a 1 Mississippi civil rights workers murders

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2 Myor-elect Percy Blnd holds his children, Peryn nd Demi, t the Drury Inn nd Suites fter mking his cceptnce speech to pcked room. MERIDIAN Meridin voters mde history Tuesdy, electing the city s first Africn-Americn myor. Democrt Percy Blnd unseted incumbent Republicn Myor Cheri Brry, who is serving her first term. The excitement ws evident from the rection of hundreds of supporters gthered for Blnd s celebrtion t Drury Inn where cheers were loud nd vigorous s Blnd mde his cceptnce speech. Tonight, it is impossible not to puse for few minutes to think bout our pst. We must lwys honor the pst nd honor those who scrificed to mke tonight possible. Jmes Chney, Andrew Goodmn nd Michel Schwerner gve their lives so tht blck people in Meridin could vote, Blnd sid. Tonight, 49 yers fter their deths, people of ll rces elected Meridin s first blck myor. 1 Mississippi civil rights workers murders On June 21, 1964, three young civil rights workers 21-yer-old blck Mississippin, Jmes Chney, nd two white New Yorkers, Andrew Goodmn, 20, nd Michel Schwerner, 24 were murdered ner Phildelphi, in Nshob County, Mississippi. They hd been working to register blck voters in Mississippi during Freedom Summer nd hd gone to investigte the burning of blck church.

3 Unfortuntely the fmily ws stripped of the nme Clude when they were seprted nd sold to other slve owners. Trvis ws sold to the Herns plnttion; his brothers Wylie becme Reid nd Ben becme n Estern. No records were found on the three dughters of Grndp Clude. They long with other Blck fmilies worked in the cotton fields from sun-up to sun-down in the Stte of Mississippi. Frming ws their only mens of survivl. Eduction ws unherd of for slves in those dys nd ws not prt of the dily routine. Following the signing of the Emnciption Proclmtion, which declred ll slves would be relesed from slvery nd given their freedom. Trvis, now n dult, hd the option to remin with his slve mster or move off the plnttion nd strt life of his own, Trvis chose to leve. He met nd mrried his first wife Minerv Roberts in Luderdle, MS in Jnury TRAVIS nd MINERVA HEARNS A round the yer of 1800 on plnttion in Whynot, MS, there resided fmily bering the birth nme of Clude. Born into slvery, the Clude s hd to tke on the mster s lst nme. They were united in mrrige nd bore (6) six children, three dughters, Clor, Dicie & Violet, nd three sons, Wylie, Ben & Trvis. Mississippi nd other southern sttes needed to recover from the finncil devsttion the cost of the Civil Wr hd on their economy nd begn chrging significnt fees for services such s weddings. Trvis pid $250 for simple mrrige license to mrry Minerv. This ws huge sum s his norml py for one week of work ws only $5.00. Trvis nd Minerv frmed nd relied on shrecropping. $250 dollrs in 1988 would be worth $6, in tody! Erliest record of the 6 Clude s Begins Emnciption Proclmtion 1800 s th mendment to Constitution prohibits sttes from denying the right to vote becuse of rce

