The Alice Marshall Jackson Story: “I Live On”

By Alline Carter Rivers

State Mother Alice Marshall Jackson born August 17, 1908, to October 15, 2005. In her 97 years on God’s green earth:
She fought a good ; She finished her course; She kept the faith; She lives on thru eternity!
With style and gracious Mother Alice Jackson legacy of integrity and fortitude lives on. State Mother Alice Jackson theme song which she compose was titled, “ I Live On.” Throughout her life of struggles and hardship, she was determined to “ Live On” to glorify God. Though she has passed from death to eternity, her life’s work has become an example for many of the pastors, ministers, mothers, deacons, missionaries, lay members, and evangelist that she trained during her ministry of over 60 years. We appreciate you, State Mother Jackson for setting the bar so high. We owe you a debt of gratitude for leaving a legacy of integrity, faith, hope, trust, sacrifice, love, and dedication to God.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Oct 5, 2022
• ISBN: 9781665569552

Alline Carter Rivers

She should have a book written about her!’ were Alline Carter Rivers thoughts as she listened to Pastor Alice Jackson recount the most interesting events of her very colorful life. Alline was then inspired by her pastor, who happens to be her husband’s grandmother, to put into print the descriptive accounts of Pastor Alice Jackson’s lifetime, to not only inspire family members, Christian friends, but the world. As a music educator, Alline began writing musical plays and songs to incorporate in her choral and instrumental program while working at Buck Lake Elementary School; along with Holiday Programs for the youth departments at her church Tallahassee #1 Church of Christ Written in Heaven. From that she branched into authoring this book that tells of the struggles and triumphs in the life of an African-American female who was destined to be a Christian example of strength and integrity in the face of insurmountable odds. Alline Carter Rivers is the wife of Naymon Rivers. She is the proud mother of two children, Shango and Kahliah, and the proud grandmother of six beautiful grandchildren. Alline Rivers, by profession was a music teacher for 39 years in the public schools of Florida. Alline is presently a piano teacher for over 50 years, her church pianist and director of the youth choir. In her semi-retirement role, Alline, has used this time to explore publishing of her written words. Alline is currently authoring a piano skills book that will be used in the instruction of her many piano students.

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© 2022 Alline Carter Rivers. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 09/30/2022

ISBN: 978-1-6655-6956-9 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6655-6955-2 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2022916078

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the Holy Bible, King James Version (Authorized Version). First published in 1611. Quoted from the KJV Classic Reference Bible, Copyright © 1983 by The Zondervan Corporation.

Contents

Foreword

Acknowledgments

Introduction

PART I: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF MOTHER ALICE MARSHALL JACKSON

Chapter 1 What’s in A Name? The Early Years

The Birth of a Prophet: Who Knew?

Time to Go to School

Farm Life

Chapter 2 Alice Marshall’s Teen Years and Marriage

Alice Makes a Big Decision

Alice Gets Married: I’s Married Now!

Bless My Soul, I’m What? The Jackson Family Grows and Is Touched with Grief

Chapter 3 The Ministry of Mother Jackson and Elder Jackson

The Saving Power of the Holy Ghost Comes to the Jackson Family

Divine Calling to Preach God’s Word

The Establishment of Churches in Florida and Georgia

Chapter 4 Mother Jackson’s Struggles and Triumphs

In Times of Trouble, Hold to God’s Unchanging Hand

Stepping in the Path of Danger

Another Trial to Overcome: Prejudice

Facing Immense Loss

The Loss of Her Beloved Husband

The Loss of Finances

Devastating Loss of Loved Ones

Chapter 5 The Final Chapters of A Life Well-Lived

The Uncertainty of Health and Mortality

Declining Years

Coming to Terms with Her Death

What’s in a Name?

Part II: I Live On!

