| The Mayor's Vision |
As I reminisce on the early years of my early life growing up in the Town of Mayesville,
I could not help from thinking how things were so different back then in comparison to
how things are today; a thriving little cotton town one day, hung by a thread the very
next day. It’s like one day the sun is shining and then, the next day it’s raining. But
remember, there is always a silver lining at the end of the rainbow. Though, we are
challenged today with many unfavorable conditions in the town doesn't mean this will
last always. “When the going gets tough, the tough gets going”, is an old motto of mines
and many others, we don’t give up nor give in. It is during times like these that Dr.
Mary McLeod would be saying, “Use what you have in your hands.” I couldn't agree
more.
The Town of Mayesville is undeniably a beautiful place with some of the most
incredible features that make it stands out from other towns throughout SC; with some
of the most unique architectural buildings and antebellum homes seen on the
Southeastern Coast, and of course, the rich history and legacy of one’s native daughter,
Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, a renowned educator, activist and advisor to four U.S.
Presidents, and other outstanding Mayesvillians that followed in her footsteps to great
accomplishments. Undoubtedly, the town is a ‘diamond in the rough’, with the
attractions that will fit in with the number one industry in South Carolina, Tourism!
A wise person once said, ‘you don’t look a gift horse in the mouth’, one doesn't need to
think long and hard nor need to be a rocket scientist to know what they have in their
hands. And, with recognition of the gift horse, a Nature Trail was successfully built and
named in honor of Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune that extends approximately one and a
half mile in length, down an abandoned railroad bed, to represent historically an era in
time where Dr. Bethune departed the Town of Mayesville by train for the very first time
in her life to attend Scotia College, in Concord, N.C.
This point forward, my dream is to see a continuation of other alliterations on the
Nature Trail that showcases the life story and legacy of the young Dr. Bethune in her
birthplace, Mayesville that features a water fountain on the plaza downtown, with a
statue of a young Mary. Also, to bring back an important piece of the Town’s history, a
replica 18th Century Southeastern Train that depicts Mary boarding the train on her way
to college in Concord, NC; and other major components that played integral parts in the
industry and economy in the Town. It is important to see young and enterprising
entrepreneurs establish in the town become energized and profitable that will help
stimulate jobs and economic developments throughout the town and surrounding areas,
in a way that it has never been before.
My passion is to see restoration of all the old Buildings in town that are on the National
Registry. To me, this is the key in attracting outside businesses and others to come to
our community. And, to create a medium that represents the town’s unique
characteristics; a state of the art library & computer center to help the youths without
the accessibility to obtain the proper tools to compete in today’s world; mentally,
physically, socially and otherwise. This is the epitome of Dr. Bethune’s saying, “use
what you have in your hands”. What better way to honor her?
In essence, I would love to see some things happen overnight too, but we live in the real
world and, it takes time; and as the old saying goes, ‘anything worth having is worth
waiting for’. So, as long as we keep the faith and believe in the will of God, “all things
are possible through Christ who strengthens us.” One of the town’s resident said it
clearly, “One thing that has made Mayesville what it is today, is fact that its leaders have
been able to realize its strengths and weaknesses”. So, as a community, the strength lies
within each one of us that will cause the town to move forward by, taking our
weaknesses and turning them into our strengths.
Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune saying of “Use what you have in your hand” is just that…
to be wise enough to do just that!
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“If a child doesn't’t see anything from whence to measure, how can
we expect expectations?” by Jereleen Hollimon-Miller
we expect expectations?” by Jereleen Hollimon-Miller
TOWN OF MAYESVILLE DR. BETHUNE BIRTHDAY FESTIVAL
HOW A LITTLE DREAM CAN COME TRUE
In the early spring of 1998 a forward thinking woman by the name of Jereleen Hollimon-
Miller, a great grand-niece of Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune and native daughter of the little
cotton Town of Mayesville, began to think of a way to honor and celebrate the life and
legacy of another native daughter- Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune. Jereleen believed that
dedicating a day to the educator would be a fitting way to honor both the Town of
Mayesville and commemorate the great works of Dr. Bethune. After having dreamt of such
an event, she first shared the idea with her husband Ed, encouraged, Jereleen approached
then Mayor, Willie M. Jefferson about a Mary McLeod Bethune Birthday Festival. Mayor
Jefferson was enthusiastic about the idea. Planning of the First Annual Dr. Mary McLeod
Bethune Birthday Celebration was at full steam. Planning this occasion brought the
community together. Various churches in town rallied behind the cause along with the
NCNW (National Council of Negro Women) of Lee and Sumter Counties- one of many
organizations Dr. Bethune founded and chaired.