4 From this union nine (9) children were born: They were very tight knit fmily. So much so, tht mny of the brothers nd sisters would nme their children fter ech other. History shows multiple reltives nmed Trvis, Minerv, Susie, Frnk, Genev, Lul, Or, Eugene, Jmes, Joe nd John. Levi the oldest son mrried Mry Wilson, who ws trined to become Community mid-wife by her mother-in-lw Minerv. Mry took her title s midwife seriously. In fct, it hs been told tht Mry delivered, the first two grndchildren of Levi s brother Booker T., the children of Or D. Herns. Levi nd Mry hd seven (7) children Cherry, Disy, Chrlie, Hugh, Mmie Ephrim nd Ethel who ll lived in Hurricne, MS. The second son, Frnk mrried Ptsy Wilson. They hd eleven (11) children Trvis, Lendr, Eugene, Jmes, Zell, Vnd, Genev, Joe Frnk, Cor, Or nd Lul. They lso lived in Hurricne, MS for while, but soon relocted to St. Louis, MO. Lummie (Columbus) mrried Elizbeth Brynt. They hd fourteen (14) children: Cor, Lillie, Minerv, Perl, Lndy, Frnk, Eul, Lul, Erm, John Wesley, Elizbeth, Ernest, Olivi nd Gilbert. The Midwife ws the keeper of women s business, knowing which herbs to enhnce fertility, to sustin pregnncy, nd to bort. She ws the root doctor mong the slve qurters; mintining the helth of other slves on the plnttion. Pregnncy nd childbirth folklore, beliefs nd rituls tht originted in Afric, were prcticed nd pssed on from genertion to genertion. Dughter Dicey grew up in Hurricne Creek, MS t some point she moved to Gry, IN. She never mrried nor hd children but she is given credit for rising Ephrim Preston.k.. EP (son of Levi). E.P. would visit unt Albert in Meridin often. Jmes moved from Hurricne Creek, MS to Gry, IN, then to Shreveport, LA. It is uncler whether Jmes hd children, but 1910 Census record shows mrrige to womn nmed Lovini. It ws lso discovered tht he hd two sons, one nmed Hughie. Hugh pssed t young ge of 27 ( ) in Quitmn, MS. The cuse of deth unknown. No records re vilble for dughters, Bessy, Flornce, nd Annie. History only provides their nmes, but no dditionl informtion of their wherebouts. Mother Minerv ws mid-wife nd delivered mny children in the Quitmn re. She tught her skills to Mry Wilson her dughter-in-lw before her deth in She knew tht service of mid-wife ws vitl becuse Africn Americns were not recognized s ptients in Mississippi hospitls until fter Trvis plnted his own vegetbles nd rised cttle. He shrecropped for short time to support his fmily. Grndp tught his sons how to frm. He ws soon ble to purchse lnd of his own. This lnd hd very rich soil for frming nd growing timber. He used his know-how to the best of his bility to cut nd sell his timber. Trvis helped the Blck frmers in his re with their negotitions. They thought his involvement would secure better fir trde with Whites for their goods. We were informed tht Grndp Trvis ws Decon t Plesnt Hill Bptist Church in Yntley, AL. TRAVIS nd SUSIE ELLEN HEARNS Following the deth of Minerv in 1888, Trvis met nd mrried Susie Ellen Wilson, Februry 1888 in Yntley, AL. Susie Ellen ws the dughter of Rev. Dniel nd Mrs. Jne Wilson. Trvis ws 23 yers older thn Susie Ellen nd the Census record indictes tht he pid $100 to purchse mrrige license to mrry her. The witness Trvis listed on his mrrige license ws Willim Moon. It ws cler tht neither Trvis nor his witness could red or write. The probte clerk signed the mrrige license for both men. From this union eleven (11) children were born. Milton (Bill) pssed in his erly twenties, the cuse of deth unknown. After the deth of Trvis between Yntley, MS. nd Lismn, AL. Susie Ellen styed in touch with the sister Aunt Dicey nd the brothers in Quitmn She finlly relocted to Meridin, Ms. nd resided with her oldest dughter Albert. Albert (Bert) mrried Howrd Hunter they hd one (1) dughter, Lul Me. Albert lived in huge white house with yrd dorned with beutiful rry of flowers. Herns move to Hurricne Creek, MS 1870 s The Blck Exodus tkes plce, in which tens of thousnds of Africn Americns migrted from southern sttes to Knss Trvis & Susie Ellen mrry in Yntley, AL 1888 Lift Every Voice & Sing poem is set to music NAACP founded in NY led by W.E.B Du Bois 1909 Herns move to Gry IN 1910

