Adrian Brown a Native of Warren County, Mississippi Reach Back to Help Those in Her Childhood Home

Adrian Brown and Antoinette Harrell
Photo Credit: Walter C. Black, Sr. 

One day the phone rung and I answered the call. On the other end of the phone as a woman who wanted to know if this was Gathering of Heart. After I confirmed that she had the right number and the person she was looking for, she started to tell me about the conditions that some of the people in her childhood home town was living in and if there is anything we could do to help. 

We soon made plans to meet there and she wanted to take me to a few homes. One of the homes was that of an elderly woman who didn't have indoor plumbing, After seeing this with my very own eyes, I couldn't believe that I was standing in America.  How could this be? Why are people living in conditions like this in the 20th Century? There were so many things running through my mind. What could I do to help? What if this was my grandmother? Matter of fact what if this was me?

For moment I thought I was in a third world county, and where but the country that is recognized as one of the richest county in the world. I've had to fight back many tears and push through it to try my best to make some little small difference in someone life if I could. 

Community Book Center of New Orleans and Others Help Extended A Helping Hand in Warren County, MS

Photo Credit: Walter C. Black, Sr. 

Community Book Center of New Orleans, LA, owner Vera Warren-Williams organized a drive to collect clothes, shoes, toys, and other items to give to those who needed a little help. Many of the customers and people who often patronized Vera's business established didn't hesitate to support the cause. They put a smile on the face of a family who wanted to make the holiday special for his wife and kids. 

The man had just lost his job on the plantation he was living on and didn't have any luck at finding another job. A woman named Adrian Brown who lived in Atlanta told me about the hardship that some people faced in the county. After seeing this man and hearing his call out for help, he granted me permission to interview him about his conditions with hopes that someone would reach out and help. That help came from so many people in New Orleans, La.

Many who gave to the man and his family understood the need because so many had experienced loss after hurricane Katrina. Some reflected upon the kind-hearted nature of others helping them. 

Artist Barrymore Moton and Archaeologist Rodney Parker Joins Harrell in the Mississippi Delta

Barrymore Moton
Photo Credit: Walter C. Black, sr.

Artist Barrymore Moton contacted Dr. Antoinette Harrell, co-founder of Gathering of Hearts to donate  a gift called "Tainted Harvest" to her. He wanted to join her and Nana Nasi on a service mission trip in the heart of the Mississippi Delta. Nani Nasi organized a mission to collect clothes, shoes, non-perishable items to give to those in need in the Mississippi Delta after hearing Harrell on the Bev Smith radio show talking about the hardship in Glendora, Mississippi and other surrounding communities in the Delta. He was compelled to do what he could do to help. He drove fourteen hours from Cincinnati, Ohio to meet Harrell in Kentwood, LA. This isn't the first time that Nana Nasi extended a helping hand to those who needy some help.  

Nana Nasi drove the U-haul of items to give away. During that time Dr. Harrell received a call from Rodney Parker an Archaeologist who wanted to help in some way. One of the place they stop to give out food and other items was Ballground Plantation in Redwood, Mississippi.  Rodney was a student at" Ole Miss University" at the time and invited me to be a guest speaker to talk about the work that Gathering of Hearts do. Joining them on the mission was photographer Walter C. Black, Sr. and Glyniss Gordon.

The elderly people who lived on the plantation was very happy to receive the warm blankets, canes, and food that we had to distributed to them on the plantation. Ms. Lily had been living on the plantation just about all her life. It was home and some of her family lived on the plantation also.

Summer Camper in Amite, Louisiana Civil Rights Tour with Dr. Antoinette Harrell and Camper Leaders

The Summer Campers and camp leaders took a Civil Rights Tour to Mark, Mississippi, home of the Wagon Mule Train. It was the first time for such and educational field trip for the summer campers. From their the campers toured the National Civil Rights Museum and the Slave Haven Museum in Memphis, TN.

South Columbus High School, Columbus Rotary, and Gathering of Hearts Back to School Give Away in Greenwood, Ms

The Ambassadors, Columbus Rotary, Nana Nasi, and Gathering of Hearts had enough back to school backpacks to give away at one of the school Dr. Johnetta D. Wiley chose. She and her staff contacted the school and had it organized the set up for the give away.

Teaching the students to give back and become humanitarian is very important. It all started from one student Terry Collins searching out Gathering of Hearts on the internet. The local newspaper interview the youth and photographers Kris Davidson and Walter C. Black, Sr. documented the images. 

South Columbus High School, Columbus Rotary Club, and Gathering of Hearts Back to School Give Away

Photo Credit: Walter C. Black, Sr. 

Co-Founders Ines Soto and Dr. Antoinette Harrell organized many poverty tours in the Mississippi Delta to raise awareness about poverty. Many students and volunteers from across the United States gave unselfishly of themselves to help other. Here are a few photographs from the give back to school give away in St. Helena Parish. . the images was captured by photographers Kris Davidson and Walter C. Black, Sr. 

After giving out over 300 backpacks and supplies there were enough leftover to service St. Helena Parish Public School. The School's Superintendent was delighted to receive the backpack. She express the financial hardship that some parents faced and couldn't afford to purchase school backpacks. 

Photo Credit

Walter C. Black, Sr.

South High School Ambassadors Civil Rights Tour in Memphis, TN

Photo Credit: Walter C. Black, Sr.

After giving out school backpacks in Glendora, Mississippi, Dr. Antoinette Harrell took the ambassadors, staff, Nana Nasi, and the Columbus Rotary Club to the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, TN. It was the first time that the students and some of the staff members had visited the National Civil Rights Museum. 

Joining them to document the mission and tour were photographers Kris Davidson and Walter C. Black, Sr. 

The students stayed at the Sonny Boy Williamson Bed & Breakfast. Dinner was prepared by Millie Droste and Nana Nasi. The ambassadors learning so much about life in the Mississippi Delta. Gathering of Hearts was happy for their willingness to serve others.

Photo Credit: Walter C. Black, Sr.

Photo Credit: Walter C. Black, Sr.

South High School Ambassadors Visited Glendora, Mississippi in 2011

South Columbus High Student Ambassadors
Photo Credit: Walter C. Black, Sr. 

Several South High School Ambassadors from Columbus, Ohio visited the Mississippi Delta. The youth received a $10.000 donation from the Columbus Rotary Club to help those in the Mississippi Delta. They were able to charter a bus through the donation. Dr. Johnetta D. Wiley was the principal at that time. She know all too well about the Delta. She grew up there and knows firsthand some of the struggles that the local residents face on a daily basis. 

Join them on the trip was members from the Columbus Rotary and Nana Nasi who have donated u-hauls of items to those in need.  The ambassadors donated 350 school backpacks with supplies in every bag. They had some leftover and were able to donate some to St. Helena Parish public school.  Millie Droste was one of the Rotary members who worked hard to help the students. 

One student name Terry Collins contacted Dr. Antoinette Harrell and wanted to know what could he do to make a difference. Well, he did just that, he didn't stop until he made some positive happened. 

Dr. Antoinette Harrell visited Webb, Mississippi

Photo Credit
Walter C. Black, Sr. 

Dr. Antoinette Harrell and many volunteers spent several years helping those in Webb, Mississippi. They donated over 10,000 books and other educational materials to Webb and surrounding areas. Whenever they visited these two young ladies and their families, they were greeted with so much love. Webb is located in the Mississippi Delta just nine miles from Glendora, Mississippi.