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| Joseph "Smokye Joe" Frank is the winner of the 2024 Historic Preservation Award presented by the Natchez Historical Society. |
NATCHEZ, Miss. – Joseph “Smokye Joe” Frank, a retired archaeologist and local historian, is the winner of the 2024 Historic Preservation Award presented by the Natchez Historical Society.
Karen Hill, the society’s president, shared the news at a
recent board meeting.
“On behalf of the Natchez Historical Society, I am so
pleased that we could honor Smokye Joe for his archaeological and historical
contributions,” she said. “His work over the years has played a vital role in
helping us to better understand and appreciate our history.”
The Historic Preservation Award honors individuals or
organizations who have made a significant contribution to historic preservation
or the study of history within the Natchez area.
When Frank learned of his selection for the award, he
said he was flattered. “I Just turned 80 this year,” he said. “There are places
I want to go and get back to in order to do the actual field work. But at my
age, I simply can’t do it. This recognition makes a difference. It makes
turning 80 not as bad. It makes growing old worthwhile.”
Frank said the last time he was surprised in this way was
in 1980, when he was selected to sit on the Louisiana National Register of
Historic Places Review Committee.
The preservation award will be presented to Frank at the
society’s 2024 Annual Dinner at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 23, at the Natchez Grand Hotel, 111
N. Broadway St.
Frank currently serves on the Natchez Preservation
Commission. He is also a tour guide at Elms Court and Hope Farm. He previously
served as an officer with the Natchez Historical Society.
In 2004, the Mississippi Archaeological Society honored
him as the winner of the Calvin J. Brown Award. Several years ago, he was also
awarded the L.B. Jones award by the Mississippi Archaeological Association for
his years of contributions to Mississippi Archaeology.
Frank’s work as an archaeologist in Natchez started in
the early 1960s, a year after he graduated from Cathedral High School, where he
played football.
“In 1962, Robert S. Neitzel, archaeologist, gave me a job
digging at the Grand Village of the Natchez Indians,” he recalled. “That made
up my mind. From then to the spring of 1970, I worked, went to school, and
looked for Natchez Indian sites.”
For six years during the 1960s, Frank served with the
Mississippi National Guard. In the spring of 1970, he graduated from
Northwestern State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and
anthropology.
The next year found him working with Dr. Jeff P. Brain of
the Peabody Museum, with whom he assisted with a Lower Mississippi Survey and
spent his summer surveying the Natchez Bluff. During this time, he took college
students to visit his sties. One of those students was Ian W. Brown, who is now
professor emeritus in the Department of Anthropology at the University of
Alabama.
Brown recounted: “In 1971 and 1972, Smokye was a major
aid to Jeffrey P. Brain’s Lower Mississippi Survey’s operations surveying the
Natchez Bluffs. This was a Peabody Museum, Harvard University project. It was
at that time that Vin Steponaitis and I got to know Smokye very well, as he was
constantly tracking down new sites for us.”
Brown said Frank also conducted research with Dr.
Elizabeth Boggess, another respected archaeologist in Natchez. Boggess refers
to Frank as her “colleague and dear friend.” She said that she was only a
graduate student when they were assigned to check on all the previously
recorded archaeological sites in this area.
“Over the years, I realize that I probably learned more
from him than from any of my professors!,” she said.
In 1976, Frank graduated from Northwestern with a
master’s degree in social studies with an emphasis on anthropology.
Frank’s work as an archaeologist can be seen in various
locations in Natchez and Adams County. In 2015, he spearheaded efforts that
resulted in the Adams County Board of Supervisors designating the portion of
Lower Woodville Road — from Col. John Pitchford Parkway to the Sibley post
office — as the Tunica Trail Tricentennial Bypass.
Frank said that what is now known as Lower Woodville Road
was at one time a trail used by the Tunica Indians. “The early travelers
labeled it the Tunica Trail,” he said.
Prior to this designation, Frank successfully led efforts
to have Morgantown Road designated as the Natchez and Hamburg Railroad Company
Memorial Byway.
In addition to his work in Mississippi, Frank served as
an officer in the Southwest Louisiana Archaeological Society and in the newly
formed Louisiana Archaeological Society.
During the 1990s, Frank worked with the Natchez Trace
Archaeologist of the National Park surveying the last nine miles of the
uncompleted development of the Natchez Trace Parkway into Natchez.
When surveying a site, “the goal is to determine whether
human occupation ever occurred there,” Frank explained. He said the work
involves, among other things, going out and selecting an area, looking at the
land, walking the land, looking for artifacts, digging test holes, studying
plants, studying geological information, and putting the information in a
report.