Chapter 6 Family Reflections

My Love and Respect for my Mother and Pastor (Mother Pauline Jackson Williams)

How to Live a Long Life: Love I Can Never Forget (Minister Susie Ruth Williams)

Papa Tried to Shoot Me! (George Nathaniel Jones)

Sweet, Caring Woman of God (Betty Jean Lovett Jones)

Fire in Grandma’s House! My Salvation Experience! (Deacon Clarence Rivers)

Lessons on Fasting, Prayer, and Living Holy (Dorothy Lamore Hall Rivers)

The Juicy Mouth Story: Lessons Learned from Papa and Grandma (Naymon Rivers)

How do You Spell Huh? (Gwendolyn Sugar Alfames Oliver McLean)

The Importance of the Benediction (Frankie J. Richardson)

An Anointed Counselor (Deacon Parnell Jones)

How Grandma became My Mother and Christian Leader (Diann Davis)

What’s a Five-Cent Girl? Whose Grandma Jack’s Favorite Grandchild? (Patrick Craig Davis)

Wisdom Gained and the Mink Coat Story (Kimberly Thompson Brown)

Summers with Grandma Jack (Sylvia Lekay Williams Olmann)

The False Teeth Story: My Favorite Song (Deacon Arthur Cofield Jr.)

My Inspiration and Standard for Living (Antar Rivers)

Who Was the Family Thief? Are You Proud of the Woman I Am? (Tesa Hickman)

Who Got Spanked with a Wet Dishrag? Live a Life of Integrity (Tahirah Brown Singleton)

A Spirit Watches over Me: A Clairvoyant Message from Aunt Alice (Lynn Gwenette Jackson)

Chapter 7 Church Officials and Church Members Reflections

A Model of a Great Pastor (Elder Elijiah Morgan)

The Lamp Shade Story (Union Director Elder Andrew Morris)

A Pattern for My Pastoral Life (Bishop Earl Brown)

How to Elevate the Service: Called into Question by Mother Jackson (Dr. Ethel Skipper)

A Trendsetter and the Wind Beneath My Wings (Pastor Elmira Davis)

A Healing Miracle Story: What Is Tarrying? (Elder Lucille Brown)

My Front-Seat Driver (Mother Pearl Jackson)

How Her Anointed and Clairvoyant Spirit Affected Me (Mother Linda Henderson)

Meaningful Memories (Deaconess Mary Green, Macedonia Community Church of Sopchoppy)

My First Crush is Why I Joined the Holy Rollers (Mother Bertha May Tucker)

Spiritual Influencer: Sunday Dinners (Deaconess Johnny Mae Armstead)

Wonderful Memories of My Pastor and Teacher (Deaconess Loretta Darity)

A Special Woman of God (Mother Gertrude Dunk)

Teachings of Mother Jackson (Mother Florine Littles)

Lessons Learned From My State Mother (Mother Betty Culver)

About the Author

Foreword

It is with profound respect, honor, and admiration of the memory of Mother Alice Jackson that I welcome the opportunity to render these words in remembrance of a great woman of God. Mother Alice Jackson was a pioneer in the field of women’s ministry; a gifted pastor; and a traveling evangelist, who tirelessly worked to build Church of Christ Written in Heaven throughout the East Coast.

It would be remiss of me to neglect such a wonderful occasion to speak on her uprightness of character and veracity. Mother Jackson’s ministry has blessed thousands; her integrity and walk with God was an extraordinary example to emulate. It was her mission in life to save as many souls for the kingdom as she could, no matter your denomination or church affiliation.

Who was State Mother G. J. Jackson?

I have known Mother G. J. Jackson to be a very spiritual individual, very dedicated, and profoundly serious. She was not a woman given to a lot of verbosity in the pulpit. Mother said what she meant, and she meant what she said. What’s more, Mother was a spiritual clairvoyant. I believe she could see well into the future. She could talk to individuals and tell them about difficulties they may have been involved in or incidents they were going to be involved in and give you a warning from God. That was on a personal level. But on a spiritual level, she was a gospel preacher. She was exciting to hear! Mother was the kind of preacher who would make you feel like preaching, if you were a preacher.

Mother Jackson was our state mother of the Church of Christ Written in Heaven. You know, the Bible says that her children shall rise and call her blessed. I called her blessed. When you say Mother as a title of leadership, many women are not satisfied with merely that. Women in spiritual leadership role have assumed all kinds of titles—apostle, reverend, doctor, and Elder So-and-So. But to me, the greatest title you can have is Mother. Mother Jackson was a major motherly example. Look back to people like Sojourner Truth or Harriet Tubman. I’m proud to say Mother Jackson was a woman cut of that mold. I saw in her a strength of character and a genuine love and care for all people.

We talk about women’s independence, well, State Mother Jackson was always independent! She did not have to march for it; she just was it. Being a female preacher in the 1930s was almost unheard of. There was a lot of resistance to that, in certain quarters. But Bishop Blakely had an openness to it, more than other ministers of his day. I’m so happy that the Church of Christ Written in Heaven had an acceptance of women who were called into the ministry.

