Local Black History Chronology
compiled by Alan Anderson
early 1828 Avery Wheeler, Jacob W. Cobb, Thomas Key, Isom West, John Kimmey, Edmund Nunn and two blacks, Richmond and Judy, his wife, came across Flint River at Shelby's Ferry to be pioneers of originally Lee, now Sumter July 1834 "common burying ground for the citizens of Americus" established on 3 acres, Lot 1, Square P, where "the present Baptist meeting house now stands" (north side Ashby at Eastview Cemetery) Aug. 1834 Martin Miller and Royal Jenkins advertised Danville, Americus' chief rival for twenty years, north of Hwy. 27, 28th District (the town possessed a Masonic hall, church, warehouse, carriage shop, blacksmith, four stores and a bakery, the latter owned by John Hardy Newsome and his wife Clarissa, "both free colored, but of considerable means") May 1859 Scott's Mater Tabernacle C.M.E., the city's first black church, organized when Thomas C. Sullivan dona- ted 1/2 acre (northwest corner Anchrom and Hampton) to M.E. Church, South trustees, T.M. Furlow, A.A. Ad- ams, A.C. Hornady, W.W. Ford and W.M. Hardwick, on behalf of their slaves, built and named for Rev. W.J. Scott of Americus Methodist Apr. 1864 Bethlehem Baptist Church established in 17th District (west side Thomas Mill Rd. at Pessell Creek) Oct. 1865 Pvt. Prat Martin, Co. G, 147th Illinois Regt., white, married Emma Poe, former slave of J.H. Black's, by Rev. G.T. Wilburn of Americus Baptist Church (Martin was tarred and feathered and run out of town by his fellow soldiers) Aug. 1866 Rev. Geo. F. Cooper organized first black Baptist church in Americus, Bethesda (west side Forrest south of Church) June 1868 Old Shady Grove Baptist Church organized near New Era Aug. 1868 Mrs. Mary B. Brown deeded Bethesda Baptist Church its lot on Forrest to Booker Norman, James Jones, Lyman Butler, Peter Ragland and Hugh Bivins, trustees May 1871 "Lebanon Colored Baptist Church" organized in Plains of Dura Oct. 1874 "City Blues," first local black militia organized, Capt. E.W. Ansley, commanding ("Americus Guards," Capt. D.S. Harris, commanding, organized second) July 1876 C.M.E. trustees J.R. Covington, George Andrews, Cato Key, Austin Jones and Dennis J. Shepard branded Rev. N.B. Sterrett, A.M.E., a liar in the burning of ori- ginal Scott's Mater Tabernacle sanctuary Oct. 1877 dedication of first A.M.E. church (originally organi- zed in 1859), with Bishop Campbell, D.D., officiating (northeast corner Jackson and Wild) Spring1880 Ebenezer Baptist Church organized, Rev. Joseph McGra- dy, pastor (south side Sweetwater Creek, 29th Dist.) May 1880 Mrs. Ella E. Clark donated 1 acre lot to Welcome Bap- tist Church (south side Middle River Rd. east of Ga. 195) Nov. 1880 "Colored" Odd Fellows Lodge organized in Americus Jan. 1881 Literary Club organized, G.W.F. Phillips, president, A.R. Cooper, secretary, Miss S.M. Lowry, treasurer Mar. 1881 Martha M. Gwynes sold 2 acres for Freeman Hill Ceme- tery, Peter Lowe, Turner Hall, Asbury Harrison, John Epkins, Sam Peterson, trustees (east side Burma Rd. just south of Andersonville) May 1881 Mt. Olive Baptist Church began construction (north- west corner Jefferson and Poplar) July 1882 Mt. Olive Baptist Church dedicated, Rev. J.C. Bryan, pastor June 1883 Bethel African Missionary Baptist Church organized, Rev. B.B. Hinton, officiating, Rev. Stephen White, pastor, bought and moved into Presbyterians' former antebellum sanctuary (north side Lamar near north- west corner Lamar and Prince) Aug. 1883 Elbert Head and James Ellis were first blacks to ever serve on Sumter Superior Court jury July 1884 McCay (pronounced McCoy) Hill School construction be- gan, Americus' first black public school, Samuel Ste- vens and Jefferson Jones, local black architects Aug. 1884 dedication of New Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church, Rev. Alex H. Hall, pastor (south side Mask Rd. west of Brady Rd.) Mar. 1885 Geo. W.F. Phillips and Lee Jones started Franklin Square Library, at McCay Hill School, Americus' first public library for blacks Aug. 1886 "The Americus Monitor," first local black newspaper, edited and published by Prof. G.W.F. Phillips, McCay Hill School principal May 1887 Rev. J.C. Bryan, of Americus, elected President, State Baptist Convention Oct. 1887 Southwest Baptist Association bought 17 acres on N. Lee to erect black center of higher education, ulti- mately the Americus