Surveying also involves researching the history of the
property, going back as far as one can, he said.
Since his retirement from the State of Louisiana in 2001,
Frank continues to do research on various projects. In addition to looking for
Natchez sites, he is retracing the Natchez and Hamburg Tracks.
Between 2001 and 2010, Frank assisted an archaeologist on
sites on Fort Rosalie and The Natchez Trace.
Jessica Crawford, southeast regional director for The
Archaeological Conservancy, and longtime friend of Frank, applauded his
achievements.
“In 1971, he helped search for the Tunica Treasure, and
he’s recorded hundreds of sites,” she said. “I know he deserves many
accolades!”
For more information on the society’s 2024 annual dinner
and the presentation of Frank’s award, visit natchezhistoricalsociety.org or
call 281-731-4433 or 601-492-3004.
World War II veteran Gwendolyn Freeman Johnson is pictured here with members of her unit. She is in the second row, third person from the right.
NATCHEZ, Miss. – Filmmaker James William Theres
believed for some time that the late Gwendolyn Freeman Johnson was a member of
the World War II unit known as the “Six Triple Eight,” but his belief was based
on anecdotal evidence. On Thursday, Dec. 7, 2023, Theres learned from Johnson’s
military records that she was indeed a member of the mostly Black female unit
that played a vital role in the war.
“This journey has been filled with excitement,” said Theres. “Working with the National Cemetery Administration to track down Mrs. Johnson’s service discharge record from 1946 was so rewarding. And now working with the family to have her headstone reflect her military service is one of the highlights of my career.”
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| Ben Tucker, an Army veteran and volunteer with Home with Heroes, recently laid a wreath on Gwendolyn Freeman Johnson's grave during the Wreath Across America campaign. |
Theres said his initial views about Johnson’s status were based on the research by Vietnam veteran Marsha Holder, who penned a biographical note about Johnson on Findagrave.com.
As a member of the 6888th, Johnson is posthumously
awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for her service. The medal, according to
Theres, is U.S. Congress’ highest expression of national appreciation for
distinguished achievements and contributions by individuals, institutions or
groups. The legislation for the medal was signed into law by President Biden in
March 2022.
Johnson’s daughter, Nazarita Franklin of Vicksburg, said
she was thrilled to learn about the recognition given to her mother.
“She would be very touched and proud of this honor,” she
said. “It was not just about her, but over 850 other women who served. She was
very proud of being a veteran, and she was very happy to go overseas. She kept
a lot of pictures and different mementos from her time in the military.”
Nazarita’s daughter, Bridget Franklin of Memphis, said
she was “incredibly proud” of her grandmother. “She told me different stories
about her service when we were growing up. She was extremely proud of the work
she did. This (medal) is a very nice honor,” she said.
‘No Mail, Low Morale’
Johnson’s records show that she was a Private First Class in the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion. According to Theres, she was one of the 855 women in the first and only predominantly black female battalion who served in Europe during World War II. Among other achievements, he said, her battalion cleared a two-year backlog of mail and helped process for delivery more than 17 million pieces of mail near the end of the war.
Image of Gwendolyn Freeman Johnson in military uniform during World War II. Johnson served with the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, which is known as the "Six Triple Eight." It was the first and only predominantly Black female battalion that helped process for delivery more than 17 million pieces of mail near the end of the war.
“Six Triple Eight” was the nickname given to Johnson’s
battalion, whose motto was “No Mail, Low Morale.” The Army Women’s Foundation
website notes: “The unit served at home and in Europe where they sorted and
routed mail for millions of American service members and civilians. By dividing
their work into shifts that ran 365 days a week, the women processed an average
of 65,000 pieces of mail per shift. On 15 March 2016, the U.S. Army
Women’s Foundation inducted the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion into
the Army Women’s Hall of Fame.”
When it comes to the Six Triple Eight, one cannot
overestimate their importance to the military and to the United States’
history, said Theres. He suggested their work had a significant impact on the
morale of U.S. servicemembers and their families, even during a time of racial
segregation in the military.
Theres is the director and producer of “The Six Triple
Eight,” which he showed in November at the Natchez Museum of African American
History and Culture.
Johnson, who passed in 2017 at the age of 92, is only one
of two women from Natchez who served with the 6888th. The other was Louise R.
Bruce (1913-1996). Both women are interred at the Natchez National Cemetery.
Now that Johnson’s military history has been verified,
her family can have her headstone updated to show her service with the 6888th.
