From emancipation to enterprise: The Summeralls’ drive for self-sufficiency
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Billy Howard
As we continue our exploration of the Summerall family’s history in anticipation of their 70th annual gathering in Baxley, we move beyond their foundational resilience to examine their remarkable drive for enterprise and self-sufficiency in the challenging decades following emancipation. The transition from slavery to freedom was not merely a change in legal status; it was a profound shift demanding resourcefulness, economic ingenuity, and unwavering determination. The Summeralls, exemplified by Jack and Mariah and their immediate descendants, rose to this challenge, carving out a space for themselves in a society still actively resisting their advancement.
One of the most significant indicators of their post-slavery progress is the acquisition of land and homes. For formerly enslaved people, land ownership was the ultimate symbol of true freedom and a pathway to economic independence, often achieved against tremendous odds. The fact that the Summerall family not only built homes but accumulated property, as evidenced by the mention of James Henry Gibbs, a son-in-law of Rosa McNeil, owning his own home and “quite a little amount of property,” speaks volumes about their work ethic and strategic planning. This was not merely about shelter; it was about building generational wealth and securing a tangible stake in the community.
The family’s deep connection to Thankful New Jersey Missionary Baptist Church, founded in 1872 with Jack Summerall as its first clerk, also highlights a form of collective enterprise. Beyond its spiritual role, the church served as a crucial community hub. It was a place for organizing, for mutual aid, and for the dissemination of information. In an era when Black communities faced systemic exclusion from mainstream institutions, their own churches became vital centers of social and economic life, fostering networks that facilitated self-sufficiency. The family’s ongoing commitment to this church, where annual gatherings are still held, underscores its foundational importance.
The narrative reveals how deeply embedded the Summeralls were in the local economy and social structure. While specific professions beyond Jack’s role as a church clerk are not detailed for the earliest generations, the general statement that “There is no profession that we do not operate in” for the modern Summerall family suggests a historical trajectory of economic diversification. This would have involved agricultural pursuits, skilled trades, and eventually, professional careers, all contributing to the family’s upward mobility.
The individual achievements within the family further illustrate this entrepreneurial spirit. Birdie McNeil, Rosa’s youngest child, stands out as a pioneering figure. Her attendance at Georgia State College (now Savannah State University) was a monumental achievement for a Black woman in the early 20th century, representing an investment in human capital that would pay dividends. Her subsequent success as a businesswoman, owning her own beauty parlor, demonstrates both her personal drive and her contribution to the economic landscape of Baxley’s Black community. These beauty parlors were not just businesses; they were social centers and places of empowerment for Black women.
Even the simple act of welcoming family to the Comas Street home, providing “a quick meal and a moment of rest,” speaks to a culture of resourcefulness and communal support that facilitated travel and connection, essential for family unity. This inherent hospitality was another form of enterprise – the enterprise of nurturing kin and maintaining vital family bonds.
The Summeralls’ journey from emancipation to establishing themselves as landowners, church founders, and successful professionals is a powerful narrative of ambition and achievement against a backdrop of systemic racial discrimination. Their self-sufficiency wasn’t just about personal gain; it was about building a foundation for collective uplift. As we celebrate 70 years of their gathering, we recognize that their legacy is not just one of survival, but of active, determined, and successful enterprise that has profoundly shaped Baxley. I could be wrong but it’s just something to consider.