Institute Jan. 1890 Americus-Columbus Institute incorporated (present site of A.S. Staley Middle School) by A.J. Allen, R. Munson, A.S. Staley, A.W. Walker, O.C. Green, W.W. McKenzie, S.S. Humbert, B. Carter, with name changed to Americus Institute Sept. 1902 Feb. 1890 local black Republican Party leader, David A. Dudley, was appointed Americus postmaster by President Benj. Harrison, but strenuous opposition from Congressman Chas. F. Crisp and the local Democratic power struc- ture killed the nomination; Emily Robinson sold Tri- nity A.M.E. Church its 1/4 acre lot, in Isomville, a black suburb at the intersection of Furlow and Tripp, Julius Dixon, James Kendrick, Abram Purdy, trustees (consolidated with Allen Chapel A.M.E. in 1965) Aug. 1890 John R. McNeill deeded Joe Dowdell, Jackson Carter, J.M. Littleton, trustees Shady Grove Baptist Church, 1 1/6 acre (south side New Era Rd. halfway between Hwy. 49 and New Era) Oct. 1890 Ed Timmerman sold St. Paul's A.M.E. Church its land, Charles E. Little, Prince Sanders, Edmond Little, Godfrey Kleckley, Henry Evans, John King, Jackson Hicks, trustees (northeast corner Della Glass Rd. and Logan Store Rd.) Nov. 1891 "Americus Tribune," weekly black newspaper, began publication Oct. 1892 death of Elbert Head, prominent local black capital- ist and Republican Party leader Mar. 1893 Mary J. Taylor sold Mt. Creek A.M.E. Church its 1 a- cre lot in Andersonville, "where church house now stands," Isaac Watson, Green Watson, John Walker, Jackson King, Louis Gant, Wilburn Johnson, Aaron Wat- son, Stephen Gant, Green Waters, trustees (now loca- ted north side Sam Bradley Rd. just west of Ga. 195) Apr. 1893 W.H. "Bill" Styles, black State Representative for Liberty County, visited Americus, his former home Aug. 1895 Friendship Baptist Church organized, Rev. J.C. Bryan, pastor (east side Cotton north of Wheeler) May 1896 R.L. Kite sold Mt. Carmel A.M.E. Church its 1 acre lot, Simon Merritt, Joe Terry, George Chaney, Frank Hooks, Jerry Walters, trustees (west side Hooks Mill Rd. south of Mask Rd.) July 1896 cornerstone ceremony for Scott's Mater Tabernacle C.M.E.'s brick sanctuary, Rev. G.A. Thomas, pastor Oct. 1897 Americus Institute opened with two teachers and nine pupils in a small, two-room cottage, as a high school Apr. 1898 Masonic Grand Master W.E. Terry led cornerstone cere- mony for Masonic Orphans Home, 3-story brick edifice, dedicated June 1903 (south side Brinson between Jackson and Lee) June 1898 Zion Hope Missionary Baptist Church bought 1 acre from DeSoto Plantation Co., Lige Hardaway and Pleas Gosha, trustees (now west side DeSoto Seed Farm Rd. just south of DeSoto) Nov. 1901 Times-Recorder began first-ever "Column for Colored People," by Dr. E.J. Brinson Mar. 1903 Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church bought from Patterson fam- ily its 1/8 acre lot, John C. Burnette, Gates Porter, Jim Rogers, trustees, Rev. J.S. Myrick, pastor (in- tersection Carter and Lee) Apr. 1906 Clark Rowe, born a slave, grandson of a full-blooded Cherokee woman, celebrated his 106th birthday, with over 50 years residency in Americus May 1906 Sumter County's one and only double execution, the hanging of convicted murderers George Broughton and John Graham, in the jail stockade (southwest corner Forsyth and Prince) Nov. 1906 Mrs. Josie B. Jossey sold 1 acre to Jackson Grove Baptist Church deacons Lem Bivins, Meldrin Duncan, John Hayes, Gus Jackson, Freeman Kitchens, Anderson Ross, Abe Swain, "being a part of what is known as the Walker Lot" 1907 Peace Baptist Church (now Union Tabernacle) constitu- ted, Rev. J.L. Latimer, pastor Mar. 1907 Americus police officer William R. Morris shot while trying to arrest William Reese at his N. Jackson home (Reese was killed that evening in a wild shootout with police, on Magnolia, and Morris died two days later) May 1908 Booker T. Washington spoke at Americus Institute, Ma- jor W. Reddick, president Oct. 1909 Robert E. Lee deeded church and lot to Anthony Foy, Jack Clark, Clay Darden, Charles Lyons, Simeon Jen- kins, D.O. Simpson, W.M. Barner, trustees, Friendship Baptist Church Dec. 1911 "The Americus Chronicle," W. Robert Mack, editor and publisher, local black newspaper June 1912 Zion Hill Missionary Baptist Church organized (west side Ga. 118 south of Holman Rd.) June 1913 Will Redding lynched at the northeast corner of Cot- ton and Lamar, for shooting