“If the family desires, the National Cemetery Administration will process the
newly-discovered paperwork to change the headstone at the gravesite where she’s
buried with her Army husband to reflect her military service as well,” Theres
explained.
Her military service
Johnson’s military history is provided on her discharge
document known as the “Report of Separation” form. Interestingly, however, the
form appears to be partially burned, which suggests that her records may have
been part of another historic event.
“It looks like the edges of the form are burnt, which is
amazing because that means the document survived the great military records
fire in 1973 in St. Louis when millions of records were lost,” said Theres.
“It’s another cool piece of history to add to her journey.”
Johnson was born in 1924, in Iowa. When she enlisted in
the military in July 1944, she was living in Chicago, Ill., according to her
military records. During her tour of duty, she worked as a clerk typist.
The family said Johnson was stationed at in Rouen,
France, when she met her husband, James Johnson, who was assigned to a
transportation division, along with his twin brother, John. Gwendolyn Johnson
was a member of the Women’s Army Corps, which was known as WAC.
Gwendolyn Johnson was honorably discharged in March 1946.
Her records note that she was awarded the Victory Medal, the
European-African-Middle-Eastern Ribbon, two Overseas Service Bars, and Good
Conduct Medal.
Gwendolyn moved to Natchez, her husband’s home, after the
war, her daughter said. As for her career as a civilian, her family said that
she worked a short time as a postal worker in Natchez. “As far as I know, she
was the first black woman to work at the Natchez post office,” Nazarita said.
Gwendolyn spent many years working in other fields. According to the family, she worked as a financial officer for AJFC Community Action Agency before retiring in 2000.
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| Image of Gwendolyn Freeman Johnson in her later years. Johnson passed away in October 2017 at the age of 92. |
“Even though she was not born in Natchez, she was always
proud of Natchez,” Nazarita said, noting that over the years, she enjoyed her
relationship with extended family in Natchez. Renza Grennell, mother of former
Natchez Mayor Darryl V. Grennell, is Gwendolyn’s niece.
Nazarita said that in addition to serving her country,
Gwendolyn lived a life that had a profound influence on her family and her
community.
“She was very proud of her service to our country,” she
said. “She instilled in us the belief that serving your country is a good
thing, and she encouraged us to see that working with your community is both
necessary and honorable.”
On the back row from left are Alderwoman Valencia Hall and her sister, Ursula Hall; Valerie Smith, friend of Helen Winston; Christopher Owens, grandson of Jessie Winston; and Mayor Dan Gibson. In the front, from left are the daughters of Jessie Winston: Helen Winston, Diane Butler, and Betty Malone. His daughter, Dorothy Winston, the mother of Christopher, is deceased.
The marker is located at Winston’s home at 81 E. Franklin St., a few yards east of the Natchez Stew Pot. It is also the site of the barbershop that he opened behind his home in 1942.
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| The late Jessie Winston (1910 - 2020) worked as a barber for 89 years. He was 101 when he gave his last haircut. He was considered the oldest barber in Natchez. |
Mayor Dan Gibson, Alderwoman Valencia Hall, and members of Winston’s family dedicated the marker Thursday, Dec. 21, in a special ceremony in front of the Winston property. They were joined by friends and others from the community.
“Since the beginning of our administration, we have been
working to better tell our whole story and feature those individuals who have
made a lasting impact on Natchez,” said Gibson. “Mr. Winston’s long life and
amazing career as a barber is an inspiration to all of us.
“How fitting it is that we should celebrate this
occasion, and this new marker, on the eve of what would have been his 113th
birthday.”
Winston was born on Christmas Day in 1910. He died
on April 15, 2020, at the age of 109.
The mayor thanked Winston’s daughter, Helen Winston, for her “persistence in honoring Mr. Jeff’s historic life.” He said Jessie Winston was Natchez’s oldest citizen and “quite possibly one of the longest serving barbers in our nation’s history.”
In a dedication ceremony led by Mayor Dan Gibson on Thursday, Dec. 21, this historical marker was unveiled at the home of the late Jessie "Jeff" Winston at 81 E. Franklin St. Winston's barbershop is located behind the home.
Jessie Winston was 101 when he gave his last haircut, according to Helen
Winston. She said he “cut hair for 89 years,” which reportedly made him the
longest-working barber in the City of Natchez.
Helen Winston said that she and the Winston family are
all happy about the marker and the recognition shown to her father. “I am so
overwhelmed,” she said. “ This is a blessing to the family. I am grateful to
Alderwoman Valencia Hall and Mayor Dan Gibson for making this possible.”
