The HISTORY OF THE AWARD-WINNING RANDOLPH COUNTY BRANCH, ​#5053 NAACP

​AN ABBREVIATED HISTORY OF THE RANDOLPH COUNTY BRANCH 5053, NAACP
By Ms. Charlotte A. Clark-Frieson

1950 Roanoke Leader Article writte by Attrie Stephens.

[This history is presented (mostly from memory) by Charlotte A. Clark-Frieson.  It is probably rough, and for certain — incomplete.  There are many individuals who should be mentioned here, who may not be.  It is hoped that this writing will help to inspire other memories that can serve to more fully develop this history as time goes by.  I invite your contributions of information that will help to correct and amplify what I have put together, in hopes that future generations of local NAACPers might be inspired to join and support the local branch].  

As far back as memory can span, there have been black citizens who demonstrated and acted on their concern for the dreadful plight of blacks across the nation, and in their local communities. Randolph County, Alabama was no different.

The Randolph County, Alabama Branch #5053 of the NAACP was first established here sometime in the 1950s.  Some of it's early founders included Mr. John Tommy Thompson, Alonzo Pearson, Attrie B. Stephens  Henderson who was an elementary school teacher at the Historic Randolph County Training School in Roanoke  (all deceased), and many others who's names may not be remembered herein, but who were nevertheless very influential in it's early formation.

(Based on oral history), the first person elected to serve as President of this branch was John Tommy Thompson, who owned and operated the Thompson & Son Funeral Home.  After Mr. Thompson, the second President was the late Mrs. Attrie B. Stephens Henderson.  Mrs. Henderson was an elementary school teacher, who many of us may remember.  Mrs. Henderson was a very skillful teacher of 1st Grade for as many years as can be remembered.   

It should be noted here that to date, I have not had any success locating any artifacts that document that Mrs. Attrie B. Henderson served as Branch President, however, there is plenty of evidence that she was deeply involved in the annual staging of the Emancipation Proclamation Programs, which was an annual part of the N.A.A.C.P.'s programatic thrust.  Posted here are articles that clearly illustrate her role in staging the Annual Emancipation Proclamation events.  No reference is made to the "National Association For The Advancement Of Colored People" but her committee is referred to as "The Emancipation Association."   Could this verbiage have been used to conceal the relationship to the N.A.A.C.P.?  It is currently not known at this time.  However, it is most definitely worth a closer look.  

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​Many of the black leaders in that day were well aware that operating an NAACP Branch in the local community was a hard, sometimes unappealing and risky job.  Blacks who joined and participated in this unfamiliar National civil rights organization were frowned upon by whites in power, and viewed as "trouble-makers".  At that time, many blacks feared the organization, were reluctant to join, and open participation was often very scarce.  Sometimes black citizens would join, but didn't want others to know they were members.  For that reason, it was standard operating procedure that the NAACP branch's membership rolls were to be kept in strictest confidence.  People could be lynched or hanged by virtue of openly exercising their opposition to racial discrimination.  So, as time went by, local leaders sought out another local citizen, the late Wilkie Clark, and asked him to consider leading the local branch.  I can only assume — he agreed to accept the challenge.  

THUS, The third individual to serve as President of the local N.A.A.C.P. was the Late Mr. Wilkie Clark, who worked tirelessly with the organization for probably 40 years or longer — until his untimely death on July 29, 1989.  Under the dynamic leadership of the late Mr. Clark, the Randolph County Branch received it's first and only Charter, which was presented at Bethel United Methodist Church, by Mr. Grover Smith, Jr., who ran the Alabama State NAACP Office.   The requirements for the charter was the collection of 50 paid annual memberships at an annual fee of $10.00 each.  With the help of courageous and diligent black women in Roanoke, Wadley, and Wedowee, the required number of memberships was met, and the with very few members present, the Charter for Branch #5053 was established and presented at Bethel Methodist Church here in Roanoke by personnel from the National Office.  At the present time, it is believed that the branch's Charter may have been lost when Mr. Clark's home burned in July of 1989.  To Date, no duplicate Charter has been received.      