5 LIFT EVERY VOICE AND SING Lift ev ry voice nd sing, till erth nd heven ring, Ring with the hrmonies of liberty, Let our rejoicing rise, High s the list ning skies, Let it resound loud s the rolling se, Sing song full of the fith tht the drk pst hs tught us, Sing song full of the hope tht the present hs brought us; Fcing the rising sun of our new dy begun, Let us mrch on till victory is won. Stony the rod we trod, bitter the chst ning rod, Felt in the dys when hope unborn hd died; Yet with stedy bet, hve not our wery feet, Come to the plce for which our fthers sighed We hve come over wy tht with ters hs been wtered, We hve come, treding our pth thro the blood of the slughtered Out from the gloomy pst, till now we stnd t lst Where the white glem of our bright str is cst. Herns Fmily Reunion Bnquet Menu God of our wery yers, God of our silent ters, Thou who hs brought us thus fr on the wy; Thou who hst by thy might, led us into the light, Keep us forever in the pth, we pry Lest our feet stry from the plces, our God, where we met thee, Lest our herts, drunk with the wine of the world, we forget thee; Shdowed beneth Thy hnd, my we forever stnd, True to our God, true to our ntive lnd by Jmes Weldon Johnson Herns Fmily Reunion BANQUET PROGRAM PRESIDING Lynd Bgley WELCOME Evelyn Hrper INVOCATION Bishop Mnning INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS Crolyn Brown Greetings from the City of Meridin Honorble Kimberly B. Houston Wrd 4 City Councilwomn The Honorble Myor Percy Blnd Meridin, MS. HEARNS FAMILY HISTORY Lee Burs PRAISE DANCE The Little Angels, El Bethel Bptist Church, Meridin, MS FAMILY PRESENTATION Velm Bgley *MR. LINDSAY HEARN* * MRS. LILLIE MAE SIMPSON* *MRS. ORA D. HALL* *ESCORTED BY* Served Buffet Style Bked Chicken Fried Chicken Rost Beef Rice Pilf Grvy (Prepred With Met Selections) Cut Green Bens Collrd Greens Mcroni & Cheese Grden Sld with Dressings (French, Rnch, Vinigrette) Fresh Fruit Sld Dinner Rolls Iced Sweet Te Wter Vriety of Desserts Joe Shermn - Cterer 6 7 LEE BURS JOE HEARNS JOHN HEARNS GWENDOLYN MCGEE YOLANDA HALL ALICE RENEE FORD CANDLELIGHT CEREMONY & DEDICATION TO OUR ANCESTORS Dediction in Dnce to the Ancestors KAYLA HEARN Gret-Gret Grnddughter of Trvis Herns DINNER IS SERVED RECOGNITION OF THE 2013 HEARNS FAMILY REUNION COMMITTEE SPECIAL AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS 2015 NATIONAL REUNION HOST ANNOUNCED Music by: DJ Arthur Turntble Genius Willims. Photogrphy provided by: Ricky Boggn

6 Levi Herns B f D Albert Hunter B D Susie Ellen Herns B D Alvirgi (Sis) Herns B D Dicey Herns B D Columbus (Lummie) Herns B f D Hugh Herns B f D Bill Herns B f D Annie Herns B D Booker T. Herns B f D Bessy Herns B D Pul Herns B f D Genev Hll B D Lul Me Herns B D Sllie Me Cunninghm B D Florence Herns B D Jmes Herns B f D Irene Herns B D Jmes Monroe Herns B f D Estol Biley B D Frnk Herns B f D. 1948