Helen Winston said she was in Walmart one day when she
approached Hall about doing something to honor Jessie Winston. Three days
later, she heard back from Hall, who said she had met with the mayor and that a
marker would be approved.
Helen Winston said her father will be remembered for his
“good works” and for being “good to a lot of people.” When people without money
came for haircuts, he told them not to worry about it, she said.
“He was a happy camper,” Helen Winston recalled. “He
loved to laugh.”
Following Thursday’s ceremony, the Winston family gave a
tour of the barbershop to the mayor and others who wanted to know more about
Jessie Winston’s history.
Jessie Winston worked for many years at Armstrong Tire
and Rubber Company, from where he retired. Over the years, people would ask him
about the secret to his longevity. His reply, said Helen Winston, was a verse
in the Bible: “Honor thy father and mother that thy days may be long.”
Hall described Jessie Winston as a “devoted husband and
father and spiritual individual.”
“It is most fitting that Mr. Jeff, as he was
affectionately known, be memorialized with this historical marker in front of
his home and barbershop,” she said on Friday.
Hall noted he “was not just a barber for 89 years of his
109 years of life, but a fixture in the community and friend to many a boy,
man, woman, and girl.” He was fortunate in many ways, she explained, adding “he
died at the age of 109 with all of his faculties.”
For a life that was long and well-lived, Hall said of
Jessie Winston, “Well done, Faithful Servant!”
The self-guided history tour, of which the Winston
property is now a part, features nearly 30 sites related to African American
history. The project was unveiled in a special ceremony in February 2023. The
tour is a joint initiative of the City of Natchez and NAPAC Museum. Gibson has
said the project is one of many ways through which the city is telling its
complete history.
David Nolen of MSU will be the featured speaker
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| David Nolen, professor Mississippi State University |
Anne Moody's book, "Coming of Age in Mississippi," has remained in print since the first day it was published in December 1968.
CENTREVILLE, Miss. — The Town of Centreville has been approved for a Mississippi Freedom Trail marker that will honor the legacy of Anne Moody and her work in the civil rights movement of the 1960s, announced John Spann, program and outreach officer for the Mississippi Humanities Council.
Spann shared the news Thursday, Dec. 14, following a meeting of the Freedom Trail Scholarly Review Committee.
The memorial to Moody will be the first Freedom Trail marker erected in Wilkinson County. The location has not been determined, but it will be posted in 2024, according to Spann.
The Mississippi Freedom Trail was created to commemorate the people and places in the state that played a pivotal role in the American Civil Rights Movement. As of Dec. 14, a total of 35 new markers have been approved. The Freedom Trail markers are managed by the Mississippi Humanities Council, with partnership and funding provided by Visit Mississippi.
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| Anne Moody (1940-2015) Photo by Jack Schrier |
Moody’s family, along with Centreville residents,
business and community leaders, were ecstatic about Moody receiving a Freedom
Trail marker.
“This is exciting news,” said Frances Jefferson, Moody’s sister. “This will certainly help the current generation to understand the importance of her work for civil rights and her legacy.”
Felicia Williams, Moody’s cousin and former Centreville Alderwoman, said the marker will be good for Centreville and for Wilkinson County.
“I was elated to receive a phone call informing me that Anne Moody would be honored on the Mississippi Freedom Trail,” she said. “This is not just an honor for her and her family but also for the Centreville community. Anne suffered greatly for a cause in which she believed in and a cause that now allows African Americans to live the long talked about American dream.”
Moody, who was born and raised in Centreville, was a civil rights activist and the author of “Coming of Age in Mississippi,” which chronicles her life as a poor Black girl growing up under Jim Crow. The book also provides riveting accounts of her work in the struggle for civil rights.
In raw details, Moody wrote about the sacrifices that she and others made in the fight for freedom and justice. She also recounted the challenges and threats she faced during nonviolent protests to register voters and desegregate public spaces.
In 2021, her work as a writer was officially recognized on the Mississippi Writers Trail. A historical marker recognizing her work was posted and unveiled in The Louis Gaulden and Riquita Jackson Family Memorial Park in Centreville.
Moody died at her home in 2015 at the age of 74. At the time of her death, she was living in Gloster, a small town located nine miles north of Centreville.
The Reverend Larry Lee, former mayor of Centreville, said he is happy to see Moody recognized on the Freedom Trail.
“The Mississippi Freedom Trail Marker for Anne Moody is a great honor to mark the trail blazed through her sacrifice and contribution during the Civil Rights Movement,” he said. “Anne Moody is an icon for those who wanted justice, freedom and hope for communities suppressed by the challenges of racism in Mississippi. I am grateful to the Committee for choosing to bestow such a great honor in memory of Anne Moody.”