The Mary McLeod Bethune Birthday Festival was conceived so that annually Mayesville
would highlight one of Dr. Bethune’s achievements. Mayesville would host a parade and
select a Grand Marshall who personifies Dr. Bethune’s legacy.
In the first Mary McLeod Bethune Festival (1998) the Grand Marshall was Representative
Joe Brown of Columbia, SC, the only black seated chair in the South Carolina House of
Representatives. In 1998, a concurrent resolution was introduced by Representatives John
L. Scott and others to declare the weekend of July 10th, the weekend to celebrate the life
and accomplishments of the late Mary McLeod Bethune of Mayesville, South Carolina on
the observance of her one hundred and twenty third birthdays. The weekend celebration
was a smashing success. People from all across the state of South Carolina were in
attendance. The best tastes of Mayesville were on display from sassy hot bar-be-que pits to
the tasty fried fish stands. It was unarguably a great celebration!!!
Because the first year was so successful, the festival organizers challenged themselves to
make the second year even more successful. In the second year of the festival with an
emphasis on family, an invitation was extended and accepted by Dr. Bethune’s closest living
relative Albert Bethune. Albert is the grandson and adopted son of Mary McLeod Bethune.
Mr. Bethune humbly and graciously accepted our invitation to not only attend the festival but
serve as Grand Marshal of the parade. That same year the children in the State of South
Carolina in honor of Dr. Bethune published a children’s book called, “Dr. Bethune Children
Authors, 1999. A concurrent resolution was introduced by Representatives John L. Scott
and others to declare April 16, 1999 Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Children Authors’ Program
Day. 1999-2002 the festival served as the forum in which Mayesville students were
awarded scholarships.
Unfortunately in subsequent years the celebration had become stagnated. The main focus
such as family, education, community and unity had diminished somewhat. However, in the
tenth year of the celebration, 2008, the celebration was revitalized. Rev. Jesse Louis
Jackson was invited to be the Grand Marshall and Guest Speaker at the celebration banquet
that year. But due to unforeseeable reasons, he was unable to attend. However, in his
stead his CEO Andrew Carr and the Rev. Dr. Clyde Anderson attended and brought ‘New
York City Wall Street’ to the Town of Mayesville. Both men were greatly welcomed by the
community and they in turn were excited to share their administrative experiences in the
business world. These men personified the socio-economic theme of the festival that year.
Dr. Bethune felt very strongly that in order for people of color to thrive and advance they
had to at least, have a working knowledge of, if not partake in socioeconomic. Mr. Carr and
Rev. Dr. Anderson gave rousing and timely speeches. During this celebration there was a
ribbon cutting ceremony for the nature trail named in honor of Dr. Bethune. The eleventh
year celebration theme was ‘good health and good fitness, centered on promoting healthy
eating and longevity in life. This year -2010- was the twelfth year celebration which also
OBSERVES HER ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-FIFTH BIRTHDAY. The theme was
“Uplifting and Praising Gospel Music”. The Grand Marshall was the one and only Queen of
Gospel, legend, Albertina Walker who was fortunate to have met Dr. Bethune when she was
a young girl. Albertina Walker states that their meeting left an indelible impression on her.
One of Dr. Bethune’s motto's was “use what you have in your hands”. In essence,
what she was saying was ‘if a stick is all you have, used it, and make it work!’ The
magnitude of this great lady says a lot. Her legacy resonates in every facet of life from
education to religion to politics. She was not only a person of status but a person with a
heart that cared about others, not just herself. Now, it’s left up to the people to be able to
see what her legacy represents and how it can resonate today economically, socially,
financially and beyond. Because, if you can’t find a way to make it happen, who else will?