Additionally, she was a pioneer. Some ministers are prospectors, searching for the perfect church or the perfect member. On the other hand, Mother was a searcher of souls to save. Mother was a pioneer, who blazed trails and built churches. She played an intricate part in enhancing and improving the women’s ministry in the Church of Christ Written in Heaven. Mother was instrumental in devising the protocol and attire for the Women’s Day services at conventions and district and diocese meetings. She accomplished this by giving seminars and sermons to uplift the women and men in this way of holiness.

Why is it important to write a book about her?

Mother Jackson and her husband Elder George Jackson were there in the infancy of our organization, along with Bishop Blakely and others. They were there when the first meeting of the COCWIH was held in 1939. They were there to assist in writing the bylaws for this church of Pentecostal believers. The Jacksons represent our church history. We gain inspirational lessons from the past, for we stand on their shoulders.

We need to understand our foundation in the Church of Christ Written in Heaven. If our foundation be destroyed, the Bible says what can the righteous do? There are foundations in our society and in our world—the foundation of a family and the foundation of our church, which is built on the principles of holiness. Mother Jackson and those old saints taught us that the principles of holiness are a way of life. It is not just a religious duty. It goes further than the practice. It goes to the efforts of a person to change. This isn’t only about changing the outside; rather, it’s an inside job, as one preacher might say. We know that living a holy life is not going to be easy. And we learn what not to do, yes, but we also learn what to do. What not to do will keep us out of a crisis. But if we’re in a crisis, we learn what to do in a crisis, and that is to lean and depend on God to see us through.

This is the kind of impact Mother Jackson had on me, as well as on many others. But then I saw her come through trials we both went through, like times of discrimination and all kinds of instances of racism, both subtle and blatant. The kinds of things that were said to us and done to us put something in us—encouraged our determination to stand up and be proud of ourselves. The situations we endured inspired us to become gentlemen and ladies of the highest regard, godly men and women of God.

Her place in our church history

Mother Jackson was a pioneer. She was a trailblazer with the power of her ministry. Mother Jackson preached in such a way and with such power that many male ministers who had said the Lord had called them to preach began to wonder after hearing her, Did He? (Did God really call them?) There are many schools and styles of preaching but, Mother’s preaching style was unique and unto itself. It was filled with biblical truths, homespun wisdom, and common sense, all of which caused you to look at yourself. Her sermons would always put you in a reflective mood. That’s one way to describe her preaching. I remember one of my favorite sermons that she taught. It was titled, Stop It and Take It Off! (Stop What You Doin’ and Take It Off: As a Child of God Don’t You Do That No More!)

Of course, she was a church builder. She employed the old system of reaching to the national church for assistance and then reimbursing the national church for the help that was given. She was very loyal to the church, and she was a financial blessing to the church body. Not only was she loyal to the church, but she also respected her leadership, Bishop Blakely and others. Mother showed them their respect in the church. Mother was offered the position of second national mother of the Church of Christ Written in Heaven after Mother Blakely had passed. She declined; Mother simply wanted to keep her position as state mother of the Church of Christ Written in Heaven. And it was my uncle, Bishop Walker, who nominated her because she was deserving of it. Mother knew more about it than anyone else who was up for that position. You see, she had been in the church longer than all the other women who qualified. Even after the death of her husband, her strongest supporter, Mother Jackson continued the work she had been given as state mother of the Church of Christ Written in Heaven.

The very first time I heard her preach, her subject was When the Ball Is Over, I’m Going Home! In that sermon she was preaching about John the Baptist being beheaded. When she preached that night, she stirred up everybody. It left quite an impression on me. In my mind’s eye, I can still hear her preaching it now as if it were yesterday. When it comes to her place in the church, it would be along with the pioneers, the founders of the COCWIH—not just the women’s department but preaching in general. She was a special woman preacher whose life was anointed by God.