Guy McNabb, president of the Centreville Chamber of Commerce, agreed. “This is great news!” he said. “Centreville Chamber of Commerce is honored to have given our letter of support for a historic event such as this.”
McNabb said the chamber is proud to be a partner for this project.
Support for the marker was echoed by Centreville Town Clerk Kimberly Montgomery. “This is wonderful news,” she said. “Although we were hoping to recognize Mr. Samuel O’Quinn with this significant marker, I am equally thrilled to further recognize the works of Anne Moody.”
Montgomery said the new marker will undoubtedly “help to keep the history of Centreville relevant.”
Photo by Chrissy Wilson
Woodville African American Museum
See more at: https://listenupyall.com/2023/12/15/civil-rights-pioneer-anne-moody-to-be-part-of-the-mississippi-freedom-trail/
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| Willie Carter of Natchez stands in front of the two-story building that once served as the meeting place for the Natchez Deacons for Defense and Justice. Carter is the current owner of the building which is now home to two small businesses. The barbershop is where the Deacons organized in September 1965 under the leadership of President James "Big Jack" Jackson, who worked as a barber. (Photo taken in February 2022./Submitted Photo |
NATCHEZ, Miss. -- The building once used as a meeting place for the Natchez Deacons for Defense and Justice will be the site of a second Mississippi Freedom Trail Marker in Natchez, announced John Spann, program and outreach officer for the Mississippi Humanities Council. He shared the news Wednesday, Dec. 13, following a meeting of the Freedom Trail Scholarly Review Committee.
Spann said the committee felt the application for the
marker, which was prepared by the Natchez Civil Rights Trail Committee, was
“compelling” and the site was “definitely deserving of being on
the Freedom Trail.”
The building is located at 319 N. Dr. M. L. King St.
(formerly Pine Street). It is a two-story wood-frame structure that housed the
Donnan’s Barbershop on the first floor in the 1960s. The barbershop is where
the Deacons organized in September 1965 under the leadership of President James
“Big Jack” Jackson, who worked as a barber.
“We are excited to bring the story of the Deacons for
Defense to the Mississippi Freedom Trail,” said Spann. “Stories like theirs
give a different perspective of the movement that is seldom discussed. It’s
important to the Freedom Trail Committee to add markers that uplift unknown
people, events, and nuance essential to the Mississippi freedom movement.
Telling this story of organized armed defense of civil rights activity and
leaders of this state, fits our mission.”
Willie Carter, who worked as a shoe-shiner in the
barbershop in the early 1960s, and later as a barber, is the current owner of
the building.
When he worked at the site, the building was owned by
Leon Donnan, he said. According to Ser
Seshsh Ab Heter-Clifford M. Boxley, a former Deacon, Donnan “was extremely
influential on the civil rights strategy.”
Carter said he was happy to learn that Donnan’s
Barbershop is being recognized for its role in the civil rights movement in
Natchez. “I am grateful,” he said. “It
gives me great pride to know that this barbershop was allowed to be part of the
Natchez movement that enabled Black people to have freedom and be recognized in
the society.
“I appreciate the contributions of the people in our
community whose work and sacrifices got us to where we are today. I’m also
thankful that Leon Donnan allowed the Deacons to use his barbershop for their
meetings. I’m grateful to have been a part of this important movement.”
Mayor Dan Gibson suggested the recognition is one of many
ways in which the city of Natchez is working to tell its complete history.
“Since the beginning of our administration, we have been
working to tell a more inclusive history of Natchez,” he said. “Up until then,
our city was not even listed as on our state’s Freedom Trail or on America’s
Civil Rights Trail. This now will be the second marker placed in Natchez in
less than one year, placing us solidly on both trails. I am so grateful. And I
applaud the work of those who have been working to make this happen. Telling
our whole story is key to bringing our city together as One Natchez.”
Natchez’s first Freedom Trail marker was unveiled in
April this year at the Dr. John Banks House at 9 St. Catherine St. In 1965, the house served as the headquarters
for the Natchez Branch of the NAACP. It was also the home of NAACP George
Metcalfe who used it as a boarding house for civil rights workers.
NAPAC Museum Director Bobby Dennis said the announcement
of Donnan’s Barbershop being recognized is good news for Natchez. He suggested there is much to be told about
this barbershop and the people who came through it.
“It was a gathering place of civil rights workers and
educators, as well,” he said, noting many prominent people in the African
American community frequented the door of the barbershop. “The barbershop was
the hottest spot for most of the people who had any role in the civil rights
movement,” he said.
