Amanda Hackett Holden

Amanda Hackett Holden
Photo Courtesy/Ancestry: Donavin Cole

Amanda was born in 1836 in Amite County, Mississippi and died in July 1924 in Attala County, Mississippi.  Amanda married to Thomas Holden in 1851. They were the parents of seventeen children. She died at the age of 88 and was buried in Amite County, Mississippi. Their children were: Lucy, John, William, James Monroe, Thomas A. J., Josephine, Ellen, Eliza, Hander, Ida, Seaborn, Arthur, Amelia, Charity, Balzura Bell, George W, and Lillian Holden.

Source: Ancestry/ Donavin Cole Family Tree

Genealogist Antoinette Harrell visit with Civil Right Icon Jeanette Smith of Hattiesburg, Mississippi

Vernon Dahmer funeral, Jeanette Smith carrying 
one of the flowers,  Photo Courtesy: Mrs Jeanette Smith

Some years ago, I had the pleasure of meeting civil rights icon Jeanette Smith of Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Known for her benevolence and knowledge, she was a beautiful and wise woman. I felt as if I were listening to a local history audio book. It was a pleasure to sit with her and talk with her. She was born in Soso, Mississippi. Her late husband was Dr. C.E. Smith. 

In the early 1960s, Jeanette Smith and her husband played a crucial role in the birth of the civil rights movement in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Both were elected as presidents of the Forrest County NAACP Chapter.  She shared with me a story about Vernon Dahmer, a civil rights leader who was murdered in 1966.

Smith recalled a visit Dr. Martin Luther King made to Hattiesburg, Mississippi. The church was so packed, she said. From wall to wall, people flocked to hear Dr. King speak. Many civil rights leaders stayed at their home, including Dr. King.Furthermore, she discussed the threats to her life and the lives of her family. Despite the gunshot fired in her home and the threats to her and her family's lives, she stood up for justice and equality. After leaving her beautiful home that evening, I hoped to sit down with her again at a later time. After my first visit, she extended many invitations, which fulfilled my wish.

Palmer Crossing and surrounding communities were the focus of many visits Walter C. Black, Sr. and I made to Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Members of Muhammad's Study Circle in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, let by Min, took us around the city.  Akwete Muhammad scheduled an appointment for us to meet Hattiesburg's mayor, Johny Dupree, so that we could discuss some of his constituents' housing conditions. 

Dr. Antoinette Harrell visit Mrs. Jeanette Smith
Hattiesburg, Mississippi
Photo Credit: Walter C. Black, Sr. 

George Humphrey Tichenor Antiseptic Company

George Humphrey Tichenor
Photo Courtesy: Ancestry, Rhonda Carter

George H. Tichenor  invented  Dr. Tichenor antiseptic in Amite, County, Mississippi. George was born in 1837 and died in 1923.  He enlisted in the Confederate Army with the Williamson Company Dare Devils commanded by Capt. William Ewing.  The first official documentation of Tichenor with a license to practice medicine can be found. 

Source: Journal of the Mississippi State Medical Association Page Seven.

Negro Who Was Hung and His Body Dissected

Jackson Free Press

It is said that Dr. William McGehee, who practiced medicine in the county perhaps a century ago, in prosecuting his studies,  obtained the body of a Negro, who had been hung, dissected it, and constructed his own skeleton.

Source: Liberty Advocate, Liberty, Miss., Dec 6, 1851

             Source Material for the Mississippi History, Amite County Volume III, Part Two

Theodore Dunn of Amite County, Mississippi

Theodore Dunn
Source: Ancestry 

Theodore Dunn was born around 1905 in Mississippi. He was living in Beat 2, Amite County, Mississippi, in 1930 when the United States Federal Census was taken.  He was renting his home and worked as a cotton farmer. He was working on his own account. Theodore was married to Gladys Chapman. They were the parents of;  Gertrude, Willie Mae, Leon, Jena Mae, Ruby Lee, Charlie, William, and Theodore Dunn.

At one time, he and his family lived in Centerville, Mississippi. Theodore was killed in a car accident right of Liverpool, Louisiana, on July 17, 1956. He is buried in New Hope Baptist Church Cemetery in Gloster, Mississippi.