Bishop Willie James Jones

Presiding Bishop of the Church of Christ Written in Heaven

Acknowledgments

I would like to thank all those who contributed to the writing of this book—Mother Alice Jackson, Bishop W. J. Jones, Mother Pauline Williams, Minister Susie Ruth Williams, Nathan Jones, Betty Jones, Deacon Clarence Rivers, Minister Dorothy Rivers, Deacon Naymon Rivers. Gwendolyn McLean, Minister Frankie J. Richardson, Deacon Parnell Jones, Diann Davis, Craig Davis, Kimberly Brown, Sylvia Olmann, Deacon Arthur Cofield, Antar Rivers, Tesa Hickman, Tahirah Singleton, Lynn Jackson, Elder Elijiah Morgan, Union Director Elder Andrew Morris, Bishop Earl Brown, Pastor Dr. Ethel Skipper, Pastor Elmira Davis, Elder Lucille Brown, Mother Pearl Jackson, Mother Linda Henderson, Deaconess Mary Green, Mother Bertha May Tucker, Deaconess Johnny Mae Armstead, Deaconess Loretta Darity, Mother Gertrude Dunk, Mother Florine Littles, and Mother Betty Culver.

Introduction

Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies.

—Proverbs 31:10

Mother Alice Jackson, as she is fondly and respectfully called, lived an exemplary life; her name symbolized integrity, courage, and righteousness. Many people all over the East Coast of the United States, especially in the northern Florida and southern Georgia regions, knew of the magnitude of her importance to the Church of Christ Written in Heaven (the church organization she and her husband, Elder George Jackson, had played an essential part in establishing in 1939). Mother Jackson was the epitome of a spiritual woman; she lived a virtuous life, and God was her ultimate guide. This was accomplished by her being clothed in the Holy Spirit and allowing Jesus Christ’s likeness to permeate every area of the way she lived. Her lifestyle then became a true reflection of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. Under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, she stepped into her destiny to live a life of boldness, power, and strength. Mother Alice Marshall Jackson was not afraid to carry the word of God to the masses. She was not afraid to, as the Bible says in Isaiah 58:1, Cry Loud, and spare not lift up thy voice like a trumpet and shew my people their transgressions and the house of Jacob their sins.

What I set out to accomplish in writing this book is to simply pay respect and reverence to the incredible life of Mother Alice Jackson. Within this powerful story you are about to read, you will gain some knowledge of her faith, her tenacity, and her family history. Mother Jackson’s story will make clear in your minds that overcoming adversity was a way of life for her. Through this book, you will hopefully obtain an appreciation for this great lady who worked tirelessly for the Church of Christ Written in Heaven since its inception. She, along with her husband, Elder George Jackson, labored diligently to minister to the masses through their teaching and preaching of the holy word of God. They were also successful in building churches all over northern Florida and southern Georgia.

This book also offers a tribute to the many wise life lessons Mother Jackson has passed on to us—on faithfulness, perseverance, devotion, fortitude, and undeniable love. These are but a few of the lessons I will impart to you in my writings.

Mother Jackson demonstrated these life lessons, this Christian walk, by the way she lived her life every day.

Mother Jackson’s body, mind, and soul were given over to righteousness, not sin. Through her dedication to Jesus and Bible-based teachings, she became an instrument of God’s grace, mercy, love, joy, and peace. In so doing, she dedicated her life to Christ and totally became God’s property. The Bible tells us that we cannot serve two masters. Mother Jackson not only taught this; she also lived it. She knew that we are not our own; we are the property of the Lord.

In view of the actuality of Mother Jackson’s varied life experiences maturing her faith walk, she learned to never wring her hands in the valley of the unexpected. As a godly woman, she knew the benefits of allowing the inner peace of the Holy Spirit to be her comfort and guide when things seemed out of control. Mother also learned to lay her concerns at the feet of the cross and leave them there. Her priceless life experiences developed in her great wisdom, which enabled her to share with many in need of her guidance. When counseling her many parishioners, friends, and neighbors, Mother Jackson gave words of encouragement and advice based on the Bible and not on her opinion. She did not just throw out scriptures to show how knowledgeable and spiritual she was. Rather, her key instinct when speaking with someone was to balance faith and actions on the word of God.

Along with her role as both pastor for over sixty years and state mother of the Church of Christ Written in Heaven, she was also a dutiful wife, a wonderful mother, and a thoughtful matriarch of six generations of family members. All I can say is the Lord gives you strength to do what needs to be done if you are sent by God. In her role as a devoted wife and mother of seven children, Mother Jackson provided discipline, insight, and wisdom to her children when needed and was a supportive and loving wife to her husband. In addition, Mother Jackson had a regular job, working as a domestic and later in the Tallahassee Laundry. She was also able to keep a perfect house, along with providing great meals for her family. By the grace of God, in Mother Jackson’s ninety-seven years, she was afforded the privilege of living to see and influence her family line, which extended to six generations.