The Deacons for Defense was a civil rights
paramilitary organization of African Americans who provided armed protection
for civil rights workers and the Black community. It was founded in 1964 in Jonesboro, La., in
response to the terror and violent acts of the Ku Klux Klans against civil
rights activists.
The Natchez Deacons organized soon after the attempted
assassination of NAACP George Metcalfe, whose car was bombed by members of the
Ku Klux Klan on Aug. 27, 1965, in the parking lot of Armstrong Tire and Rubber
Company. Metcalfe survived the bombing with major injuries.
In a February 2022 interview, Boxley said Donnan’s
Barbershop played an important role in the civil rights movement. He said it was a command post and observation
point used by the Deacons to keep an eye on the Klan, among other things.
Boxley said the Deacons aided the Natchez movement in
becoming one of the most successful movements in the South. Because of this success, Natchez became a
model for other communities in Mississippi.
According to historians, the impact of the Natchez Deacons was
felt throughout the state as they established chapters in other areas,
including Wilkinson and Jefferson counties.
Historian Akinyele Omowale Umoja noted: “The Natchez
Deacons became an essential ingredient in the Natchez and the Mississippi
movements…..Without a doubt, the Deacons made the Natchez and Mississippi
movements more effective.”
The Mississippi Freedom Trail was created to commemorate
the people and places in the state that played a pivotal role in the American
Civil Rights Movement. As of Dec. 14, a
total of 35 new markers have been approved.
The Freedom Trail markers are managed by the Mississippi Humanities
Council, with partnership and funding provided by Visit Mississippi.
Read more at: https://www.natchezdemocrat.com/2023/12/14/donnans-barbershop-building-approved-for-mississippi-freedom-trail-marker/
See full article here: https://shorturl.at/ahoR8
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| Sculptor Bob Willis and Sunnyside Bed & Breakfast owner Colleen Wilkins celebrate the recent unveiling of Willis' bust of the Rev. William Hamilton Watkins. Watkins built Sunnyside as a parsonage in the 1850s. |
NATCHEZ, Miss. – Despite facing a serious storm on Monday evening, a group of friends and visitors came out to see the unveiling of Bob Willis’ bust of the Rev. William Hamilton Watkins (1815-1881) at Sunnyside Bed & Breakfast at 102 Rembert St.
Watkins was the Civil War-era preacher who built
Sunnyside as a parsonage in the 1850s. As pastor of Jefferson Street Methodist
Church, he was known as a preacher of conviction and the minister who conducted
the funeral service for William Johnson, the “Barber of Natchez,” in 1851,
according to Wilkins.
“There is a story with Rev. Watkins,” said Wilkins. “We
dedicate our tours to talking about the history of Rev. Watkins. After I saw
his bust, I knew this would be just the thing to put an exclamation point on
the end our story. We can now point to the bust and say, ‘This is a likeness of
him sculpted by Bob Willis.’”
Willis is a retired pastor and grief counselor who lives
in Oklahoma. He’s been a sculptor for almost 30 years. He and his wife, Lynn,
are frequent visitors to Natchez, a place, he said, they absolutely love. Over
the years, he has sculpted several important figures from the city’s history.
Earlier this year, Zion Chapel A.M.E. Church commissioned
Willis to sculpt a bust of Hiram Rhodes Revels, the first African American to
serve in the U.S. Congress. Revels was also an early pastor of Zion Chapel and
the first president of Alcorn A&M College, which is now Alcorn State
University, in Lorman. The church unveiled Revels’ bust during a special
ceremony on Sept. 30.
Wilkins said she learned of Willis’ work through her
friend, Ann Elizabeth Kaiser, who oversees The Manse at 307 South Rankin. The
Manse houses three of Willis’ sculptures.
“She wanted me to meet him and so she brought him over,”
Wilkins recalled. “He showed me pictures of some of the things he’s done. It’s
unbelievable what he can do.”
In a recent post on Facebook, Kaiser commented on a photo of Watkins’ bust shared by Wilkins. “Amazing!” she wrote. “We have so many historical figures in Natchez to remember! Your tourists at Sunnyside will surely love and appreciate this beautiful art piece along with learning about Dr. Watkins. Perfect for our tourism industry! Can’t wait to see the sculpture in person!”
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| Colleen Wilkins, owner of Sunnyside Bed & Breakfast, displays bust of the Rev. William Hamilton Watkins, that was sculpted by Bob Willis of Oklahoma. |
Colleen Wilkins, owner of Sunnyside Bed & Breakfast,
displays bust of the Rev. William Hamilton Watkins, that was sculpted by Bob
Willis of Oklahoma.