Mr. Clark's work with the NAACP spanned several decades, and yielded many note-worthy and historic accomplishments that will not be enumerated herein; but have been documented in a separate publication.  Because many black citizens feared being found out — and flatly refused to hold offices, Clark's wife, the late Mrs. Hattie P. Clark, and daughter, Charlotte A. Clark-Frieson were instrumental in helping him with the huge administrative tasks involved in maintaining the branch.  Aside from his funeral home business, the work of this organization consumed his entire life.  Often one or two people had to do the work of nine or ten members.  It was like a full-time job.  Clark will long be remembered as a dedicated and fearless leader for whom the NAACP became his deepest passion... second only to his church.  He traveled extensively for the organization — usually at his own expense — learning everything he could about it, and civil rights, and how to fight injustice on all levels. 

Under Mr. Clark's leadership, there arose many other courageous citizens who were not afraid, and offered themselves to serve along with him.  For many years, Robert Joiner, Jr. served as First Vice President; others serving as Vice President included, the late Oscar Monagan, The late James Davenport and others who's names may not appear herein.  Before political organizations came on the scene, the NAACP's role was to teach our people the importance of the vote, and register them to vote.  For years, before the formation of The Alabama Democratic Conference (ADC), Mr. Joiner single-handedly took on the task of registering black people to vote, often going house to house and door to door.  During the desegregation years, James Davenport worked tirelessly on fighting discriminatory treatment of students in Randolph County Schools. The late Reverend R.L. Heflin usually served in the capacity of Religious Affairs Chairperson, and Political Action Committee Chair (because he chaired the ADC).  Charlotte Clark-Frieson held a variety of offices, including Branch Secretary, Chairperson of the Program Committee and The Education Committee, and assisted her mother with Press and Publicity for the organization. 

Membership Chairman:  Under Clark's leadership, both Mrs. Lillie Thornton and Mrs. Mary E. O'Neal served as Membership Chairman for many many years.  Working along with her committee, they kept the branch's memberships active, ensuring that the proper reports were filed, and the number of membership required to maintain the branch were always in compliance.

Some of the past branch secretaries include:  Billie Jean Whittaker, (wife of the late Horace Whittaker), Willie Ruth Veal, Charlie Dunson, all now deceased.

Past Treasurers include:  Willie Ruth Veal, Lawrence O'Neal, Mr. John Ceroy Bell, Mrs. Mattie Heard Brooks, and Mr. Fletcher Pinkard.

For many years, Mrs. Della Bryant, of Montgomery served as the State Youth Council Advisor.  Mrs. Bryant traveled all over Alabama setting up and advising local Youth Councils and College Chapters.  She set up Randolph County's first Youth Council.  Some of our past Youth Council Advisors include:  The late Mrs. Mary E. Wilkes O'Neal, who served as the Branch's first Youth Council Advisor of the Randolph County Branch for many years.  Mrs. O'Neal was installed as the Branch's first Youth Council Advisor by Alabama State Youth & College Counsel Advisor, Mrs. Della Bryant, of Montgomery, Alabama.  In later years, joining and assisting Mrs. O'Neal were Mrs. Kathy Royston Pate, the late Mrs. Barbara E. Pate, Mrs. Cynthia Bell, and numerous other local leaders who worked with our youth;  the late Mrs. Lera Phillips also served the branch as a Youth Council Advisor.  Many of these citizens got involved in the NAACP, because they had witnessed the unfairness many black students were experiencing in integrated public schools, and wanted to play a part in helping the students deal with the issues they were facing every day in school.   

Youth Council Presidents have included the late Marlon Bernard, Ms. Lisa Williams O'Neal.   

Agnes Jones Jackson Scholarship Award:  Ms. Angela Henderson, who grew up here in Roanoke, and a very bright student, was one of Randolph County's most active youth council members, receiving the Agnes Jones Jackson Scholarship for the entire four years of college.  Ms. Henderson now resides in Atlanta, Georgia.  Her degree was in Journalism.

After Mr. Clark's death in 1989, the late Robert Joiner, Jr. stepped up to the plate, and took the mantle of President. Mr. Joiner served the branch until 1992, when Charlotte Clark-Frieson decided to challenge Mr. Joiner and sought the office of President. 

