Matriarchal Strength: The Indomitable Spirit of Summerall Women
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Billy Howard
As the countdown to the 70th Summerall Family Gathering continues, our series illuminates another profound aspect of their enduring legacy: the extraordinary matriarchal strength that has woven through generations of Summerall women. From Mariah herself to her daughters, granddaughters, and beyond, these women have been the resilient anchors, the nurturing forces, and the quiet pioneers who have ensured the family’s survival, cohesion, and advancement against tremendous odds.
Mariah Summerall stands as the quintessential matriarch. Purchased as a teenager, she endured the unimaginable brutality of slavery and gave birth to seventeen children. Her sheer physical and emotional endurance laid the groundwork for the sprawling family tree we celebrate today. Her longevity, living to the remarkable age of 103 and passing in 1923, meant she was a living testament to the family’s journey from bondage to freedom. Her presence, deeply revered, would have been a constant reminder of their origins and the strength it took to overcome. The memory of her requesting her great-granddaughter, Esther, to massage her legs and comb her hair at the Comas Street home paints a vivid picture of a beloved elder, cherished and cared for within the family she so robustly established.
Her daughter, Rosa Summerall McNeil, embodies this matriarchal spirit in the subsequent generation. Born during the Civil War, Rosa’s life was marked by both personal joy and profound sorrow. She married Jiles McNeil and bore six children, yet twice took on the immense responsibility of raising grandchildren after early losses: Willie Mae McNeil Ivory, after her mother’s death in childbirth, and Robert McNeil, after his mother Estella’s illness and passing. When her daughter Senella and son-in-law James Henry Gibbs died tragically within a week of each other in 1912, Rosa, already a grandmother, moved into the “big house” at 402 Comas Street to raise her youngest child, Birdie, alongside her orphaned grandchildren. This act of unwavering commitment transformed the Comas Street address into a nurturing hub, a safe haven where generations found solace and support under her watchful care.
The impact of Rosa’s nurturing extended beyond her direct lineage. The Comas Street house became the “first and last stop” for “The sisters” – Abbie’s daughters – when they visited Baxley, reinforcing its role as a central gathering point for the wider Summerall family.
Then there is Birdie McNeil, Rosa’s youngest child, who stands as a powerful example of intellectual and economic independence. Birdie was the first in her generation to attend college at Georgia State College (now Savannah State University), breaking barriers and setting a new standard for educational attainment. But she didn’t stop there. Her entrepreneurial spirit led her to become a successful businesswoman, owning her own beauty parlor right next door to the Comas Street home. She was also the dedicated pianist for Thankful New Jersey Baptist Church, demonstrating her commitment to both economic self-sufficiency and spiritual community. Aunt Birdie’s continuous welcome, providing “quick meals and a moment of rest” for visiting cousins, showcases her embodiment of the family’s tradition of hospitality and unity. Another example of the entrepreneurial spirit of the Summerall women is Merle Stevens, the granddaughter of Abbie and daughter of Beatrice Summerall Stevens (initiator of the Summerall gatherings), who owned and operated a hair salon in Savannah, GA for many years.
The very initiation of the Summerall Family Gathering in 1955 was heavily influenced by the women. Beatrice Sharpe-Stevens, daughter of Abbie Summerall-Sharpe and granddaughter of Jack and Mariah, was elected the first president of the Family Gathering. Alongside her sister Polly Ogden (who lived to be 106!) and other Summerall sisters like Lula Porter-Williamson, Chelsey Williams, Isabelle Sharpe-Gordon, and Viola Sharpe-McMillan, these women worked tirelessly to promote and ensure the success of the gathering, solidifying the importance of family ties.
The Summerall women, through resilience in the face of unimaginable hardship, their nurturing of children and grandchildren, pursuit of education and economic independence, and leadership in fostering family unity, have been truly indomitable. Their strength, compassion, and foresight have not only preserved the Summerall legacy but actively propelled it forward, making them the silent, yet powerful, architects of this remarkable 70-year journey. I could be wrong but it’s just something to consider.
To pose a question, comment, or share your opinion about this opinion, you can reach B. G. Howard at bg@authorbghoward.com or P.O. Box 8103, Jacksonville, FL 32239.
