By Richard Bailey
The interment of Mrs. William H. Jones at Oakwood Cemetery early in 1818 laid the foundation for a legacy that later included African Americans. Black History Month provides an excellent opportunity to highlight some of these African Americans.
Early burials included slaves like James whose identity would have been lost but for students at Auburn Montgomery who replaced his deteriorating marker.
In 1884 Cornelius N. Dorsette became the first black physician to pass Alabama's new medical licensure exam. He was the founding president of the National Medical Association. Alfred Coleman Dungee was the city's second black physician. His son, Alfred Coleman Jr., followed him in the medical profession. Nathan Nesbitt was an undertaker and one of the city's first black dentists.
Willis E. Sterrs was the first black physician in Decatur, where he became known for philanthropy. He urged delegates to the Constitutional Convention of 1901 "to frame a constitution that will . . . benefit both races" Frances Bell Richardson was the superintendent of Fraternal Hospital. Moses Jones, exalted ruler of Southern Pride Lodge No. 431, was one of 98 persons indicted during the Montgomery bus boycott.
Alfred Billingslea was a barber at the Exchange Hotel, and Elijah Cook was an early undertaker and an officeholder. A grocer and a realtor, Victor Tulane was the first black member of the Tuskegee Institute Board of Trustees. Henry A. Loveless was a grocer and an undertaker. James Hale was a contractor whose daughter married Dr. Dorsette. Dr. Jane Day seldom resisted an opportunity to tell her patients about Hale.
Stephen Duncan constructed Swayne College (later Booker T. Washington School), and William Watkins was a realtor and a contractor who built the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church. Abraham Calvin Caffey was a contractor who did repair work on the state Capitol. A son, D. Caffey, was also a businessman.
The estate of farmer John Brown was valued at $150,000 when he died in 1920. A.C. Brown operated a grocery at several locations along Holt Street. His home on Jeff Davis was among the first three in west Montgomery to feature a basement.
Matthew Franklin Moore lived near the intersection of present-day Southern Boulevard and Norman Bridge Road. His Hotel Ben Moore opened in September 1951. Dr. M. L. King Jr. delivered his eulogy from the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in November 1956, and 25 of the city's best citizens were honorary pallbearers.
Lowndes County state senator John William Jones laid the foundation for Centennial Hill. Another state senator, Charles D. Langford, was the city's second black attorney.
The wife of Alfred Coleman Dungee Sr., Lillian Brewster Dungee, was appointed to the Court of Domestic Relations and helped to establish the Alabama Industrial School at Mount Meigs, where a girls' dormitory was named for her.
A president of the Anna M. Duncan Federated Club, history teacher Geraldine M. Preston spoke at the dedication of Booker T. Washington High School in April 1949. Overcrowded classes had been held from 7 to 12 and from 12 to 5. Preston also gave the occasion at the bicentennial of the Montgomery Industrial School in July 1976.
Jewette Langford Anderson was the school's librarian until it closed in May 1970.
Loveless High School held its first graduation in 1940 with Thomas H. Randall as principal. N(athan) S(pencer) Rousseau taught science and was one of three males on the 31-member-faculty. Lucille Caffey Pryor taught mathematics. She was the mother of Julius Jr., and a daughter of Abraham Calvin Caffey.
William H. Breeding served as principal of Cemetery Hill School (later William Burns Paterson) and retired as principal of Hale School. His wife, Amanda, taught music. Breeding, Randall, and H. Councill Trenholm and his wife joined more than 43 other patrons as Alabama State hosted the Fisk Jubilee Singers at the City Auditorium in March 1943. No friend of pedestrianism, Mark Twain said he would walk seven miles to hear them sing again.
Marquis Griffin was the first principal at Carver, where construction was announced in March 1948. He died in 1957, and his body was moved to another local cemetery in 1977. Nell Brown Saffold, a daughter of John Brown, had moved from Loveless to Carver by 1945.
Sixth-grade teacher Mary Frances Terrell conducted the first Founder's Day at Alabama State in 1901. John William Beverly headed the school from 1915 to 1920 and died in Texas.
Frank H. Caffey was physician to boxer Jack Johnson.
When we keep a cemetery clean, we keep history alive.
Dr. Richard Bailey is chairman of the Montgomery Historic Preservation Commission.