Black History in Searcy

Friday, February 20, 2009 6:54 PM CST

This is Black History Month and this weekend Searcy celebrates with music, parades, speeches, and a great sense of pride.

I am going back, of course, to the way it was during segregation. I had a long visit with Everlyn Green and we both agreed the feeling of affection and love we had is absent except with us old timers.

Everlyn was the first black teacher in Searcy Public Schools. She was placed in the Hall of Honor two years ago. We were very close to her family. Ethel Shumpourd, her mother, ran the kitchen at the White County Training School in the 1940s. My mother was working for the WPA establishing school lunch programs in the schools in three counties. She needed someone to stay with me and prepare our supper. After work Ethel came to our house. She was saving those two meager salaries to educate Everlyn.

As there was no education for Everlyn after the 9th grade, her mother sent her to Little Rock so she could attend Dunbar High School. After Dunbar, she graduated from Philander Smith College, taught at the Training School beginning in the primary school then taught math in the high school grades as they were added. In the 1960s our schools were integrated and Evelyn taught senior high math. Recently, a former student came to her and said, “You are Mrs. Green! The best math teacher I ever had.”

Everlyn's math education began as her mother taught her division by dividing an apple. One fall she was with her aunt in West Point picking cotton. She had her cotton sack and by the end of the day had picked 99 pounds. Her aunt would not let her pick 100 pounds. Her family told her she needed an education, not picking cotton and berries.

Ethel became supervisor of housekeeping for Wakenight Hospital and then Rodgers. She was an outstanding Bible teacher in her church and was so honored on her 90th birthday.

We discussed the customs back then, and she said she was happy, had good memories. Margaret Robeson told me the same thing. Margaret was delivered by Dr. Hudgins at home in Higginson. She and Paul married and moved to Searcy, living just two blocks from her present house on Pecan and Pleasure. Four of her children were delivered by Dr. Edwards at home. The last child, Mary, was delivered at Rodgers' Hospital.

Everlyn and I tested our memories of others that worked in Searcy. One was Hosie Turner who drove the horse drawn ice wagon for Searcy Ice and Coal Company. Will Watson plowed everyone's vegetable garden with a mule. Mims Berry ran Cato's Barber Shop on Arch Street, next to the Coca-Cola plant, with many white people (my Daddy) as customers. Charlie Veneable polished everyone's shoes. A restaurant and catering service was opened on Pleasure Street by Gladys Young Marley. Her mother ran the dining room at Johnson's boarding house on Arch Street.

Rev. T. J. Williams was a pastor for more than 30 years at Bethlehem Baptist. Everlyn said that he was like a father and had much influence on the young people.

We ended on a sad note to the demise of responsibility and respect. Everlyn said as she watched the inauguration she prayed all those thousands of people would go home and teach their children. True integration will not be achieved until the home once again becomes the place we knew as children.

Dorothy Yarnell Warden is a history enthusiast and longtime Searcy resident. Comments may be sent to jfwdot@cablelynx.com.

by Chird Bobbitt