SC African American Calendar
SC African American History Calendar October 2019 Honoree: Oliver “Buddy” Pough
Before legendary Head Football Coach Oliver “Buddy” Pough oversaw his first practice at South Carolina State University (SC State), he was one of the top high school coaches in the Palmetto State. He led Fairfield Central High School to a perfect 15-0 record in 1996, claiming the Class AAA state title. As a result, he…
Read MoreSC African American History Calendar September 2019 Honoree: Dr. Bessie Ayers Moody-Lawrence
Dr. Bessie Ayers Moody-Lawrence dedicated her entire life to education and the law. A prolific advocate, Dr. Moody-Lawrence integrated herself into every facet of society she could to achieve her passions. A member or leader to countless programs and committees, her actions earned her recognition and respect across the country. She was born on February…
Read MoreSC African American History Calendar August 2019 Honoree: Henry Minton
Henry Minton was the visionary behind Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity. Commonly known as the Boulé, an ancient Greek term for a council of chiefs, Sigma Pi Phi was formally established on May 15, 1904, becoming the first African American Greek-letter fraternity. He envisioned a fraternity of men with similar academic and professional attributes, who would…
Read MoreSC African American History Calendar July 2019 Honoree: Patina Miller
Patina Miller is a celebrated actress, performer and singer. Born in the small town of Pageland, S.C. on November 6, Miller was raised with music. She grew up singing in her local church’s gospel choir and attended the S.C. Governor’s School for the Arts & Humanities. Miller went on to attend Carnegie Mellon University where…
Read MoreSC African American History Calendar June 2019 Honoree: Janice Marshall
Janice Wannamaker Marshall, a St. Matthews, S.C. native, is the daughter of Verna Wannamaker Abney. She is married to Dr. Henry Thomas Marshall Jr. and, together, are the proud parents to their only daughter. Marshall was educated in the Calhoun County Public School System before attending Claflin University, earning a bachelor’s degree in Social Studies.…
Read MoreSC African American History Calendar May 2019 Honoree: Jannie Harriot
Jannie Harriot, daughter of the late James and Marvell Bradley Harriot, was born in Wilmington, N.C. and grew up in Hartsville, S.C. She graduated from Butler High School in Hartsville and attended Talladega College in Alabama. She went on to receive a B.S. from Fayetteville State University in N.C. Harriot then continued her studies at…
Read MoreSC African American History Calendar April 2019 Honoree: Drs. Maxie S. and Ethel M. Gordon
For more than 40 years, Drs. Maxie S. and Ethel M. Gordon championed desegregation. The Gordons contributed across a multitude of platforms: First Calvary Baptist Church, Benedict College, Morris College, the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc., the NAACP, the S.C. Human Relations Council, League of Women Voters, Ministers Wives, and the Greater Columbia Ministerial Alliance.…
Read MoreSC African American History Calendar March 2019 Honoree: Lottie Gibson
For more than 60 years, Lottie Gibson was a one-woman crusader for Greenville’s poor and disenfranchised. Gibson was an outspoken social activist, widely known and respected for her work with families who were homeless and bereaved. She cut through the red tape to provide human and material resources for the sick, unemployed, imprisoned and other…
Read MoreSC African American History Calendar February 2019 Honoree: David “Dave the Potter” Drake
David Drake, also known as “Dave the Potter” and “Dave the Slave,” (c.1801-c.1870) was an American potter who lived in Edgefield, S.C. Dave produced alkaline-glazed stoneware jugs between the 1820s and 1860s. As an enslaved African, he often signed his works “Dave,” and is recognized as the first enslaved potter to inscribe his work. Dave…
Read MoreSC African American History Calendar January 2019 Honoree: Steve Benjamin
Mayor Steve Benjamin, Columbia’s first African American mayor, was elected in a record-turnout election in 2010. He made it his mission to shape the Capital City into the most talented, educated and entrepreneurial city in America. His devotion to Columbia began in 1990 when he served as Student Body President at the University of South…
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