7 The Herns Fmily Church is Ebenezer Bptist Church in Meridin, MS. All of the ministers tht pstored Ebenezer would reside t the White House with Aunt Bert nd Grndm Susie Ellen who served s Mother of the Church nd hd the responsibility to mke wine for the First Sundy communion. They held church services every First nd Third Sundy. All of the sisters sng in the church choir. Albert hd pino in her Living Room nd n upright telephone which none of the other sisters hd. We s children thought they were very rich. Rev. D.L Bell, Pstor Cornerstone Ingredients: Slmon Ptties 1 cn (16 ounces) slmon 1 smll onion, finely grted 2 tblespoons minced fresh prsley ground blck pepper, to tste 2 lrge eggs, well beten 1 to 1 1/2 cups fine dry bred crumbs 3 tblespoons butter Preprtion: Turn slmon nd liquid into medium mixing bowl. Flke with fork, removing OR mshing ny bones (they re edible). Mix in grted onion, prsley nd pepper. Mix beten eggs with slmon. Add enough bred crumbs, bout 1/2 to 3/4 cup, to mke thick enough to shpe into 12 smll ptties. Roll ptties in 1/2 cup bred crumbs. In lrge hevy skillet over low het, melt 2 tblespoons of butter; dd ptties. Fry ptties slowly on one side; dd remining butter, turn ptties nd fry until brown on the other side. Serves 6. Jesse Owens wins 4 gold medls t the Olympics in Berlin, Germny Jckie Robinson is the first blck mn to ply mjor legue bsebll Albert s twin, Alvirgi (Sis) mrried Buck Plmer nd hd two (2) children Gussie Me nd Mry Jne. Lul Me mrried Fred Jmes nd hd no children. Her husbnd ws very devoted to her nd treted Lul Me like Queen. She never lerned to cook. She would lwys tell stories bout Grndm Susie Ellen s experience s public school techer in Yntley, AL. Slly Me mrried Jimmie Welch they hd no children, but dopted one child, Cheryl Cunninghm. It is believed tht Slly mrried (5) five times.she ws jolly womn who loved to cook. Her fvorite dishes, fried Slmon Ptties nd Fig Pies. Genev (Tiny) mrried Finus Willims nd hd six (6) children: Arthur Reese, their first born died t childbirth, Crl, Willrd F., Susie B., John Louis (JL) nd Mxierene. It ws rumored tht Mr. Finus ws murdered on his job. He ws employed by Mobile & Ohio Rilrod s n engine mintennce mn. This murder cse ws never solved. After the untimely deth of Mr. Finus, Genev met nd mrried Mjor Lee Hll construction worker from Columbus, MS. Together they hd five (5) children: Edn Lucille, Robert Eugene, Velm Lee, Dorothy Louise, nd Joe Louis. Genev, believed in eduction. Although she only hd n eighth grde eduction, insisted tht her children hd to do better nd grdute from High School nd college if possible. A good report crd ws lwys the expecttion. There ws no spce on her mntle in the Living Room for photo of her child or grndchild if they did not receive diplom nd tke picture in cp nd gown. 10 Dr Mrtin Luther King received Nobel Pece Prize for combting rcil inequlity through nonviolence 1964 She ws lwys clm nd grteful nd demnded respect. She ws lbeled with the nme Genev nd her Phrohs Host ll (10) children trvelled in pcks. Wht memories, s we visit tht re we clled home t 1029 Brown Ave in Meridin, Ms. Now there re no fmilir structures, no fmilir fces, our eyes fill with ters. The destruction by gint bulldozer hd eliminted wht hd been loving community. In relity there is no mount of renovtion tht could erse the deeply rooted memories embedded in our herts nd minds. We were rich without money. She lwys tught us to hve fith in God. Genev Hll joined the Freedom Riders. The Freedom Riders left Selm, Albm nd rrives in Montgomery to her Mrtin Luther King deliver his speech Genev (Tiny) lived to see five (5) genertions of her children. She relocted to Elyri, Ohio fter the deth of her husbnd, Mjor Lee nd spent her lst ten (10) yer with the oldest dughter Susie B. She died Februry 15, Booker T. nd Edn Wtson becme the prents of Or D. (known s Snook). Snook nd her husbnd Chrlie Hll were lso the prents of ten (10) children. God bless her, she is ttending this 2013 Herns Fmily Reunion. Jmes Monroe mrried Ethel Ptterson nd from this union seven (7) children were born: Jon (died s toddler), Jmes Jr., Pul, Jen, Constnce (.k..) Connie, Roger, nd Yvonne. Monroe ws the best dressed mn in town when he cme to Meridin from Detroit to visit Grndm Susie. Irene (Rene) mrried Eugene O Nel John Willims) they hd no children. Style of dress ment everything to Irene, nd her home ws lwys immculte. Estol (Pet) mrried Benjmin Frnklin Biley they hd no children but rised child Mxierene, dughter of Genev She ws the loving unt. She ws fntstic Sundy school techer. She lwys plyed gmes with us nd tught us how to lose with dignity. Pet ws n ctive member of the Ntionl Bptist Convention nd frequently trveled brod with tht orgniztion. 11 Genev would mrch gin with Freedom Rider in Meridin, MS 1968 Levi Vernon Burs wrded the Purple Hert, mong mny other medls, for Militry Service 1969

8 Hypertension Trvis owned his homes, purchsed 75 cres of frmlnd, rised his own cttle nd grew most of his vegetbles to support his fmily. He worked s wood trimmer t lumberyrd nd ws ble to sell some of the timber to smll town builders. He hd to rely on the white businessmen of the re to process his goods. The py tht he received for trucklods of timber ws never its full vlue. There ws nothing he could do bout it if he wnted to do business. Grndp tught his children how to be sufficiently independent. Hrd work pid off. The Herns children were born in Whynot, MS. Most ttended Holbrook High School - Six (6) grdes through 12 th grde. Their fmily church ws Plesnt Hill Bptist Church in Yntley, AL. Susie Ellen s fther, Rev. Dniel Wilson s nme is engrved on the Corner Stone of tht church. Between the two (2) unions with Minerv nd Susie Ellen, Trvis hd totl of twenty (20) children. WHAT A BLESSINGS, GOD HAS ALLOWED US TO GATHER THIS DAY TO HONOR OUR BELOVED ANCESTORS. Common Fmily Helth Concerns My Fmily Of ll the beutiful things in the world, wht is most lovely to me, Is the mothers nd fthers, brothers nd sister tht mke up fmily. It s the uncles, unts nd cousins (some live so fr wy). It s the grndfthers nd grndmothers who lwys brighten the dy. It s the cute little children hving fun, running wild; And the cuddly, little bbies tht lwys bring on smile. And every yer I look forwrd to very specil time. When I will be reunited with this fmily I cll mine. It s fmily reunion time. The time I hold so der A time tht I look forwrd to ech nd every yer. A time to visit new city or sty home nd be the host, And shre with my whole fmily the sites nd scenes I love the most. There s lots of fun to be hd, lots of sights to see, But the sight I love the most is my wonderful fmily. Cncer - Brest & Prostte There s good food to et, lots of memories to shre, And lots of love becuse the whole fmily is there. Dibetes I cn hold my hed up high; I hve right to be proud, becuse this crowd I m prtying with is no ordinry crowd. Lctose Intolernce They re the Crem of the Crop, the best there cn be, They re the folks I love the most. THEY RE MY FAMILY Mrtin Luther King Jr. Dy is declred ntionl holidy in the U.S. Brck Obm becomes the first Africn-Americn president, the country s 44th. Bobby Joe Chmpion Sentor Bobby Joe Chmpion is is elected to the elected to the Minnesot Sente House of Representtives by mrgin of 82%