Theodore's parents were; Hezachiah Dunn and Gertrude Jackson Dunn. Living in the house with Hezachiah and Gertrude was Hezachiah's father Andrew. Andrew was the head of the household. Several children were listed in the household; Ottelle, Piney, Hezachiah, Missouri, and Tom Buckles. 

His father Andrew was born around 1835 in Mississippi. Andrew marital status was listed as widowed. Andrew couldn't read or write. and worked on a farm in Beat 2, Amite County, Mississippi.  In the 1900 United States Federal Census, Andrew had his daughters Mary, Malinda, and Maggie living with him. His two sons Hizzie, and Madison were in the household along with his two grandchildren; Tommy Buckles, and Lizzie Dunn.

Charles Jedediah Wall Owned Oak Grove Plantation in Gillsburg, Mississippi

Charles Jedeiah Walsl owned Oak Grove Plantation on which Gillsburg, Mississippi was established. Charles was born on June 27, 1797 in Beaufort District, South Carolina  and died in Amite County, Mississippi.  A woman named Irene Foster had a daughter with Charles. Their daughter was named Minerva Walls.

According to the 1840 United States Federal Census, he owned eight enslaved people. He filed a patent on seventy-six point thirty six acres on November 10, 1840. 

The Ole Berwick Store Outside of Liberty, Mississippi

This is a photograph of a store in Amite County, Mississippi. Several years ago when Mr. Leon Dunn was living he told me and his niece Paulette about the store. He said the black men would gather at this store  early in the morning waiting for trucks to pick them up for farm work. Mr. Leon Dunn said his father Theodore Dunn was a logger who owned his own truck. This store was located in the Berwick community in Amite County, Mississippi. The store was ran and operated by Wallace and Mamie Jackson.

Bates School Named in Honor of an Early Black Settler Ephraim Europe Bates

Ephraim Europe Bates was born in 1834 in Amite County, Mississippi. He died in 1910 in Amite County, Mississippi. The school for African American children went from first grade to six grade and was named in honor of Ephraim Europe Bates.  The school was established in 1880. The  old school was built on five acres of land and was less than five miles form the new school. The school had as many as 700-800 students. The Bates family donated the land for the school.

According the 1900 United States Census Europe was married to Eliza Jackson Bates. He had a three stepchildren living in the house with him; Willie, Albert, and Mary Green. Two grandchildren; Dewy and Ewy Bates. They weren't twin, there is a big age cap between the two grandsons.

Europe was married twice; first to Vicey and secondly to Eliza. Listed on the 1870 United States Federal Census is his wife Vicey and children; Sallie, Howell and Ellen Bates. Although their daughter Susan Bates was listed on this census, she was their daughter.  On this census they had his named spelled as Ephraim Bates. 

He was issued a patent on 165.64 acres of land on Sept 1883 in Amite County, Mississippi.

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 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. 

Hopson Plantation in Clarksdale, Mississippi

Hopson Plantation in Clarksdale, Mississippi
Photo Credit: Walter C. Black, Sr. 

The Hopson Plantation family purchased a tract of land that became the home of the Hopson Plantation in Clarksdale, Mississippi. It is now a tourist destination with cabin that can be rented. 

Clarksdale, Mississippi Library Peonage Research

 

Clarksdale, Mississippi
Photo Credit: Walter C. Black, Sr.

What are the chances of walking in a library and finding a magazine with your picture and genealogical DNA story?  This librarian walked up to me and asked me if I was the person in this magazine. She asked me to autograph the copy. People Magazine published an article on my trip to Niger, Africa in 2004.  This library is in Clarksdale, Mississippi. 

Dr. Antoinette Harrell Researching in Clarkdale, Mississippi

Clarksdale, Mississippi Peonage Research
Photo Credit: Walter C. Black, Sr.

In researching peonage cases in Mississippi, Dr. Antoinette Harrell visited many counties. Many cases were found in the Department of Justice, FBI, and NAACP files. She found several counties in Mississippi based on the records. 

Researching in Attala County, Mississippi

 

Attala County, Mississippi
Photo Credit: Walter C. Black, Sr.

I was researching peonage files in Attala County, Mississippi.  I wanted to look at records in Kosciusko, Mississippi, the childhood hometown of Oprah Winfrey. I did find the records I was searching fir.