school, and later returned to coach at the same school and passed that love onto her daughters, Tashia, Tavia and Taya. All three daughters played in high school and now coach in the district themselves. The great grandchildren now carry the torch and play for the same high school and pee wee leagues as their mom’s. The family has set down deep roots through coaching and a love for each other in a town where many Black families decide to leave, feeling isolated in a mostly white, conservative community. Ruby instilled a confidence to persevere through anything in her children who have also passed that strength on through the generations. Tashia Croom holds her young son, Kendrix while she coaches the Heath volleyball team October 7, 2020. Tashia coaches the team with her mom, Shela Croom. Both played volleyball for Heath high school while in high school.
Third Place, Sports Picture Story - Jessica Phelps / Newark Advocate, “Coaching Creates Deep Roots For Croom Family”Taliyah Holmes holds her baby brother, Kendrix while her great-grandmother, Ruby Stinson comes over to congratulate her on her first basketball of the season, November 21, 2020. Ruby, who is the matriarch of the family raised 6 children by herself in the Heath area. Ruby is the reason the entire extended family is always there to support each other whether at children games or through the tough times. She is the reason all the women in the family have so much inner strength and self confidence. The roots Ruby established in the area is also a large part of why this Black family has choses to stay in a largely white, conservative area when so many other Black families have left.
Third Place, Sports Picture Story - Jessica Phelps / Newark Advocate, “Coaching Creates Deep Roots For Croom Family”Tashia Croom trims the last little long strands from her daughter, Taliyah's hair while her younger sisters, Taya and Tavia hold up lights and help her. The 3 sisters are extremely close. Most evening one or both of them drop by Tashia's home. They all coach volleyball for middle school and high school, along with their mom, Shela. The sisters also coach middle school basketball. Taliyah plays both sports at the high school.
Third Place, Sports Picture Story - Jessica Phelps / Newark Advocate, “Coaching Creates Deep Roots For Croom Family”Tashia Croom holds her young son, Kendrix while she visits with her grandmother, Ruby Stinson before her daughter, Taliyah's first basketball of the year, November 21, 2020.
Third Place, Sports Picture Story - Jessica Phelps / Newark Advocate, “Coaching Creates Deep Roots For Croom Family”Taya Croom plays a tough game of 1 on 1 with her nephew Kam in the Heath High School gum after cheering for her niece, Taliyah at her varsity basketball game on December 15, 2020.
Third Place, Sports Picture Story - Jessica Phelps / Newark Advocate, “Coaching Creates Deep Roots For Croom Family”Shela Croom keeps stats at a Heath 7th and 8th grade school games her daughters, Tavia and Taya coach December 10, 2020. Her grandson, Kam leans on her trying to stay awake during the games. The Croom family has put down roots in Heath with Shela Croom coaching high school volleyball with her daughter Tashia and her younger two daughters coaching middle school teams. Her granddaughter, Taliyah plays Heath volleyball and basketball.
Third Place, Sports Picture Story - Jessica Phelps / Newark Advocate, “Coaching Creates Deep Roots For Croom Family”Sisters Tavia Croom (right) and her sister, Taya Croom, (left) cheer on the Heath 7th grade girls basketball team December 10, 2020. Both sisters coach the middle school teams while their older sister and mom coach high school volleyball in the fall. The tight knit family had developed deep roots in Heath as well as with each other, keeping them tied to an area that many Black families leave after a few years.
Third Place, Sports Picture Story - Jessica Phelps / Newark Advocate, “Coaching Creates Deep Roots For Croom Family”Tashia Croom holds her son Kendrix as he tries to climb into the bathtub. Tashia and her family balance work, time with each other and still have time to spend at the high school gym where her daughter plays multiple sports and Tashia and her mom and fiancé all coach.
Third Place, Sports Picture Story - Jessica Phelps / Newark Advocate, “Coaching Creates Deep Roots For Croom Family”Life is busy for Tashia Croom. Between work, coaching, and raising a young son with her fiancé. She makes time for her daughter Taliyah though in small ways like straightening and trimming her hair. Family is important to Tashia and her sisters who always show up to support one another.
Third Place, Sports Picture Story - Jessica Phelps / Newark Advocate, “Coaching Creates Deep Roots For Croom Family”The Croom family celebrate Taya Croom's birthday at the Pizza Cottage on November 3, 2020. The family has set down deep roots in a town where many Black families decide to leave, feeling isolated in a mostly white community. The family has actively gotten involved and coach different sports at the Pee Wee, middle school and high school level.
