The Lowcountry Community Resource Center (LCRC), in partnership with the Walterboro Shrine Club #139 – Arabian Temple and the College of Charleston’s Lowcountry Oral History Initiative (LOHI), recently hosted a powerful community event honoring African American Educators who served Colleton County during the era of segregation.
Held at the Ray T. Johnson Building, the event—A Celebration Honoring Colleton County African American Educators of the Segregation Era—brought together honorees and their families for an evening of reflection, recognition, and remembrance. The banquet portion of the event was intentionally kept small to ensure that the educators and their families—the heart of this work—could be honored in an intimate and meaningful way.
A highlight of the evening was the Sankofa-inspired tribute, “Calling the Names, Giving the Flowers,” where the names of educators spanning decades were read aloud in recognition of their contributions during a time of systemic inequity.
The program also carried special significance as the community continues to mourn the recent passing of Mr. Ray T. Johnson, Sr., a legendary educator and the building’s namesake. His life and legacy were honored as part of the evening’s program.
The event is part of a larger, ongoing effort to document and preserve this history. To date, LCRC’s volunteer research team has identified more than 230 African American educators who served in Colleton County between 1924 and 1971. The project has uncovered hundreds of photographs, conducted multiple oral history interviews through LOHI, and brought together educators who continue to serve as living connections to this important history.
“This is just the beginning,” said Kellye Whitaker, Executive Director of LCRC. “We know there are more names, more stories, and more photographs out there. We are asking the community to help us continue building this collection so that these legacies are fully preserved.”
While the banquet itself was limited in size, the broader community is invited to experience the work through a museum-style exhibit now open to the public for a limited time. The exhibit features items from private collections, many displayed publicly for the first time, including historic photographs, letterman jackets, athletic memorabilia, trophies, and archival materials that reflect the rich educational and cultural history of Colleton County.
“We want the community to come, reflect, and reconnect,” Whitaker said. “This exhibit belongs to all of us. It is our shared history.”
The exhibit is open Monday through Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Ray T. Johnson Building, 229 Gruber Street in Walterboro, with weekend and after-hours visits available by appointment.
LCRC also plans to host additional community events to expand the project and ensure these stories are preserved and shared for future generations.
Community members are encouraged to contribute photographs, names of educators, yearbooks, newspaper clippings, and personal stories to help grow the collection.
The Lowcountry Community Resource Center is a nonprofit organization dedicated to community and economic development in Colleton County and the surrounding Lowcountry, with a focus on preserving local history and strengthening community connections.
For more information or to schedule a visit of the exhibit, contact Lowcountrycrc@gmail.com.