Mother Alice Jackson, being a woman of great compassion for her fellow man, was always concerned about her neighbors and the community in which she resided. This lovely woman was a positive image of a person who gave back to the community financially, through charitable gifts, and spiritually, through her preaching and teachings. Mother Jackson made a significant difference in the lives of many people. The spiritual influence she had during her ninety-seven years of existence in this world—on her family, friends, community, churches, and even people she did not have a personal relationship with—is still being felt and talked about to this day. Whether Mother Jackson was speaking before her congregation, hosting the Women’s Convention of the Church of Christ Written in Heaven, providing council to her members, inspiring generosity at fundraisers, or giving to church offerings, she made a distinctive impact.

My former pastor was given the great gift of wisdom. It was important to her to pass on to her congregation, children, and friends the value of her years. She knew that wisdom is for everyone, and we all need it. But some of us required more teachings, life lessons, trials, and tribulations to aid us in gaining some of the insight she had gained in her many years. God delights in giving to all who ask. And Mother Jackson was given an extra dose of His grace and goodness because of the unique challenges she would have to face.

State Mother Jackson was an extraordinarily strong woman. I have heard the saying from several people that a strong woman is equipped to demonstrate the strength she needs to navigate through this life, but a woman who depends on fasting and praying knows it’s in her life’s journey where she gains her strength to endure. If more people realized that the way through struggle is continual prayer, frequent fasting, and a fervent faith in God, we too would be empowered to ride the waves of life while leading and depending on Christ our savior. We appreciate you, State Mother Jackson, for setting the bar so high. We owe you a debt of gratitude for leaving a legacy of integrity, faith, hope, trust, sacrifice, love, and dedication to God.

My research for the Alice Marshall Jackson story began when Alice was ninety years old in 1998. The family was preparing an awards banquet to celebrate her ninety years of life. As a part of that celebration, I sat down with her and interviewed her. As I sat in her home, she began to tell her story, which I recorded and transcribed. The story I transcribed was read at the banquet. Inspired by those special moments of her sharing her story, after her passing, I decided to expand it into a book to share with others and to leave as a legacy to her family, church members, and future generations and to you, the reader.

The book you are about to read is a real story about a true woman of God. Turning its pages, you will laugh, cry, and be amazed by Mother Jackson’s endurance and determination in the face of all kinds of adversity—deaths of family members, destruction of her home and church by fire, losing her life savings, and facing discrimination on all sides. Reading her story lets us know that, whether we recognize it or not, our entire life is arranged to a great degree by God, and the relationships we create serve a greater purpose than we know. Read on. In discovering State Mother Jackson’s purpose, you may wish to revise your own.

PART I

The Life and Times

of Mother Alice

Marshall Jackson

Chapter 1

What’s in A Name?

The Early Years

A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches,

and loving favor rather than silver and gold.

—Proverbs 22:1

In researching for this book, I wanted to discover the meaning and history of the name Alice. And I wanted to determine if it was related to the real Alice, who many grew to know and love. I wanted to know, can the meaning of your name reflect the person you are to become? And is your destiny shaped, in some way, by the name you were given?

Some people feel it’s important and meaningful to have purpose behind the naming of a child. Some individuals agree that a child’s name should not just be a combination of syllables with no meaning. Culturally speaking, certain African Americans believe that giving a child a name of African origin speaks to our heritage as a people. And some African Americans derive their children’s names from the Bible. But the question remains. Does a name predict the child’s future character?

Some say that what you name a child will have a profound effect on the development of the child’s mind, personality, career path, self-confidence, and much more. Let’s find out what the name Alice really means. What are the characteristics of a child named Alice? My investigation led me to several websites, but First Names Meaning.com was extremely helpful.

I discovered that Alice is a derivative of German and English. In German, the name means truth. As an English name, it denotes a child who is bright, alert, particularly communicative, and considerably eloquent and expressive. Children named Alice love to be on show, to communicate, and to exchange ideas. They’re witty and take great pleasure in entertaining those around them and adaptable, with critical minds and a keen sense of observation.

