The Moral Elevation Society 

Founded by ROBERT B. (“Grey” or “Gray”) CARR — Born around Feb. 3, 1863 and later carried on by Deacon J. C. Printup. Mission was to “bury dead and see to sick”. 

ROBERT B. (“Grey” or “Gray”) CARR and the MORAL ELEVATION SOCIETY — Born around Feb. 3, 1863, he was the son of Berry and Emily; the brother of Narcissa, Joseph and Thomas; the husband of Sarah; and the father of Mary Lizzie. [For more on the extensive Carr family, see comments by Raymond Jr Carr in the "Distinct Communities" post.] Grey Carr heard a calling early in life and became, in addition to a man of the land, a man of the cloth. As a teenager he worked for the railroad as a track raiser. His entire life was spent in the Rockdale area, though at the time of his birth Rockdale was still part of Newton County and Henry County. It did not become a separate county until 1870.

When he was still in his 20s, the Reverend R. B. Carr founded the Moral Elevation Society in 1890 at the Shady Grove Baptist Church, which he later led. He became the second pastor to serve Shady Grove, which was founded in 1873 by his predecessor, the Rev. Toney Baker. Rev. Carr, who was fond of wearing a black skullcap, was pastor from 1908 until 1924.

Two similar associations — at Old Pleasant Hill Baptist Church and at Peek’s Chapel Baptist Church — joined forces with Shady Grove’s Moral Elevation Society in 1911. One of its most stalwart leaders in the latter part of last century was the late J. C. Printup (pictured below). In 1997 or 1998, in an interview for the entry I was preparing for The Heritage of Rockdale book, Deacon Printup told me that the primary mission of the Moral Elevation Society was to “bury the dead and see to the sick.” When the Moral Elevation Society was founded — and for many decades thereafter — insurance companies did not offer policies to blacks in the area. This was also before there was much of a government-supported social safety net. The Moral Elevators, as members were known, filled the need. Members were guaranteed a death benefit of $200. “Back in those days, $200 was a big burial,” Deacon Printup told me. Deacon Printup, who died in 2003, had been a member since 1927.

In its example of blacks of modest means banding together to address community needs, the Moral Elevation Society was a precursor to later associations, including the Fair Hope and Charity Society, the Social Uplift Club and the Citizens Progressive Club.

How valuable a service such organizations provided was evident from a story carried in The Conyers Times on Feb. 4, 1911. It seems that Barry Hudson, while working on the farm of R. L. Hale, met with a fatal accident. “The Negro was cutting down trees and he had cut one which lodged against another one, and while cutting the second tree to loosen the other, it fell and he was caught under it.," the newspaper reported, noting that “[a]lmost every bone in him was broken.” The article went on to say: “He belonged to the colored Odd Fellows Lodge and his family will receive $300 from them. He also belonged to the Burial Association which paid his burial expenses.” [That burial association was most likely the Moral Elevation Society.]

At its height, several dozen churches in Rockdale, Newton, Henry, DeKalb and Fulton counties participated in the Moral Elevation Society. It met quarterly, held a thanksgiving service each May and an annual conference every August. It was on its last legs 20 years ago, when most of the enrolled members were up in age. “I can’t get no young ones [to join],” Deacon Printup said. At that time it endured largely through the loyalty of the Carrs, Holdens, Howards, Printups and Williamses, who were among the oldest families involved. My father, Johnnie Shipp was also a member.

Rev. R. B. Carr died on Apr. 5, 1926, and is buried in the Shady Grove Cemetery.

Excerpt from Heritage of Rockdale County 1998; Article #75. Submitted  by E. R. Shipp, 

Mrs Essie Hamm Robertson and the Social Uplift Club

Essie Robertson was one of Rockdale County's most persistent and effective movers and shakers -- a virtual one-woman civic league from the late 1940s through the 1960s. And all that work took place during her "retirement" years! 

When she "retired" to Conyers, she became a substitute teacher and was active in the P.T.A. at the Bryant Street School and the J.P. Carr School. She gave piano lessons at the Pleasant Hill C.M.E. Church, where she was a member, and she started the Social Uplift Club. The club most of whose members were young adults, fist met at the church to listen to classical music and discuss books and plays; later their meetings were held in Mrs. Robertson's home on Thursdays. Francis Ingram, the proprietor of Ingram Janitorial Services, joined the Social Uplift Club when he was about 19 or 20. "She showed me how to be somebody," he recalled. "She encouraged all of us."