In 1992,  Charlotte A. Clark-Frieson  accepted the challenge of leadership.  Clark-Frieson sought to expand the branch by appointing a full executive board, in addition to manning all standing committees.  Under her leadership Reverend William A. Dean, Woodie Bell, (Reverend) Joe C. Cofield, Clarence Frieson, Jr., Patricia Autry McKnight, Shirley Shepherd, Fletcher Pinkard, Rufus Marable, Rosella Marable, Mattie Heard Brooks, Willie Ruth Veal, and later, Reverend Emmett Johnson, Mr. Tom Oliver came on board, along with many others whose names may not appear here.  Under Clark-Frieson Ms. Willie Mae Jones accepted the charge as Membership Chairman.  Ms. Jones was at that time, and continues to this day to be dilligent and persistent in maintaining the memberships, even when the branch membership fell under the required number to maintain its charter, she always made certain that memberships were being generated for the branch.  She along with Fletcher Pinkard persisted in generating memberships and maintaining the branch's bank account even during times when the branch fell on hard times or was out of compliance with State and National Assessments.   One of the most outstanding accomplishments during Mrs. Clark-Frieson's tenure, was establishment of a local NAACP headquarters, downtown Roanoke, Alabama.

Later, Reverend William A. Dean was elected to serve as President; serving along with Reverend Dean was Sidney Johnson, and Reverend L.B. Houston. 

Speakers:  During Mr. Clark's tenure as President of the Randolph County Branch, he tried to help our people by bringing in speakers who understood the history and inherent evils of racial prejudice, were involved in the civil rights movement, and could come in and teach us what we needed to know about how to recognize and fight it.  He taught us the importance of learning who are as a people and celebrate our history... Days like "Jubilee Day" (Emancipation Proclamation) became annual events every New Year's Day.  We learned how to celebrate "The May 17th Decision" (Brown vs Board of Education); and many other historic achievements important to our people.  He demanded that we honor and appreciate our native son, Dr. Alvin Thornton, one of our earliest known recipients of the Ph.D from Howard University, Washington DC.   He probably introduced Roanoke to it's first black Judge, Justice Oscar Adams;  or maybe one of our first black Attorneys,  Demetrius Newton from Birmingham; or NAACP Southeast Regional Director, Earl T. Shinhoster; and later an up-and-coming young preacher by the name of Reverend William R. Terry.   We also learned to appreciate our neighbors, from nearby Lafayette, a strong leader in Education, The Reverend Cornelius Reese, also a strong NAACP warrior in Chambers County; the late Mr. Frank Hall, a strong NAACP warrior in West Point and Troup County, Georgia; the late Mr. Ross Dunn, an outspoken NAACP warrior in Lanett.   Later, elected Chambers County Commissioner, Mr. Dunn had previously served as NAACP President in Chambers County.    We came all the way from having three or four folks in the congregation -- to having over-flow crowds at NAACP events.  Freedom Fund Dinners, and a number of other local programs helped open our people up to the idea that WE too deserve to experience Freedom, Justice and Equality right here in Randolph County. 

With the passage of time, the Randolph County Branch, NAACP has been through peaks, valleys -- highs and lows, but, always had its supporters and followers.  They may or may not have been office-holders, but supported in other ways.  Just to name a few:  The late Horace Whittaker, the late Robert Joiner, Jr., the late Reverend R.L. Heflin, the late Ernest Heard, Jr., the late John E. Hendricks, the late Clarence Frieson, Jr., the late George Chapman, Reverend Joe C. Cofield, Mrs. Countess Chapman, the late John Ceroy Bell, the late Coley Johnson, the late Sister Viola Huffman, Bishop Lathonia J. Wright, Mrs. Juanita Wright, Reverend L.B. Houston, the late Ruby Lois Molden, the late King Lewis Smith, the late Adella O'Neal, the late Velma Terry, Roy Terry, the late Rudolph Terry, and Reverend William R. Terry, and many others not named herein.  These were people who ALWAYS joined, supported, and could ALWAYS be called upon to fulfill whatever was requested of them to advance this organization, and were there for the NAACP both physically and spiritually.

At the present time, Mr. Roy D. Terry is the ONLY citizen in Randolph County and I would dare say, East Alabama, who holds a LIFE MEMBERSHIP in the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

TO THEM ALL, WE OWE A TREMENDOUS DEBT OF GRATITUDE.

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