HOW A LITTLE DREAM CAN COME TRUE
In the early spring of 1998 a forward thinking woman by the name of Jereleen Hollimon-
Miller, a great grand-niece of Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune and native daughter of the little
cotton Town of Mayesville, began to think of a way to honor and celebrate the life and
legacy of another native daughter- Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune. Jereleen believed that
dedicating a day to the educator would be a fitting way to honor both the Town of
Mayesville and commemorate the great works of Dr. Bethune. After having dreamt of such
an event, she first shared the idea with her husband Ed, encouraged, Jereleen approached
then Mayor, Willie M. Jefferson about a Mary McLeod Bethune Birthday Festival. Mayor
Jefferson was enthusiastic about the idea. Planning of the First Annual Dr. Mary McLeod
Bethune Birthday Celebration was at full steam. Planning this occasion brought the
community together. Various churches in town rallied behind the cause along with the
NCNW (National Council of Negro Women) of Lee and Sumter Counties- one of many
organizations Dr. Bethune founded and chaired.
The Mary McLeod Bethune Birthday Festival was conceived so that annually Mayesville
would highlight one of Dr. Bethune’s achievements. Mayesville would host a parade and
select a Grand Marshall who personifies Dr. Bethune’s legacy.
In the first Mary McLeod Bethune Festival (1998) the Grand Marshall was Representative
Joe Brown of Columbia, SC, the only black seated chair in the South Carolina House of
Representatives. In 1998, a concurrent resolution was introduced by Representatives John
L. Scott and others to declare the weekend of July 10th, the weekend to celebrate the life
and accomplishments of the late Mary McLeod Bethune of Mayesville, South Carolina on
the observance of her one hundred and twenty third birthdays. The weekend celebration
was a smashing success. People from all across the state of South Carolina were in
attendance. The best tastes of Mayesville were on display from sassy hot bar-be-que pits to
the tasty fried fish stands. It was unarguably a great celebration!!!
Because the first year was so successful, the festival organizers challenged themselves to
make the second year even more successful. In the second year of the festival with an
emphasis on family, an invitation was extended and accepted by Dr. Bethune’s closest living
relative Albert Bethune. Albert is the grandson and adopted son of Mary McLeod Bethune.
Mr. Bethune humbly and graciously accepted our invitation to not only attend the festival but
serve as Grand Marshal of the parade. That same year the children in the State of South
Carolina in honor of Dr. Bethune published a children’s book called, “Dr. Bethune Children
Authors, 1999. A concurrent resolution was introduced by Representatives John L. Scott
and others to declare April 16, 1999 Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Children Authors’ Program
Day. 1999-2002 the festival served as the forum in which Mayesville students were
awarded scholarships.
Unfortunately in subsequent years the celebration had become stagnated. The main focus
such as family, education, community and unity had diminished somewhat. However, in the
tenth year of the celebration, 2008, the celebration was revitalized. Rev. Jesse Louis
Jackson was invited to be the Grand Marshall and Guest Speaker at the celebration banquet
that year. But due to unforeseeable reasons, he was unable to attend. However, in his
stead his CEO Andrew Carr and the Rev. Dr. Clyde Anderson attended and brought ‘New
York City Wall Street’ to the Town of Mayesville. Both men were greatly welcomed by the
community and they in turn were excited to share their administrative experiences in the
business world. These men personified the socio-economic theme of the festival that year.
Dr. Bethune felt very strongly that in order for people of color to thrive and advance they
had to at least, have a working knowledge of, if not partake in socioeconomic. Mr. Carr and
Rev. Dr. Anderson gave rousing and timely speeches. During this celebration there was a
ribbon cutting ceremony for the nature trail named in honor of Dr. Bethune. The eleventh
year celebration theme was ‘good health and good fitness, centered on promoting healthy
eating and longevity in life. This year -2010- was the twelfth year celebration which also
OBSERVES HER ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-FIFTH BIRTHDAY. The theme was
“Uplifting and Praising Gospel Music”. The Grand Marshall was the one and only Queen of
Gospel, legend, Albertina Walker who was fortunate to have met Dr. Bethune when she was
a young girl. Albertina Walker states that their meeting left an indelible impression on her.
One of Dr. Bethune’s motto's was “use what you have in your hands”. In essence,
what she was saying was ‘if a stick is all you have, used it, and make it work!’ The
magnitude of this great lady says a lot. Her legacy resonates in every facet of life from
education to religion to politics. She was not only a person of status but a person with a
heart that cared about others, not just herself. Now, it’s left up to the people to be able to
see what her legacy represents and how it can resonate today economically, socially,
financially and beyond. Because, if you can’t find a way to make it happen, who else will?