Police Chief William C. Barrow June 1915 Professors Major W. Reddick and Alfred S. Staley were instrumental in the unification of the General Missi- onary Baptist Convention of Georgia, the former as president, the latter as recording secretary Jan. 1920 McCay Hill School chosen first school in Georgia to institute an auto mechanics curriculum, under federal aid, Ernest Barnett, instructor Mar. 1920 Sumter Mercantile & Realty Co. chartered, first local black commercial corporation, Boss W. Warren, presi- dent, Major B. Phillips, vice-president, Elbert Stallworth, secretary, Dr. D.F. Pughsley, treasurer Feb. 1923 Americus police Lt. Homer A. Lee and Dave Cross slew each other in a shootout at Northview Cemetery (now Eastview), while the former was trying to arrest the latter Apr. 1923 opening of Americus Negro Hospital (north side Wild between Cotton and Jackson) under the aegis of Dr. W. Stuart Prather Nov. 1924 Americus' public school system only one in the South with all black and white teachers enrolled in the NEA June 1925 Police Chief John T. Bragg led 200 Ku Klux Klansmen, on horseback, in parade to Barlow ball park for rally Sept. 1929 cornerstone ceremony for Mt. Olive Baptist's brick sanctuary, Rev. C.W. Woodall, pastor May 1930 formal dedication of Americus Negro Playground, with ballpark and swimming pool, Oscar Maxwell, president (east side N. Lee between Bay and Town Creek) June 1932 last graduating class as Americus Institute closed its doors Sept. 1933 Americus' Negro Business and Civic League organized, Elbert Stallworth, president June 1934 Dr. M.J. Baisden opened "hospital for colored pati- ents" at 327 Forrest Oct. 1935 Senior Dunbar Club organized, Mrs. Leonora Lambert, president Feb. 1936 Ben S. Storey, of LaCrosse, northwest of Americus, became first black person to serve on a jury in Sum- ter County in over half a century June 1936 death of Plains resident, Rev. William Decker John- son, A.M.E. Bishop of South Carolina, with burial at Archery community, Webster Co. Sept. 1936 Earl "Fatha" Hines and his orchestra played at Rylan- der Theater scrip dance Oct. 1936 A.S. Staley High School, for blacks, opened on site of Americus Institute (east side N. Lee between Pat- terson and Primitive) June 1937 formal dedication of A.S. Staley High School, E.J. Granberry, principal Mar. 1940 A.S. Staley High School selected by John D. Rockefel- ler's General Education Board as one of 13 black schools in the South, the only one in Georgia, for an experimental program in vocational education Oct. 1940 Charley Green, a 25-year-old, black farmhand on the T.J. Suggs place, was the first Sumter Countian draf- ted for World War II June 1941 Eastview Cemetery, formerly Northview, for blacks, opened by developer Roland S. Broadhurst, more than doubling in size Oct. 1941 Negro Business and Civic League began construction of recreation center, J.D. Anderson, W.R. Burleigh, S.M. Weston, E. Stallworth, W.M. Carter, J.T. Phillips, E.J. Hill, J.H. Henderson, J.L. Barnum, J.B. Dorsey, executive committee (northeast corner Lee and Pat- terson) May 1942 Americus' first-ever black Boy Scout Troop, #200, or- ganized, sponsored by Bethesda Baptist Church, King Bryson, scoutmaster Nov. 1942 Clarence Jordan and Martin England founded Koinonia Farms, in the 17th District, as a non-profit, religi- ous corporation that was fully integrated racially June 1943 Lt. Lucius Gibson, of Americus, one of first fourteen blacks graduated from officers' candidate school in Great Britain, for World War II May 1944 organized by Negro Central Planning Committee of Am- ericus and Sumter County, community recreational cen- ter for black soldiers and youths formally opened Apr. 1945 Americus branch, N.A.A.C.P., chartered, John B. Dorsey, president Aug. 1945 Frank M. Staley, Jr., of Americus, became first-ever black Boy Scout to achieve Eagle rank in Chehaw Coun- cil Oct. 1945 dedicatory service for new sanctuary of Daniel Grove Baptist Church, Rev. David A. Greene, pastor (inter- section Hwy. 49 and District Line Rd.) Apr. 1946 dedication of St. Jerome's Roman Catholic Church, for blacks, by Bishop Gerald P. O'Hara of the Savannah- Atlanta Diocese, Father Joseph B. Wider, priest (northeast corner Bel-Air Plaza, then northwest cor- ner Forsyth and Lamar) Mar. 1947 Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church relocated across Carter from its