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Tuesday, February 23,2021 ®ljt l)era(b <©a??tt? 7A Celebrating Black History Month Three generations of midwives Three generations of educators In keeping with the 2021 Black History Theme: “The Black Fam ily” - Three Generations of Midwives in Lamar County. In the early 1900s chil dren were born at home with the assistance of a midwife. In Lamar County that person was Mrs. Effie Pearl Owens (1893- 1975). Mrs. Owens was a Midwife and assisted in the birth of hundreds of children whom she took to heart as her own. She taught her daughter Fletcher Mae to deliver babies and she contin ued this vocation when she married and moved to Culloden, Monroe County. JONES Mrs. Fletcher Mae Ow ens Jones (1915-2008) At an early age, Mrs. Fletcher Mae Owens Jones (affectionately known as Nanny) ac quired the mid wifery skills of her mother. She as sisted moth ers in the birth of hundreds of babies in Lamar, Monroe, and surrounding coun ties for over 50 years. Mrs. Jones received her Registration Certificate from the state of Georgia on April 29, 1948. Based on a note found after Nanny’s passing, she began delivering babies at the age of 16. She was trained by her mother, Effie Owens, who was also a local midwife in Barnesville, Georgia. At the time of writing this note, Nanny was 64 years old. According to various artifacts, Nanny delivered thousands of babies in Lamar and Monroe County, as well as in the surrounding area. Like her Mother, she also delivered babies in her home when it was more convenient for the mother-to-be. She loved her calling and took pride in helping mothers deliver happy, healthy babies. Many of “Nanny’s Babies” still reside in and around Lamar and Monroe Counties. Written by Tammie T. Merritt, daugh ter of Fletcher Mae Owens Jones. Mrs. Bessie W. Smith (1933-2008) Bessie Woodyard Smith (1933-2008) was the third generation of the first African Ameri can mid wives (mother - Fletcher Mae SMITH Jones and grandmother - Effie Owens) of Lamar and Monroe County. Mrs. Bessie Smith was trained by her grandmother, Effie Owens. She delivered ba bies throughout Barnes ville, High Falls, Jackson, Forsyth, and the state of Georgia. Mrs. Smith received her Registration Certificate from the state of Georgia. In 1951 Lamar County Nurse-Midwifery Project opened a ten-bed Barnes- ville-Lamar Maternity Shelter. The Clinic pro vided full-scope service with on-call midwife always present. Infant & maternal mortality rates decreased. All projects ended due to lack of funding and shortage of nurse-midwives. Credit: (http://georgiamid- wife.org/wp-content/ uploads/2018/05/A- Timeline-of-Midwifery-in- Georgia.pptx.pdf: The Lamar County Maternity Shelter opened in 1951 and Mrs. Smith was hired as the Food Service Coordinator and cook. However, it was there that she also was instructed in midwifery by the nurse Midwives, Miss Blackmon, RN and Miss Gyer RN. After passing the State Board Exams, Mrs. Smith began assisting with deliveries. When the Maternity shel ter closed in 1965, Mrs. Smith continued to de liver hundreds of babies in their respective homes and her home. Mrs. Smith was well known by local law enforcement because she didn’t lose any time when going to deliver a baby. On some occasions she was even escorted by local law enforcement to “catch a baby” as she would say. Throughout the years, people have commented to the children and grandchildren of Mrs. Smith that they didn’t know that their mother or grandmother deliv ered them until they obtained a copy of their birth certificate. Mrs. Smith’s as well as her mother and grandmother fees for delivery ranged from free to $50.00 de pending on the patient’s ability to pay. Their main concern was always to assist in bringing as many healthy babies into the world as possible. Which is what they all viewed as the Gift that the Lord had blessed them with to serve others. Written by Daughters, Shirley Fluel- lyn and Mary Smith Fletcher. Mrs. Bessie’s daugh ter, Shirley Fluellyn, was inspired by her foremothers (mother, grandmother, and great grandmother) to become a nurse. After graduating from Booker High School in 1963, Shirley attended Gillespie-Selden Institute for Practical Nursing and graduated in 1965. After working as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) for several years, Shirley was accepted into the first Registered Nurse Class at Gordon Junior College and graduated in 1975. After passing the Georgia State Nursing Board Exam, she became the first African Ameri can Registered Nurse in Lamar County. Shirley also obtained a Teaching Certificate in Vocational Education from Georgia State College in 1978 and taught Health Occupa tions at Lamar County Comprehensive High School (LCCHS). Shirley returned to hospital nurs ing in 1988 and became a Practical Nursing Clinical Instructor at Flint Tech nical School. Although, Mrs. Fluellyn officially re tired in 2008, she contin ues to work part-time at Monroe County Hospital. Written by Shirley Fluellyn, RN. TONYA WALKER In keeping with the 2021 Black History Theme: “The Black Fam ily”, I thought of Three Generations of Educators in Lamar County. Two were teachers during my years at Booker. Mrs. Isabelle Perdue was an Elementary School