Gallatin City Honors Influential Black Residents Past and Present

Nashville, Tenn. (WTVF) — It’s only one week away from Black History Month, and cities across the Midstate are beginning to honor Black excellence.

The City of Gallatin is doing this by highlighting members of Gallatin’s Black community from the past and present.

Derrick Jackson, senior pastor at Frist Baptist Church, said, “There’s not much that’s been told about African American history or black history. Much of it isn’t even published as a whole.”

The City of Gallatin has hung avenue banners featuring influential black residents of Gallatin’s past and present. Sixteen people and places were chosen with the help of the Union High School Museum Board, led by historian Velma Brinkley.

The idea of ​​featuring local residents on the banners was mentioned last year during Mayor Page Brown’s State of the City address. The mayor said the community embraced banners put up during last year’s Black History Month that included Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Ida B. National figures such as Wells and Katherine Johnson were included.

Pastor Derrick Jackson is one of 16 people to be honored.

Pastor Jackson said, “If God would let me come October, I would have been here 22 years.”

Even though he has held the position of senior pastor at First Baptist Church for more than two decades, he is humble about his accomplishments.

He is also an entrepreneur, accountant, college instructor and author.

He thinks that what the city is doing gives the public a chance to learn something new as well as remind everyone that Black history is American history.

“The complexities of black life. The challenges of black life. The contribution of black life – Gallatin is better; Sumter County is better because of the presence of African Americans,” Pastor Jackson said.

The banners will be displayed till February.

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The following are excerpts from the content displayed on the Gallatin’s Avenue banners:

Fred BaileyFred Bailey, founder of the nonprofit Children Are People and Susie Brannan McGimpsey Center, was born in 1953, the 10th of 15 children.

colorful fair: Claimed to be the first African American-owned agricultural fair in America, the Blythe Street Fair was purchased for $650 in July 1870 by Mack Randolph, Arthur Banks, Willie Baker, Doc Blythe, John Banks, and Henry Ward.

Dr. William WilsonBorn in Marshall County, Wilson graduated from the Meharry Medical College School of Pharmacy in 1906. In 1915, he moved to Gallatin where he and IC Ramsey, MD opened a pharmacy and medical practice.

Doctor. J Devatha MaloneMalone was the first African American woman elected to the Gallatin City Council in 1969 and served for more than 20 years.

Dr. Eric MooreMoore, a Gallatin native, is the current deputy to the commanding general of the US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command at the Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland.

of Rev. Hilary Watwood: Key founded the Key Memorial Methodist Church and 13 other churches. He was an incorporator of the Lebanon/Gallatin Telegraph Company in 1869. He was elected to the Gallatin City Council on December 5, 1868.

William “Bubba” Dunn: A baseball standout from Gallatin High School and Volunteer State, Dunn was drafted in 1989 by the Kansas City Royals.

Union High School: Built in 1922 on Winchester Street, the Rosenwald Building was the first high school for black students.

Rev. Peter Vertrees: Born in Kentucky on December 16, 1840, Vertris was a teacher, clergyman, and Confederate soldier (1861–1865).

John Vertrees Malone: They were active and influential in education, religion, community and civic efforts. Malone worked for 42 years in education at GHS, UHS and Durham’s chapel.

James Herbert White: Born to illiterate parents and the grandson of former slaves, White graduated from A&I State College in 1924 and later founded a university.

kenneth moore: Attorney Kenneth Moore founded Sigma Electronic Discovery Consulting, LLC in 2015 and remains its owner. He is the founder of HaystackID Inc., an international technology and consulting company. Also serves as the director of.

Bishop Lula Mae Swanson: Bishop Swanson founded and nurtured three Jehovah’s Churches of God. He owned and managed a grocery store and used the proceeds from that venture in 1954 to build a nursing home on Pace Street.

Onesia Shakol Head: Rucker Stuart Middle School 2021 Teacher of the Year, Head Teacher for 16 years. Head currently works with Leadership Gallatin 2023, Unlimited Potential Food Pantry, and Shalom Zone.

Dr. Derrick Jackson: a prominent Tennessee clergyman who was born in Itta Bena, Mississippi. Jackson is an entrepreneur, accountant, college instructor, philanthropist, published author, and CEO.

John “Bud” Rogan: Born in 1868 to former slaves in Sumner County, Rogan was the fourth of twelve children. At 8’9.5″, he is the tallest African American of all time and the second tallest man in world history.