original site and dedicated its new sanctu- ary, Rev. L.J. Jones, pastor Nov. 1947 Rosa Lee Ingram and her four sons' murder of John E. Stradford, at Lacrosse, became a cause celebre co- ordinated by W.R. Burleigh, of Americus, with N.A.A.C.P. chief counsel, Thurgood Marshall; Tenth Annual Conference of Principals of Georgia Negro Elementary and Secondary Schools at A.S. Staley High School Sept. 1948 grand opening of Harlem Theater, 210 Cotton, Elias Attyah and Theo Baldwin, owners Aug. 1950 Capt. Richard Walter Williams, Jr., grandson of prom- inent black contractor Bright Hill, was first Sumter Countian wounded in Korean Conflict Oct. 1951 announcement of closure of "Colored Hospital" on Wild, and construction of annex to new Americus- Sumter County Hospital on Forsyth, W.R. Burleigh, chairman, J.L. Bozeman, first co-chairman, Emma J. Anderson, secretary, John L. Barnum, Jr., treasurer May 1952 publication of McCay Hill Grammar School's first- ever yearbook, "Maybook," Walter T. Pace, principal Aug. 1952 Northside Homes, 150-unit public housing project for blacks, ready for occupancy (between Jackson and Lee south of Northside) Nov. 1952 A.S. Staley High School Tigers won Negro Class A North Ga. championship, Leroy Williams, coach Jan. 1953 Mount Mary and Old Corinth Schools discontinued, the former consolidated with Shady Grove, the latter with Welcome Nov. 1953 formal opening of Negro annex at Americus and Sumter County Hospital Apr. 1955 opening of "Negro branch of the Carnegie library," Frankie Harvey, librarian, removed from A.S. Staley High School (photo Apr. 25th) Jan. 1956 former A.S. Staley High School principal Daniel T. Grant published When the Melon is Ripe, a book about his time in Americus Mar. 1956 Rev. Clarence Jordan, of Koinonia Farms, Sumter Co., was one of two white sponsors of unsuccessful try at racially integrating Georgia State University July 1956 anonymous bombing of Koinonia Store at Sumter City Jan. 1957 McCay Hill School students moved into their new faci- lity, Eastview Elementary, John Harris, principal; Koinonia Farm Store, 2 1/2 miles south of Americus on Hwy. 19, dynamited; drive-by shooting at Koinonia Feb. 1957 drive-by shooting at Koinonia; 70+ car caravan of Klansmen from all over south Georgia visited Koinonia for peaceful talks; GBI began investigating Koinonia for possible "subversive activities" Mar. 1957 three drive-by shootings at Koinonia, the last firing on Rev. Clarence Jordan's residence Apr. 1957 Sumter County grand jury investigation accused Koino- nia of being a Communist front, a charge categorical- ly denied by Rev. Clarence Jordan; Ga. Atty-Gen. Eu- gene Cook announced investigation of Koinonia's con- tributors; two drive-by shootings at Koinonia; anti- Koinonia Ku Klux Klan rally in front of Sumter County courthouse May 1957 Birdsey Feed Store, Byne Block (northwest corner For- syth and Lee), dynamited for defying local boycott against Koinonia Aug. 1957 completion of "Sumter County Colored High School," James L. Bozeman, principal (south side Rucker west of Jackson) Nov. 1957 students moved into new Northeast Elementary School, Theodore R. London, principal, replacing 10 schools as first phase in consolidation of 24 county black schools (south side Upper River Rd. southeast of New Era); 20 local Ku Klux Klansmen burned cross at fairgrounds Dec. 1957 opening of Southeast Elementary School, consolidating Nunn Industrial, Mt. Carmel, Pleasant Grove, Leslie, Flintside, Davis Grove and DeSoto, Kelsie W. Daniels, principal Mar. 1958 Gov. Marvin Griffin killed proposed legislative in- vestigation of Koinonia with pocket veto, then rever- sed himself, appointing Rep. George Busbee to head investigative panel; County Board of Education sold these "colored school buildings": DeSoto, Leslie, Paradox, Seay, Shipp Industrial, Tabernacle, Antioch, Corinth, Shady Grove, Eastpoint, Union Grove and Wel- come; Matthew Kennedy, Americus native and violin virtuoso, debuted at New York's Carnegie Hall Mar. 1959 Mrs. Oscar Mann, then Mrs. Eric Foster, each gave birth to triplets at Americus and Sumter County Hos- pital Sept 1960 Lora Ruth Browne, Jan Jordan and William Wittkamper, white Koinonia residents, barred from AHS while other county whites admitted, filed suit in federal court Oct. 1960 U.S. District Judge W.A. Bootle ruled in favor of Koinonia students, who entered AHS without incident