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Composers of spirituals, “Uncle Wallace” and “Aunt Minerva” Willis were slaves in the old Choctaw Nation area of Oklahoma during the mid-nineteenth century. A Choctaw named Britt Willis owned them. In addition to the usual chores done for the family, Willis hired the couple periodically to Spencer Academy, a Choctaw boys’ school, to help with the work there. They were great favorites of the students during these periods because of the songs they sang while they worked. Uncle Wallace composed “plantation songs” as he worked in the fields. Aunt Minerva would sing along with him when they were asked to perform the songs for the students in the evenings. The songs composed by Uncle Wallace became well-known “spirituals.” “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot,” “Roll, Jordan, Roll,” “Steal Away to Jesus,” “I’m A-Rollin’, I’m A-Rollin’,” and “The Angels Are A-Comin’” are among the most popular and best loved.
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Pastor Derrick Scobey, in partnership with World Vision USA, have distributed thousands of dollars of food products, household goods, and hygiene products to families in the Oklahoma City area. In addition, they have distributed the same to families in the historically all Black Towns of Oklahoma, and to families in Okfuskee County. This week, the organization donated protective facial masks, hygiene wipes, and other products to the educators and staff in Weleetka and Okemah school districts. The mask are Theramasks, reusable Antimicrobial Copper Mask machine washable through 60+ cycles selling for $5 per mask and hygiene wipes are for keeping classrooms safe and clean throughout this pandemic.
Read moreLabor Day is coming soon. Clearview will be filled with Golden family members as they return for their annual family reunion held every year since 1924. Pray for Sharon Johnson Patton, formerly of Weleetka, who has spent several days in the hospital. Continued prayers L. C. and wife Irene, as she is his care giver and for those on the sick list. Marjorie Plunkett, Kurrilue Johnson, Billy Walker, Eugene” Cowboy” Tyler, and especially Jean Chatman Jackson who has been placed on hospice.
Read moreOKLAHOMA CITY— Five Oklahoma agriculture groups have formed a task force to develop solutions to the issues facing farmers, ranchers and agribusinesses from the exponential growth of the medical marijuana industry across Oklahoma.
Read moreWould you like to read about what was going on the Black towns when they published their own newspaper? Here is a listing of Black newspapers pulbished by the Newspaper Divisios of the Oklahoma Historical Society of those papers for which they have microfilm and online records. There may have been others not listed.
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How swiftly the summer days are passing! School is already starting this week. We enjoy living next door to our little parochial school. This year there will be 22 scholars and 2 teachers. Our 2 1 /2 year-old daughter Julia loves to go outside and watch them play softball at recess time. Each morning during the academic year the men and boys in our church take turns going to school to share a brief devotional and have prayer with the teachers and scholars. Julia and I enjoy going with Daniel when it’s his turn. Julia usually sits beside one of my sisters at their desks. I’m not sure who it tickles the most, Julia or her aunts! Before the first day of school, the schoolhouse needed a thorough scrubbing. Everyone in church was invited to come and help with the work at hand. While the ladies cleaned, the men and boys cut and stacked firewood and did maintenance and repairs here and there, cleaned out the barn, etc. Much got accomplished in a short time. After the jobs were completed, tables and benches were set up outside where we ate a light supper of hot dog sandwiches and finger foods over an open fire along with the assistance of several adults. Each of us ladies had taken a snack or finger food along. I chose to make cupcakes which is one of Julia’s favorites.
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WETUMKA SCHOOLS BEGIN CLASSES TODAY. NEW TEACHERS AND STAFF MEMBERS ARE PICTURED ABOVE. Front: Brandi Caldwell -3rd grade, Katie White -JH Math, Mary Jones -JOM, Bruce Jones -Bus /Custodian.
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