Wilkins said the bust will be placed in the entryway of
Sunnyside. “I want everyone to see what beautiful work Willis does and
hopefully have a bust sculpted of someone they love and respect. I think
anybody who sees his work will be amazed.”
Watkins was born on April 11, 1815, in Jefferson County.
Willis said he was an ordained Methodist Episcopal minister who served
congregations in Natchez, Woodville, Jackson, and Vicksburg. He also served for
two years as president of Centenary College in Jackson, La. (now located in
Shreveport, La).
Watkins and his wife, Elizabeth, had eight children.
During the Civil War, he was arrested for treason and spent time, possibly
several months, in a prisoner of war camp until the end of the war.
Wilkins recounts his story as follows:
When the Union troops were camped at the top of the hill
at Rembert and St. Catherine streets, a Union soldier by the name of Jones
became friends with the Watkins family. Watkins’ daughter, Hattie, fell in love
with him.
One day Jones was nearby when Confederates came to
Watkins for assistance. They ask if he would contribute money, food, arms, and
clothing to the Confederacy. Watkins agreed to help. His oldest son was
fighting in the war, and he hoped that some of his contributions would get to
his son.
Jones, however, reported Watkins to the Union Army, and
in 1865, Watkins was arrested and charged with treason. According to reports,
he was roughly treated. He reportedly said that he had never been so deceived
in his life as by Jones.
During his trial, the commandant told Watkins that the
crimes for which he was charged are punishable by death. Watkins replied, “I
know nothing of the laws of war, only the gospel of God.”
Watkins’ bail was set at $10,000, which is equivalent to
about $188,755.21 in 2023. Because he only made $1,100 a year
(about $20,763.07 in 2023), he could not come up with the money.
Consequently, he remained incarcerated until the end of 1865, when he was
released along with the POWs. Once released, he went on to minister in Jackson,
Vicksburg, Woodville, and other places.
Watkins died on Feb. 5, 1881, in Jackson. He was 65.
He is buried at Cane Ridge Cemetery in Lorman, Miss.
https://listenupyall.com/2023/11/22/sunnyside-presents-bust-of-its-builder-rev-william-watkins/
** IMPORTANT UPDATE **
“Although the arc of Godchaux’s life is located largely in New Orleans and the wider Louisiana, its themes, challenges, and issues will resonate with the Natchez experience of the 19th Century." -- Alan Wolf
Mark your calendars!
The public is invited to author Peter Wolf’s lecture on Leon Godchaux, the "Sugar King of Louisiana,” at the Tuesday, Nov. 28. meeting of the Natchez Historical Society at Historic Natchez Foundation, 108 S. Commerce St., in Natchez. The program, which is free, will begin with a social at 5:30 p.m. with the presentation at 6 p.m. All are invited, members and non-members alike. Wolf is the author of “The Sugar King: Leon Godchaux: A New Orleans Legend, His Creole Slave, and His Jewish Roots” (Xlibris, 2022). He is the great-great-grandson of Godchaux.
For more information, visit this link: https://listenupyall.com/2023/11/17/peter-wolf-to-talk-about-sugar-king-of-louisiana-at-nov-28-meeting-of-natchez-historical-society/
You may also visit natchezhistoricalsociety.org or call 601-492-3004. Emails may be sent to info@natchezhistoricalsociety.org
#NatchezHistoricalSociety #NatchezHistory #NatchezCulturalLegacy #Godchaux #SugarKing #PeterMWolf #HistoricNatchezFoundation #NewOrleans #Slavery #Jewish #VisitNatchez
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| Peter M. Wolf is author of "The Sugar King: Leon Godchaux: A New Orleans Legend, His Creole Slave, and His Jewish Roots." |
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| Photo of Group Honoring Louise Bruce are: James W. Theres, G. Mark LaFrancis, Roscoe Barnes III, Darrell White, Larry Smith, Kilpatrick Wilson and Ryan Hannon |
NATCHEZ, Miss. -- Before the showing of his film “The Six Triple Eight” on
Monday at NAPAC Museum, James Williams Theres, the film’s director and
producer, stopped by the Natchez National Cemetery to honor the late Louise R.
Bruce, who served with the 6888th.
Theres announced that Bruce is a recipient of the Congressional
Gold Medal, an honor bestowed on her as a member of the 6888th Central Postal
Director Battalion.
The medal is considered the U.S. “Congress’s highest
expression of national appreciation for distinguished achievements and
contributions by individuals, institutions or groups,” according to a U.S.
Senate website.
