WHAT I LEARNED LAST WEEK (July 16-22) — As the 629 (so far!) members of this group know, Rockdale County has been blessed with some remarkable people over the years. Through the information we have begun sharing here, we are learning much more about black people who have contributed in ways that may not have been sufficiently recognized — until now. I was particularly struck by the comments that have poured in about three women who were brought to our attention by Laura Hill, Paulette Hill, and Teresa Roulhac.

In a July 19 post, Laura reminded us of “Cousin Maggie Flanigan teaching music lessons in her home.” That was Maggie Lue Mabry Flanigan (1929-2007). Not only did her family remember her upon the 10th anniversary of her death on July 18, but various of us (me included) recalled taking piano lessons or being guided by her as a church musical director. Theresa Hamm-Smith, who went on to earn a degree in music and to establish a career as a professional singer, credited Mrs. Flanigan as “the first person to teach me about being an excellent musician.” Now director of her own Bella Musica Music Studio in Conyers, Theresa added: “I will never forget her. She is at the foundation of the musician that I am.” I learned about the extent of Mrs. Flanigan’s own musicianship. I did not know, for example, about the Gospel Choraleers that performed around the state and were staples on radio station WAOK.

Also on July 19, Paulette recalled “The Preacher Lady”: Reverend Martha Gates, an evangelist that many of you said was a voice crying in the wilderness with her oft-heard line “We’re living in perilous times!” She was, indeed, a rather intimidating character in her dress and in her zeal — especially if you were a kid. She was the first woman in the pulpit of many churches in the area or, if not from the pulpit, she otherwise made her presence known at Macedonia, Bald Rock, Peek’s Chapel, Rock Temple, Whites Chapel and Knox Chapel, among others. J Phillip Baker agreed with Jean Sadler and others that “she was ahead of her time -- people weren't ready for her. If she lived today she would be highly sought after minister. She was the forerunner for women ministers and Pastors in our community.” I hope we can find out more information about her.

In her July 21 post, Teresa Roulhac recalled her great grandmother, known to many of us as “Miss Patience,” though — and this was news to many, including me — her real name was Mattie Cox Price Moon. She was a firm but quiet presence in the community and lived to be at least 106. I have vague memories of her from when my family lived for a while on North Main Street; others had more vivid memories, including Eddie Wayne Lee, who wrote: “She would call my name like no one else could….” Chunkey Elliott wrote: “She loved herself some Chunkey….” It turns out that a number of people may be related to her (and to each other) through either Cox or Price connections. We’ll try to explore that on August 4 at “The Black Side of Rockdale County History” at J. P. Carr. (Please check out the announcement on this page if you don't know about this event.)

Our churches are our oldest black institutions and we want to document their histories as houses of worship as well as centers of communal life. Thank you, Norma Shipp for pulling together some histories and goading others to join in this effort. Let’s hear from more of you. No one is expected to have ALL the information, but if everyone who knows something — even it's just your experience — shares THAT bit, then we will together create something meaningful.

Let’s keep history alive!

E. R. Shipp post on The Black Heritage of Rockdale Facebook page.