The website also goes on to say that a child named Alice would normally be pleasant, charming, and very bright. Children named Alice are very involved in their family environment. They seek to please their parents and need constant reminders that they are loved. They are known to be loquacious, but you are advised to listen carefully. They are usually generous and interested in others.

Another question I wanted answered was, what are the projections of her likes and what did they turn out to be? The website provided this information regarding the character of the name. Someone with the name Alice would be refined, noble, kind, and sensitive to music and visual art. They would be capable of great effort to make others happy and would be appreciated in return. They would have a profound sense of justice, and it was probably not a good idea to cross them or wrong the people they care about. Love and romance were fundamental to these ladies, who only seemed to be able to live through or for others.

Because Alices tend to be quite preoccupied with their emotional lives, they would probably be influenced by the domestic sphere, which may have a role to play in their professional future. If they chose a career, the choice would be guided by these inclinations. Perhaps they’d take up a profession involving the support of others (something in the medical or legal fields). Or they might be drawn to a career in which oral or written expression was necessary (teacher, lecturer, singer, guide, or writer). Occupations linked to creativity (artist, musician, designer), occupations in connection with the public, and occupations requiring precision and thoroughness would also be likely.

When I presented the findings of my investigation, people who knew Alice Jackson attested that the description was amazingly close to the woman they came to know. To all of you who didn’t know her, let’s read on to determine if you agree with the above assessment of the name. Did Alice fit the characteristics described above? Let’s find out.

In my continued research of Alice Marshall, I was unable to find a vast amount of information about her as a child. I will endeavor to inform you of what we do know of her childhood.

In a child’s life, many experiences make the person who they are; our environment, social skills, beliefs, aspirations, and goals play a role in informing who we become. Almost everyone in the world has a goal, a vision, or a hope to accomplish something in their life. Our visions or dreams may be great or small. Your visions or dreams aid in you realizing your ability and shape your future.

Perhaps the most important part of you, based on your status as an individual, is your ethical standards. Ethical standards and morals are instilled in a child from childhood. And these depend on the background of the family, as well as the location and society where the child is brought up.

You will be known for your morals, as they are reflected in every decision you make throughout your life. What you are today is made out of what you were yesterday. So all the significant and insignificant things that happen to us gradually mold our character and shape us into the people we are to become.

What kind of person did Alice Marshall become? Read on to discover and judge for yourself. But where did this all begin for her? What were her hopes and dreams? Who influenced the development of her ethical standards? Well, let’s start at the beginning, to uncover the life and times of Alice Marshall Jackson.

The Birth of a Prophet: Who Knew?

For unto us a child is born, unto us a daughter is

given, and her name shall be called Alice.

—Isaiah 9:6 (paraphrased)

Alice was born to the Marshall family on August 17, 1908. In the year 1908, many African Americans had not seen a movie or ridden in an automobile or airplane. Most lived in rural areas and lived a very simple life. Since most of the South was farmland, the southern economy was agriculturally based. The African American male worked the farmland. And the wife either stayed home to take care of the children, worked as a domestic, or worked in the fields alongside her husband when necessary.

The majority of African Americans worked on their farms as sharecroppers (tenant farmers who gave a part of each crop to pay their rent). Otherwise, they either worked as a maid or butler. There were also a small percentage of business owners—running barbershops, stores, and blacksmith’s shops—teachers; and pastors.

Religion played an important part in African American lives. For many, the church was the center of their social lives. It was one of the only places they could gather socially without white authority. In the church, they could gather and speak freely about their concerns, including immoral and unethical treatment by whites in the area.

Another religious benefit of the church for parishioners was the ability to relate Bible stories, which spoke of hardship, to their own lives. Those Bible truths gave them courage and strength to tolerate the unfair treatment they were often subjected to. The Bible was their guidepost for their moral- and faith-based lives.

And white people controlled everything. African Americans were subjected to their rules and regulations through the Jim Crow Laws, which were established in 1877 and remained in place through the 1960s. The Jim Crow Laws were designed to enforce the rules of racial segregation in the South. In theory, the laws were to create a separate but equal treatment, but instead, they condemned black citizens to inferior treatment and facilities.

Education was segregated, and so were public facilities, such as water fountains, public restrooms, hotels, and restaurants. In later years, theaters and buses would be segregated as well. Blacks were compelled to take seats apart from whites. People of color