"A Roll Call of Rockdale's Black Women"

ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TRACKS, SERIES 5, PART 1

A roll call of Rockdale’s black women

By Susie Sansom-Piper

Rockdale Reporter - February 2, 2012

Editor’s note: The fifth edition of Susie Sansom Piper’s Black History Month series “On The Other

Side of the Tracks” looks back at notable African-American women in Rockdale’s history.

The unpaved streets, outdoor toilets, houses without electricity and limited

transportation that existed in most small towns during the 1920s and 1930s can still be

visualized by those persons who yet remain.

There was limited education, maybe confined to completing elementary, middle school

grades or tenth grade, with hopes of having enough finance to obtain a rooming place and

transfer to the Cameron Colored School, which carried 11 grades.

Yet there existed a great essence of community pride and a desire to make surroundings

acceptable and useful.

This series gives special recognition to black women of Rockdale who contributed and made

a lasting impact on the city. It w ill include native-born Rockdalians and those who in

later years became an important part of the city.

Kate Walton - Midwife who delivered many of the city’s and rural babies for those who

could not afford a physician. She was also well known for ear piercing, using only needle

and thread, a cork and a bit of turpentine.

Viola Mitchell - First known hairdresser in the city. She used a lamp fitted with a wire

hook across the chimney, or wood stove, straightening comb and curling iron. Most early

beauticians also made hair ointment in those days.

Lula Moseley - One of the first faculty members at the Rockdale Colored School, later

named Aycock. She also wrote the first history of the school, some of which is used today

with added information.

Gladys Shields - A first known telephone operator at Prairie View Normal and Industrial

School.

Mable Tindle - Teacher in the Liberty Hill area near Rockdale. She was among the first

of the town to introduce garage sales. She often traveled to other small towns to sell

her vast collection of used clothes, etc.

Clemmie Goins - A devout church worker, giver of vast property surrounding New Hope

Baptist Church. She served the Parent-Teacher Association at Aycock for many years and

was instrumental in raising much of the finances used by the school for extracurricular

activities.

Lillie Johnson, Ardie Judy, Pearl Davis, Minnie Fair Mullins, Earnestine Mays and

Eva Morgan - Comprised two well-known gospel singing groups who furnished special music

for religious occasions.

Ella J. Beals - Also a first teacher in Rockdale Colored School. She and her husband

owned Beals Grocery Store. She established the first known kindergarten in her home. It

was not state-regulated, but provided early learning skills for the four and five-year-

olds.

Granny Carrie Randolph - She played the piano for New Hope Sunday School and Baptist

Training Union for so long, until her fingers were so stiff that they were unable to

manipulate the keys properly. Her music was always unique to teenagers.

Bessie Shields Beals - A very talented seamstress who “could make anything out of

nothing.” She designed paper costumes for school operettas and also designed and made the

first majorette costumes for the Aycock Band.

Eva Morgan, Eula Bell Moultry, Area Nelson - Other well-known seamstresses during the

era. All of these ladies were capable of making their own patterns from photos.

Etta Mae Cartwright- Walton, Lucy Mae Brooks, Eula Bell Moultry - The first blacks

to broadcast on radio in Milam County.

Cleo Burley Moultry - The first well-known chef cook in Rockdale. She worked for many

years downtown in the former Mrosko Cafe.

Courtney Cummings, Mittie Allen - Musicians at Allen Chapel AME Church.

Willie James Cooper - Sang in the local jazz orchestras.

Earnestine Mays - Became well known on school talent shows for her rendition of “Rag

Mop.”

Index