Jan. 1961 District Judge W.A. Bootle hung in effigy at county courthouse while holding court at federal building (now municipal bldg.) Dec. 1961 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. spent the weekend in the Sumter County jail, after Albany Movement arrest, a guest of Sheriff Fred D. Chappell Feb. 1962 "Big Bethel" Baptist Church relocated to their new sanctuary (west side N. Jackson between Masonic and Peach) Oct. 1962 groundbreaking for St. Martin de Porres Catholic Chapel, for blacks, replacing St. Jerome's, a victim of urban renewal June 1963 cornerstone ceremony for new sanctuary of Spring Creek Baptist Church (northeast corner Spring Creek Church Rd. and Lamar, or Lower River, Rd.) July 1963 Carol Barner, Annie Lou Ragans, Sandra Russell, Wil- lie Mae Smith, Gloria Westbrooks, James A. Westbrooks and LuLu Westbrooks, et. al., made first integration attempt of public facilities at Martin Theater, with follow-up boycott led by the Sumter Movement Aug. 1963 about 250 blacks arrested during civil rights demon- strations headquartered at Allen Chapel A.M.E. Sept. 1963 formal dedication of St. Martin de Porres Catholic Chapel, for blacks, Benjamin Ritzert, of Savannah, architect, Paul Bush, builder (southeast corner Max- well and Vista) Oct. 1963 Lambda Enterprises organized by James Paschal, Albert Battle, Lewis Lowe, Otis Carter, Daniel DeLoatch, R.L. Freeman and Beatrice DeLoatch, for development of industrial tract (Souther Field and N. Mayo) Nov. 1963 federal district court panel meeting in Americus de- clared unconstitutional arrest of civil rights demon- strators on insurrection and unlawful assembly char- ges (Solicitor-General Stephen Pace, Jr. dropped re- maining cases Dec. 1964) Apr. 1964 Triedstone Baptist Church burned (southwest corner Crawley and Quincy) July 1964 Georgia Court of Appeals overturned convictions of Americus civil rights demonstrators since blacks were systematically excluded from the jury pool; fifteen white teenagers, 12 boys and 3 girls, sentenced in Recorder's Court for "...tossing of cherry bombs, bricks and rocks at cars, houses and individuals..." in Northside housing project July 6th Aug. 1964 Americus High School racially integrated for the first time ever in its 84-year history by David Bell, Jr., Robertiena Freeman, Dobbs Wiggins and Minnie Wise Oct. 1964 Sam M. Weston, Cotton Ave. tailor, first black to run for public office in the history of Sumter County, in Democratic primary for Americus city council, but came in fifth out of five candidates July 1965 Mary Kate Fishe Bell became first black woman to run for public office in the history of Sumter County; candidate Bell arrested, with Mamie Campbell, Lena Turner and Gloria Wise, for trying to integrate a vo- ting line in Justice of the Peace election in which she came in second to winner J.W. Southwell; Sumter County Movement, led by Rev. J.R. Campbell, began daily marches on the courthouse from Allen Chapel A.M.E. and Friendship Baptist, protesting imprison- ment of four women; Americus Merchants Association's offer to pay women's bail bonds refused; eight blacks tried to integrate First Baptist but were turned away without incident; city and county governments appoin- ted Community Relations Committee, i.e. Mrs. Audrey Bass, Rev. Dr. Harold A. Collins, Warren Fortson, Mrs. R.D. McNeill, Sr., John Pope, Spencer Pryor, Lang Sheffield, W.E. "Billy" Smith, to negotiate with local black leaders; U.S. Justice Dept. filed suit in federal court, as did four imprisoned women, to en- join local officials from further prosecution and an end to segregated elections; Andy Whatley, white, murdered by Charlie Lee Hopkins the shooter, and Willie James Lamar, both black, in drive-by shooting during counter demonstrations at and near the courthouse; Gov. Carl Sanders sent 100 state troopers to Americus; Sumter County Movement began economic boycott of Americus' white businesses; 500 whites attended Lester Maddox speech at Recreation Center; federal Judge W.A. Bootle ordered release of four women and end to segregated elections Aug. 1965 leaders of First Baptist and First United Methodist prevented entry into their respective churches by ci- vil rights demonstrators; Warren Fortson met with un- official biracial committee, six blacks, six whites; black comedian and activist Dick Gregory led voter registration march on courthouse; 16 