WHAT I LEARNED THIS WEEK (July 2-8) — I learned that a lot more people are “liking” what they see on this page than are adding to the conversation. That’s what we want this to be. As the group description says, “Think of this as an extended front-porch chat after the sun goes down.” Some of us are talking — i.e., sharing information, photos, nagging questions, insights. Willie Collins brought out an old photo that she had found among her mother-in-law’s possessions after her death last year. “I think these ladies are members of Rock Temple's Usher Board. I recognize Bertha Simmons and Laura Aikens not sure about the rest.” That stirred memories for several people, including Dana Elliott Foster, who wrote: “I couldn't think of Mamie's real name for nothing .... smh .... lol ….” Willie’s photo gave us a chance to pay homage to the kind of people who have been the backbone of our churches and, thus, our Rockdale County.

I learned that we might have some unsettled business about the oldest black church in Rockdale. J Phillip Baker got this going with his post on June 25 that said that, while Bald Rock Baptist is the oldest in existence (begun in 1861), it was actually founded when this was Newton County. So, he says, Macedonia is the oldest black church in Conyers. But this week, Laura Richards said, “whoa”: “Rock temple A.M.E. we have [been] told is the oldest black church on Rockdale.” OK. HOMEWORK TIME!

This fits right in with what my sister Norma Shipp has begun to encourage: posts about the history of the various churches. They have always been more than places of worship. As I wrote on July 1: “Double Springs Baptist Church began operating a school around 1879. Others with schools from at least 1883 included Rock Temple A.M. E., Pleasant Hill C.M.E., New Hope Baptist, White’s Chapel (given an earlier discussion on this Black Heritage page, I will leave it to others to say whether it was A.M.E. or C.M.E. in these earlier days), Peek’s Chapel Baptist, Shady Grove Baptist and Bald Rock Baptist. Later Mt. Olive Baptist held school for the children of blacks who worked at Calloway Mills. Crawfordville Baptist also had a school.”

Thanks to Vanessa Lindsey, we learned a lot more about the Needmore community, where blacks have lived since at least the very early 1900s. Vanessa tells us that her mother, Ella Maude Shepherd Loyd “was instrumental in getting public utilities such as a electricity and public water. The first telegram post was placed in our front yard at 135 Needmore St. The streets were not paved until the 1950s.” Read more in the July 6 post called THE NEEDMORE COMMUNITY.

We have learned about some of the Carrs (Raymond Carr, Jr) and about the Robert Lee Family (Beverly Veal)) and are beginning to learn a bit about some of the Hamms (Neodesha McCollum Hendley, Keisha Hamm, Shirley Hill, Demetrius Hamm). But others have been slow to weigh in with family connections. Each week, we’ll roll out additional names, but so far Carr, Elliott, Giles, Hamm, Lee, Usher and Williams are up for discussion, so to speak. As of this writing, there are 571 people in our group. Please invite more to share in this extended conversation.

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