Jefferson County Memorial Project
The Jefferson County Memorial Project (JCMP) is an organization created in June 2018 in response to an invitation by the Equal Justice Initiative for Alabama counties to claim monuments that correspond to over 800 documented incidents of racially-motivated murder.
Gina Mallisham is the executive director.
The group worked to develop a design for a comprehensive memorial to victims of racial terror violence to be included as part of a larger renovation of Linn Park. Carol Clarke chaired the design committee. The proposal includes a historical timeline following a spiral path to a raised area at the center where a "Jefferson County Memory Jar" will be displayed. A replica of Jefferson County's steel pillar at the National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery will also be placed in the park, near the Jefferson County Courthouse.
The group also works with Greater Birmingham Ministries to collect hygiene products for men incarcerated at the Donaldson Correctional Facility in western Jefferson County.
Lynching Victims of Jefferson County
JCMP Fellows have researched 33 documented lynching victims between 1883 and 1940 in Jefferson County:
- Lewis Houston, November 24, 1883, at Linn Park
- Unidentified person, April 22, 1886, at Pratt Mines
- Monroe Johnson, September 28, 1887, in Leeds
- Jeff Curry, March 18, 1888, at the Blue Creek Mines in Adger
- Hardy Posey-, April 23, 1888, at the Southern Railway Depot in Bessemer
- George Meadows, January 15, 1889, at Pratt Mines
- John Steele, September 27, 1889, near Pratt Mines
- Tom Redmond, June 17, 1890, at Brookside Mines
- Henry Smith, November 16, 1890, in Hillman
- Unidentified person, November 17, 1890, at the Birmingham Mineral Railroad
- Robert Mosely, November 14, 1894, in Dolomite
- James Anderson, October 9, 1896, near Rocky Creek Bridge in Toadvine
- Henry Cyat, October 10, 1896, in Toadvine
- William Wardley, December 7, 1896, in Irondale
- Jake McKenzie, March 22, 1897, at Brookside Mines
- James Thomas, July 3, 1897, in Blossburg
- Unidentified person, May 11, 1901 on the Southern Railway tracks in Leeds
- Charles Bentley, August 2, 1901, in Leeds
- Jerry Johnson, September 9, 1907, in Birmingham
- Elijah Nelms, July 29, 1908, in Pratt City
- William Miller, August 4, 1908, in Brighton
- Anthony Davis, August 21, 1908, in Pratt City
- John Thomas, April 25. 1909, near the outskirts of Bessemer
- John Chandler, January 28, 1912, at 3rd Avenue and 19th Street in Bessemer
- William Smith, November 1, 1912, at 1623 Second Avenue Bessemer
- Wilson Gardner, August 23, 1923, in Kilgore
- Will McBride, July 12, 1923, in Adamsville
- Elizabeth Lawrence, July 5, 1933 in Birmingham
- George Taylor, August 23, 1934 at Stockham Park
- O. D. Henderson, September 5, 1940, in Fairfield
Coalition
The JCMP is a coalition of over 40 community partners and citizens of Jefferson County, including:
- Graham Boettcher, Director, Birmingham Museum of Art
- Joi Brown, Marketing Manager, Birmingham Civil Right Institute
- Carol Clarke, Project Director and Community Development Specialist, Corporate Realty Development
- Scott Douglas, Executive Director, Greater Birmingham Ministries
- Myeisha Hutchinson, Jefferson County Outreach Manager for Congresswoman Terri Sewell
- T. Marie King, Speaker and Trainer
- Meg Daniel Nelson, Director of Development, Create Birmingham
- Abigail Schneider, Project Director
- Jim Sokol, Civic Volunteer
The Jefferson County Memorial Project staff includes Joi Brown as director and Lauren Harris, as Web Developer. Previously, Abigail Schneider served as Project Director amd Lisa L. Daniels as Outreach Coordinator, .
References
- Jefferson County Memorial Project (2018) Jefferson County's 33 Residents
- Michaels, Ryan (March 22, 2023) "Official design for Jefferson County Memorial Project unveiled." The Birmingham Times