blacks and whites arrested during third attempt to integrate First Baptist, but were released three days later (included in that group, now U.S. Congressman John Lewis); 600 Ku Klux Klanspeople and sympathizers, led by Lester Maddox, marched silently through downtown Americus; Mayor T. Griffin Walker and Rev. J.R. Camp- bell announced agreement to end demonstrations, but no biracial committee; picketing resumed at Colonial, Kwik Chek and Piggly-Wiggly supermarkets after little progress perceived by black leaders; Americus city school board's desegregation plan approved by U.S. Justice Dept., while Sumter County schools warned of loss of federal funding due to lack of a plan Sept. 1965 Americus police chief Ross M. Chambliss hired the de- partment's first-ever black officers, J.W. "Sport" Jones and Henry L. "Spann" Williams; prominent attor- ney Warren Fortson and family had to leave Americus for advocating biracial talks Oct. 1965 local civil rights demonstrators arrested for boy- cotting segregated A.S. Staley Junior High School; Dr. Lloyd A. Moll, former GSC president, and family had to move from Americus for advocating racial con- ciliation Nov. 1965 U.S. District Court Judge J. Robert Elliott overruled civil rights demonstrators' suit against Americus and Sumter County law enforcement officials Feb. 1966 U.S. District Court Judge W.A. Bootle ruled valid J. W. Southwell's J.P. election; Specialist Fourth Class Sheppard Robinson, Jr., first Sumter Countian killed in Vietnam War Mar. 1966 Charlie Lee Hopkins sentenced to life imprisonment in Andy Whatley murder; Willie James Lamar pled guilty and sentenced to five years Apr. 1966 Matthew Kennedy, Americus native, directed Fisk Sing- ers in ABC's DuPont show, "This Proud Land" June 1966 Ms. Teresa Mansfield, of Americus, became the first black student enrolled at Georgia Southwestern Col- lege in its 59-year history; Sumter County's first Headstart Program begun, Willie Pearl Fuse, director Apr. 1967 photo in T-R of 115-year-old Bob Hill, of Palatka, Fla., born a slave in Americus; U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals threw out J.W. Southwell's J.P. election of July 1965 and ordered a new one June 1967 J.W. Southwell defeated Mary F. Bell 2,184 to 538 in replay of J.P. election Sept. 1967 A.S. Staley reopened as high school after ten years as a junior high, Daniel L. DeLoatch, principal; weekly "NEWS OF LOCAL NEGRO COMMUNITY" column debuted in T-R, Mrs. Ann Witcher, editor (discontinued May 1971) Dec. 1967 St. John's Masonic Lodge No. 17 dedicated (west side Bumphead between Gordon and Sunset Park) Apr. 1968 Thomas Blount and Eddie J. McGrady first blacks ap- pointed to Americus City School Board in its 95-year history Aug. 1969 Americus Holiness Deliverance Gospel Tent formally dedicated, Rev. Aaron Snipes, Sr., pastor; interraci- al Koinonia group refused entry to First United Meth- odist Church, although Rev. W.R. Key publicly expres- sed regret; Kelsie W. Daniels replaced Daniel L. DeLoatch after 12 years as principal of A.S. Staley Nov. 1969 St. Luke Baptist Church destroyed by fire Aug. 1970 fire destroyed auditorium of A.S. Staley Junior High (now A.S. Staley Middle) Dec. 1970 groundbreaking ceremony for Eastview Apartments, John W. Sandeford, architect, Warren Scott, contractor Feb. 1971 Marshall Frady's "Look Magazine" article, "Discover- ing One Another In a Georgia Town," depicted rela- tively successful school integration in Americus, but unflattering description of the city upset many Apr. 1971 Henry Taylor, Jr. sold first land in Staley Urban Re- development Project of 50 acres surrounding A.S. Sta- ley Junior High School May 1971 half of Sumter County's students boycotted attendance protesting private school advocates on school board July 1971 Americus Mayor J. Frank Myers appointed Human Rela- tions Committee with John Davis, B.R.B. Davis, Mrs. Russell Thomas, Jr., Homer T. Warren, Tommy Hooks III*, Mrs. Langdon Sheffield, white, and Mrs. Lucile Tyson, Mrs. Thelma Barnum, James Bryant, Rev. E.D. Sims, John Harris, Arthur Pless, black (*immediately withdrew due to unforseen business developments) Aug. 1971 Mr. and Mrs. Dave Farris bought first home in new Brookdale subdivision, J.W.C. Horne, Jr., developer; first junior high special education classes started at A.S. Staley 1972 Ebenezer Baptist Church relocated to Church St., Andersonville, Rev. J.G. Allen, pastor