9 HEARNS FAMILY REUNION COMMITTEE Quint Little House IN A QUAINT SOUTHERN TOWN SETTING THERE USED TO BE OUR FAMILY HOME NEAR A DITCH WITH A FENCED YARD AND A BENCH UNDER A TWISTED SHADE TREE A GARDEN GREW GREEN FLOWERS BLOOMED EVERYWHERE WE ALL RUSHED VACATION TIME JUST TO BE THERE. THE VISITING CROWDS GRADUALLY BECAME HUGE BANDS AS PROUDLY E PRESENTED HOARDS OF NOISY, NAUGHTY, SWEET GRANDS THE WELL USED WELCOME MAT WAS ALWAYS OUT THERE WAS NO NEED TO SOUND A WARNING SHOUT A NO VACANCY SIGN NEVER APPEARED ON HER DOOR WHEN TOO MANY SHOWED UP, SOME SLEPT ON THE FLOOR THE AROMA FROM HER KITCHEN WAS DELIGHTFULLY PLEASANT HER CALL TO DINE WAS MLIKE MUSIC FROM HEAVEN WITH BELLIES FULL AND EMPTY PLATES THERE WAS STILL SOME ROOM FOR HER PIES AND CAKES ALWAYS EXCITING TALES OVER OIL LAMPS AND WOODEN STOVES COULD NOT KEEP HAPPY, TIRED CHILDREN FROM FALLING ASLEEP TEN BIRTHDAY CARDS CAME EACH YEAR WITH A DOLLAR IF ONE CHILD WAS SHORT, HE SURELY WOULD HOLLER CHRISTMAS GIFT BOXES WITH NUTS AND HARD TEA CAKES WERE ANXIOUSLY AWAITED BY EACH OF US AND HUNGRILY ATE WE MARVELED AT MOTHER S MEMORY OF AGES AND SIZES OF EACH CHILD AND GRAND AS OFT TIME WE STRUGGLED TO FOLLOW ONE DAY S PLAN WHEN SHOPPING OR VISITING, A HEAD COUNT WAS NEEDED AND GOOD BEHAVIOR WAS PRAYED FOR AND FREQUENTLY PLEADED! WHEN YOU VISITED MOTHER S CHURCH SHE EXPECTED A GOOD SPEECH IF YOU FAILED IN THIS RITUAL YOU HAD COMMITTED A SERIOUS BREECH HER WIT, TIMING AND INPUT ON EACH LEVEL WAS IN GOOD TASTE HER PRESENCE WAS NEVER OUT OF PLACE GRADUATION PICTURES WERE DISPLAYED WITH PRIDE HER JOY IN EACH, SHE NEVER TRIED TO HIDE AS OFFSPRINGS CONTINUED TO MULTIPLY AND GROW MOTHER S TIME WAS IN GREAT DEMAND TRAVELING TO AND FRO TO EXPRESS OUR LOVE THERE WERE GIFTS AND CARDS OF EVERY KIND THEN SOMETIMES OUR LONG DISTANCE CALLS NEARLY DROVE HER OUT OF HER MIND WITH PAINFUL HEARTS WE HAD TO WATCH MOTHER TIRE IN HER OWN QUIET WAY SHE STARTED TO SAY GOOD-BYE HER PROUD STEP GREW SLOW, HER SOFT HAIR TURNED WHITE AND SLEEP CAME TO HER BEFORE THE NIGHT OUR HEAVENLY FATHER WALKED WITH HEER AND HELD HER HAND HER GENTLE DEPARTMENT WAS PART OF HIS HOLY PLAN DEAR ONES HOW DARE WE LONG TO WEEP BECAUSE OUR MOTHER IS PEACEFULLY ASLEEP LET HEARTS REJOICE THAT GOD AT LAST HAS GIVEN HER REST AFTER THESE MANY YEARS OF SHARING WITH US HER VERY BEST A LOVING DAUGHTER MAXIERENE VELMA H. BAGLEY CHAIRPERSON HOTEL RESERVATIONS LOGISTICS LEE BURS FINANCIAL SECRETARY - COMMUNICATIONS LYNDA BAGLEY CATERING ARRANGEMENTS JOHN HEARNS DECORATIONS CAROLYN BROWN EVELYN HARPER GWEN MCGEE REGISTRATIONS LYNDA BAGLEY YOLANDA HALL ALICE HOLMES PUBLIC RELATIONS LINDSAY HEARNS YOUTH PROGRAM CARLA & QUARDUS HALL FUN TRIP - PEARL RIVER CASINO JOE HEARNS SUNDAY MORNING CHURCH SERVICE JOHN L. WILLIAMS 14 15

10 Enjoyble Herns Fmily Reunion Celebrtions Were You There? Wittker, MI 1960 Lismn, AL 1970 Chrleston, W. VA 1997 Kissimmee, FL 1998 Detroit, MI 2007 Chrlotte, NC 2009 Wilmington, NC 2009 Meridin, MS 2011 Herns Fmily Reunion Picnic Menu *Served Buffet Style* Brbeque Chicken Pork Ribs Fried Ctfish Fried Whiting Hush Puppies Hot Dogs Hmburgers Corn on the Cob Bked Bens Potto Sld Dinner Rolls & Other Breds Vriety of Desserts Edwrd Lee & Vloni Dvis Cterers