teacher and Vivian Per due was my 12th grade homeroom teacher 1965-66. And now Mrs. Vivian Perdue Mitchell’s daughter, Tonya Walker, is a Counselor at Lamar County High School. Tonya submitted the information about her family. The photos of Mrs. Perdue Randall and Mrs. Vivian Perdue Mitchell were copied from a 1968 Booker Year book and 1966 Booker Graduating Class Photo. Booker Yearbooks were not published every year. The late Mrs. Isabelle Perdue Randall’s passion for teaching and learn ing expanded for over 30 years. Mrs. Randall received her formal training at the State Teachers and Agri cultural College/ Hubbard Training School in Forsyth, Georgia. Mrs. Ran dall went on to attend Columbia University in New York during the summer months to earn her Master’s degree. Following in their mother’s footsteps, Dr. Robert E. Perdue gradu ated from Morehouse College/Atlanta, GA and earned his doctoral de gree from the University of Georgia as one of their first African American students to graduate with a doctorate from their History Department. Dr. Perdue has taught at numerous colleges and universities throughout RANDALL Photo taken for Booker Elementary School Year book 1968 the state of Georgia and in South Carolina. Later in his career, he worked with our nation’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Georgia Emergency Man agement Agency (GEMA) until his retirement a few years ago. To his credit, Dr. Perdue has writ ten and published two novels, organized and still supports a branch of Morehouse College’s Alumnae Association. Dr. Perdue’s baby sister, Rev. Dr. Vivian L. Perdue-Mitchell made her own contributions to education and society. Hailed as a child prodigy, Dr. Vivian Perdue-Mitch ell graduated high school at the tender age of 15 and pursued her goals of becoming an educator at Mor ris Brown College, Atlanta, GA. Dr. Perdue- Mitchell not only earned her degree in English; but majored in French as well. In ad dition to her career pur suits, Dr. Perdue-Mitchell is an accomplished pianist and a licensed, ordained minister in two denominations. She attended and earned degrees at Morris Brown College, Atlanta Univer sity, Columbus State University, Emmanuel Bible College, as well as Fort Valley State College & University. During the course of their careers, both Dr. Vivian Perdue- Mitchell and her mother, Mrs. Isabelle Perdue Ran dall, shared their time and talents with students in Lamar County; and especially with their be loved students at Booker Elementary and High Schools, Barnesville, Georgia. Now, as a third genera tion of educators, Mrs. Tonya Walker, has joined the ranks of her family. MITCHELL Photo taken for Booker High School Graduating Class of 1966 Mrs. Tonya Walker serves as one of the Professional School Counselors at La mar County High School. She has also been privi leged to work with stu dents at Lamar County Middle and Elementary Schools in the same posi tion. It is not by chance nor coincidence that Mrs. Walker became an educator. She too began her formal training at one of the colleges which comprise the Atlanta Uni versity Center in Atlanta, GA. Mrs. Walker earned her Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Educa tion from Morris Brown College. She later re ceived a full scholarship from the University of Minnesota (Twin Cit ies). There, Mrs. Walker earned her Master’s de gree in Special Education; with a concentration in Emotional/Behavior Disorders. Surely, she is her mother’s child! Mrs. Walker is also certified in Educational Leadership (Georgia College & State University-Milledgeville, GA), School Counseling (Fort Valley State Univer sity), and most recently graduated with a Mas ter of Ministry Degree (Luther Rice College & Seminary, Lithonia, GA). In addition to her college and university training, she has earned endorsements through the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (Gaps) as a Teacher Sup port Specialist as well as a Student Support Team Coordinator. Mrs. Walker stated that she doesn’t believe being an educator is a job nor is it a career. It is indeed a calling. She often tells her students to choose their future plans not based upon what pays the most money; but what brings you the most joy. “Truly,” she says, “the students in the Lamar County School System that she is so honored to serve, are an absolute joy!” Elect Brutz ENGLISH CHIEF MAGISTRATE * Local Farmer, Small Business Owner, & Property Owner * Valdosta State University, B.S. Criminal Justice, Honors Program Graduate (1997) * Mercer University, Walter F. George School of Law, juris Doctor (2000) * Admitted to Georgia Bar 2000-2008 (passed the Bar Exam on 1st attempt) * Over 20 Years of Relevant & Diverse Legal Experience - Experienced former courtroom and appellate attorney - The ONLY candidate with any experience in Magistrate Court other than seeking warrants - The ONLY candidate with any Civil Law experience in Magistrate Court * Proud Sponsor of Local Schools, Civic, & Charitable Organizations * Eagle Scout & Vigil Honor, Boy scouts of America The Right Training, Experience & Perspective The Most Qualified Candidate Election Day is March 16 th Early Voting Begins Feb. 22 nd Paid for by Brutz English for Chief Magistrate £ like us on . I facebook M