Jan. 1972 fire destroyed remaining portion of 1936 A.S. Staley School building (initially ruled arson, later offici- ally declared accidental due to faulty wiring) Mar. 1972 major controversy erupted over firing of county school superintendent Joe Wilson, with student walk- outs and demonstrations; Delta Sigma Theta Sorority chapter organized at GSC, Mrs. Willie Pearl Fuse, advisor Apr. 1972 Gov. Jimmy Carter joined 40 Sumter County litigants in federal court to recall school board members May 1972 groundbreaking ceremony for Africana Village subdivi- sion in Plains; grandopening of Barnum Heights subdi- vision, L.C. Hicks, developer June 1972 dedication of Americus Institute historic marker at A.S. Staley; Federal Judge J. Robert Elliott dismis- sed suit against Sumter County school board (appeal followed but ultimately dismissed by Judge Wilbur D. Owens May 1974) Aug. 1972 Willie L. Paschal became first black principal of a formerly all-white Americus school, Furlow Grammar Dec. 1972 Henry Jackson became first black elected to Plains city council in its 86-year history May 1973 United Holiness Church chartered, Rev. Aaron Snipes, Sr., pastor May 1974 State Rep. Julian Bond spoke at GSW Aug. 1974 Americus Housing Authority named "Leila Barlow Apart- ments" across from Staley Jan. 1975 Inspirational Church by Faith founded, Elder John T. Taylor, pastor (south side Adderton between Lafay- ette and Magnolia) Feb. 1975 Atlanta's Mattiwilda Dobbs, internationally renowned soprano, sang at GSC Black History Week ceremonies Nov. 1975 Fred D. Harrold, Americus native, inducted into Mor- ris Brown College Athletic Hall of Fame Dec. 1975 Lewis Melvin Lowe became first black to be elected to Americus City Council in its almost 120-year history Feb. 1976 A.S. Staley Junior High basketball team won South Georgia Junior High Conference, defeating Cairo 76- 55, Johnny Young, coach; Rev. Martin Luther King, Sr. featured speaker at GSC for Black History Week Sept. 1976 Habitat for Humanity started by Millard Fuller at Koinonia Farms, after returning from Africa July 1977 Maranatha Baptist Church constituted at Plains after racial integration split at Plains Baptist, Rev. Dan Ariail, pastor Nov. 1978 Rev. Moses William Howard, Jr., Americus native, elec- ted president, National Council of Churches, largest ecumenical organization in the country Feb. 1980 Nu Zeta chapter, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority chartered at GSC, Mrs. Ann O. Davis, advisor Apr. 1980 U.S. District Judge Wilbur D. Owens ruled Americus and Sumter County at-large elections racially discri- minatory June 1980 William Hoston, Sr. became first black to ever run for sheriff of Sumter County, though unsuccessfully Sept 1980 Shady Acres subdivision on Souther Field Rd., begun L.C. Hicks Construction Co., contractor Nov. 1980 Arthur C. Pless became first black elected to Sumter County Commission in almost 150 years Jan. 1989 Rho Sigma Omega chapter, AKA sorority, chartered, Jo Maxye McKenzie, president, Eddie Rhea Walker, vice- president, Annette Bettis, secretary, Mamie Gibson, treasurer June 1989 Capt. Moses Lee Bridges became the first black Ameri- cus police chief in the city's history (albeit an in- terim one) Apr. 1990 Miss America Debbye Turner made an appearance at Belk's Dept. Store in Americus May 1990 A.S. Staley Middle School principal Clyde A. McGrady received $25,000 Milken Fund award as one of ten out- standing educators in Georgia Jan. 1992 Waymon Jerome Smith became the first black City Mar- shal in Americus' history Sept. 1992 Americus native Rev. Dr. M. William Howard, Jr. in- stalled as ninth president of New York Theological Seminary, the institution's first black president Nov. 1992 Mrs. Irene King Edge and Mrs. Carolyn Thomas White- head became first black women elected to political office in Sumter County, both on the county school board Dec. 1992 Americus city council renamed Hwy. 19 to Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. after year-long campaign by MLK Mini- sterial Association, led by Rev. Fer-Rell Malone, of Bethesda Baptist Aug. 1993 Hume Cronyn, Jessica Tandy and Esther Rolle filmed Hallmark Hall of Fame movie, "To Dance With the White Dog," at Sumter City, guests of the Windsor Hotel Jan. 1994 Frederick L. McLaughlin became the first black chair- man of the Americus City School Board in