President Biden signed the “Six Triple Eight”
Congressional Gold Medal Act into law in March 2022. Bruce (1913-1996) was one of the 855 black
women in the first and only all-black female battalion who served in Europe
during World War II, according to Theres.
He said her battalion cleared a two-year backlog of mail
and helped to deliver more than 17 million pieces of mail near the end of the
war.
Theres placed a wreath on Bruce’s grave. He was joined by
G. Mark LaFrancis, president of the Home with Heroes Foundation; Roscoe Barnes
III, cultural heritage tourism manager for Visit Natchez; Darrell White, local
historian; Larry Smith, a retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army; and Kilpatrick
Wilson and Ryan Hannon of the Natchez National Cemetery.
“It was an honor to recognize Ms. Bruce’s service to her
country,” said Theres. “Her unit played a critical role in sustaining morale
for the troops overseas in Europe during World War II.”
Smith echoed similar remarks, noting he was fortunate to
participate in the ceremony.
“It was an honor and privilege to pay my respects to Private First Class Louise Bruce, placing a wreath next to her headstone in the Natchez National Cemetery, recognizing her selfless and historic service in the Six-Triple-Eight during the Second World War,” he said. “As a fellow veteran, I’m sure she’d be pleased to know that her service is still recognized today and has not been forgotten by a grateful nation.”
Interestingly, Theres noted, “Bruce is buried not far from Natchez National Cemetery’s only Medal of Honor recipient, U.S. Navy black Civil War veteran, Wilson Brown.”
LaFrancis said The Home with Heroes Foundation was proud
to be a part of the wreath ceremony.
The organization plans to create a photo display with the
6888th in its new Military Museum and Veterans Welcome and Information Center
at 107 Jefferson Davis Blvd., he said.
“I’d like to think that maybe the 6888th might have
helped my father’s mail get to him and to our family during World War II,”
LaFrancis added. “These were extraordinary women.”
Another Natchezian who may have served with the 6888th
was Gwendolyn Mamie Freeman Johnson (1924 – 2017), according to researcher
Marsha Holder, who penned a biographical note about Johnson on Findagrave.com.
When contacted by email, Holder wrote:
“I got on board to help with the 6888th Central Postal
Battalion monument project at Fort Leavenworth back in May 2018. The project
manager, Carlton Philpot, had talked to ‘Gwen Johnson’ previously and from
their conversations and her knowledge about the group, he knew for sure she was
a member of the 6888th.”
To date, no military records show that Johnson was a
member of the 6888th, according to Theres.
However, her membership with the unit is strongly suggested by anecdotal
evidence, he said.
Theres explained there are a few members of the 6888th
who were not identified, and Johnson may well be one of those unnamed
members.
Renza Grennell, mother of former Natchez Mayor Darryl V.
Grennell, said in a recent interview that Johnson was married to her uncle,
James Johnson, and they both served in the military during World War II. Renza
said she did not know what job Gwendolyn did in the military, but she’s certain
that she served with the Women’s Army Corps.
Renza said she remembers when Gwendolyn returned to
Natchez after the war. “I was a little girl then,” she said. “She and her husband
later moved to Chicago where she worked in the post office.”
Renza said Gwendolyn also worked in the Natchez Post
Office. “She may have been the first black who ever worked inside the post
office,” she said. “Then she became a letter carrier.”
NAPAC museum provided a free showing of Theres’ film on
Monday, Nov. 6. The film presented the
history and cultural context of black women serving in the military during the
Second World War.
In addition to interviews with the veterans, the
documentary included historical photographs and stories about the challenges of
the women facing segregation and other Jim Crow practices in the military.
Despite their challenges, however, the film shows that
the women were not only eager to serve, but they also succeeded with their
mission.
Theres noted the stories of the women have garnered
praise and national recognition. He said that even Tyler Perry is working on a
movie about the women of the 6888th.
Betty Lou Hicks, who watched the film, said she thoroughly
enjoyed it. “Those who did not attend missed seeing a fascinating documentary,”
she said. “The story is another little-known but very significant episode in
American history.”
“The documentary was a deeply moving and highly
interesting account of her unit, a story that everyone should see,” said Smith.
“It’s a part of the Bruce family, Natchez, and American history that deserves
to be remembered. I enlisted in 1983 into an Army decades after
integration.
“I served alongside African American women and men of all
ranks. I wish that we had been aware of the contributions of the
Six-Triple-Eight and of inspirational women like PFC Louise Bruce.”
( Click on image to enlarge. ) This announcement appeared in the MDAH Weekly Update newsletter (11.18.24). See article at this link: http://...