The club included an energetic group of volunteers who acquired property on Hardin Street to be used by black youth as recreational space; they also helped set up a playground near Pleasant Hill C.M.E. In September 1950, Mrs. Robertson was among a group of four prominent blacks - the others were W.D. Tolbert, Willie Henderson and Lester Collins - who joined with whites in spearheading a cleanup drive "in Negro sections of Conyers," as The Conyers News reported. But in all her efforts, recalls George Levett, a longtime funeral director, law enforcement officer and civic activist, Mrs. Robertson shied away from assuming the title of president; instead she groomed others in leadership skills and led by example.  

"She kept blacks alert and involved," recalled Pinkola MItchell, a distant cousin of Mrs. Robertson who was also one of her piano students. "She was a pusher."

She  "pushed" voter registration, neighborhood improvements and quality education.

Jean Williams 

Jean Williams served as the first President of the Rockdale Chapter of the NAACP and  was a beloved community leader. She was also a member of the Rockdale County Board of Health. From a Letter to the Editor in the Rockdale Citizen submitted by Cecillia L. Green: "Her many civil rights accomplishments will never be forgotten in this community and county. For years she fought for the betterment of the citizens of Rockdale County and those all over Georgia. She found resources for many people in need. Her talents were administered in other organizations and civil rights groups. She is highly respected by the lawyers and judges in Rockdale County. She will be missed."

The Rockdale Chapter of the NAACP established the Jean Williams Community Service Award that is given out annually at the Freedom Fund Banquet.  

Marion E. Moore Foster

Served as foreperson for the Bert Lance trial. Bert Lance was named Director of the Office of Management and the Budget (OMB) under President Jimmy Carter. Within six months, questions were raised by the press and Congress about mismanagement and corruption when Lance was chairman of the board of Calhoun First National Bank of Georgia. He resigned. He was also advisor to Rev. Jesse Jackson during his 1988 Presidential campaign.

At the time of the trail, it was said to be the longest criminal trial in Georgia history at 14 weeks. He was acquitted on nine counts and a mistrial was declared on another three counts because the jury was deadlocked.  He resumed his business career. Bert Lance died at the age of 82 years old, August 15, 2013.

Rev. Aldren Sadler 

Judge Irwin appoints Sadler to elections board

Honored with Barksdale Lifetime Achievement Award

Local Voices Program Innaugural speaker 

Rev. Aldren Sadler appointed as Board of Elections Chair for second time 

Dora Zachery

Founding member of Church Women United a mixed race community group; president in 2nd year. Established first recycling location in Conyers. 

Early EOA employee working in community; started senior citizen groups in each community. Fund raisers to help children with school needs; clothes, food, etc. Field worker for the Yellow River Association.

Willie Otis “W.O.” Benton

Pleasant Hill C.M.E. honored him with a Willie Otis Benton day on Saturday, August 19. 2017 at 5:00 p.m. He has been a member since 1977 when he moved back to Conyers. He was 79 years old at the time of this event and still going strong.

He is a man that believes in service and work. In September 1956, he joined the U.S. Army Reserve while in the 12th grade; later he then enlisted in the U.S. Army. He worked as a maintenance mechanic and driver in the motor pool where he drove around the Company Commander and then promoted to drive the Division Commander. After the Army he was employed with John Virden Lighting and retired with 20 years. When he moved back to Conyers, he worked for I.T.E. Imperial 5 years and then Sweetheart Plastics for 20 years where he retired again. After retiring he went right to work part-time the next week at Cowan Ace Hardware for 10 years.

He enjoys working on political campaigns encouraging people to get out and vote. He worked on campaigns for Rep. Randal Mangum, Sen. Ramsey, Congressman David Scott, Congressman Hank Johnson, Ruth Wilson, Oz Nesbitt, and on and on. 

His most favorite service is to Pleasant Hill C.M.E. Church.  He took over maintaining the church yard from his dad, Theodis Benton. He then became the maintenance man for the church. He  served on the Trustee Board for many years.

W.O. is being recognized, as the sign outside the church says, for “Dedicated Service Award Celebration”. 

Boys to Men of Honor

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