its 121-year history June 1994 Miss America Kimberly Aiken worked with Habitat for Humanity during construction of their 30,000th house (southeast side Railroad between Mayo and Rabbit Neck); Georgia Association of Education Leaders hon- ored Clyde A. McGrady as Middle School Principal of the Year, and Ms. Betty Harris as Elementary Princi- pal of the Year, for A.S. Staley and Cherokee, re- spectively Nov. 1994 Americus City School Board, Russ Childers, Michael Coley, Edith Green, Kay Guttenberg, Julie Higgins, Clark Lamb, Fred McLaughlin, Lorena Barnum Sabbs, and Thomas Sims, elected by popular vote for the one and only time in its 121-year history Dec. 1994 Charlie Clifford Whitehead, Jr. became the first per- manent black police chief in the history of Americus Jan. 1995 Mrs. Edith Ann Hollis Green became chairperson of the newly consolidated Sumter County School Board, the first black and woman to do so in its 123-year histo- ry June 1995 Mrs. Juanita Freeman Wilson became the first woman and the first black principal of Americus High School in its 115-year history Nov. 1995 Mrs. Eloise Richardson Paschal and Mrs. Eddie Rhea Ross Walker were first women ever elected to Americus City Council in its 139-year history June 1996 death of Americus native Lonne Elder III, actor and playwright, who wrote "Ceremonies in Dark Old Men" and was nominated for Academy Award for his screen- play of "Sounder" in 1972 Feb. 1997 "AmericUSumter Observer," monthly newspaper, began, Dr. John D. Marshall, publisher Mar. 1997 ecumenical interracial services, sponsored by Sumter Area Ministerial Association, with A.M.E.'s Norris Harris at First Baptist, First United Methodist's Rev. Jerrell Lillard at Bethesda Baptist, Calvary Episcopal's lay minister Kathy Monahan at United Hol- iness, Bethesda Baptist's Rev. Fer-Rell Malone at Mennonite Fellowship and First Baptist's Rev. Dr. Reed Crumbliss at Big Bethel Baptist, first time ever on this scale in Sumter County's 160+-year history Sept. 1997 Milton "Amp" Myers, A.S. Staley Middle School coach, won first place with his team at U.S. Tennis Associ- ation League 5.0 Team Tournament at Flushing Meadows, New York Oct. 1998 formal dedication of "Boone" Walton Park (south side Rucker east of MLK, Jr.), in honor of long-time coach of black baseball team, Americus Clowns Nov. 1998 CBS newscaster Dan Rather interviewed locals about Daniel Colwell trial for "60 Minutes II" segment (telecast 1-27-99) May 1999 AHS girls won Class AA state track championship, Evelyn Wright, coach Sept. 2000 Jimmy and Rosalyn Carter, with Millard and Linda Fuller, completed Sumter County Initiative's elimination of all sub-standard housing with construction of "Victory House" for Vera Thomas family Feb. 2001 Henry Louis "Hammerin' Hank" Aaron spoke at Boys and Girls Club at SGTC; Kent Hill and Angel Myers-Martino were inducted into Georgia's Sports Hall of Fame in Macon; John Amos, television, film and stage actor, appeared in "Halley's Comet" at Rylander Theater and stayed at Americus Garden Inn on Rees Park Apr. 2001 Rev. Jesse Jackson spoke at Bethesda Baptist Church and stayed at the Windsor June 2001 Kiwanis Club of Sumter County chartered, Samantha Jackson, president May 2003 Faith Fuller's "Briars in the Cotton Patch" documentary debuted at Rylander Theater; Habitat for Humanity Inter- national's Global Village had its grand opening, U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop as keynote speaker, including former President Jimmy Carter and former Zambia President Kenneth D. Kuanda as guests July 2003 Lulu Westbrooks-Griffin's "Lulu and the Girls of Americus, Georgia 1963" documentary debuted at Rylander Theater Jan. 2005 Andrea P.F. Brooks became first black woman to serve on County Commission since its establishment in 1872. May 2006 Elbert Head Memorial Park dedicated to former slave, capitalist and Republican Party leader, just north of Leonora Lambert Senior Center on N. Jackson Aug. 2006 Restoration Church of Americus held its inaugural service at GSW's Jackson Hall, Rev. George F. Edge, pastor Sept. 2006 First Baptist Church of Americus held its 175th anniversary, Dr. Robert L. Whitmire, pastor, in union service with Bethesda Baptist Church, first time since 1865 with both congregations; "A Journey of Grace - A History of the First Baptist Church of Americus, Georgia" book published, Alan Anderson, author