Dr. King was assassinated at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee on April 4, 1968. He was 39 years old. He was rushed to St. Joseph’s Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

James Earl Ray, a fugitive from the Missouri State Penitentiary was charged with the crime. Ray entered a plea of guilty and was sentenced to 99 years in the Tennessee state penitentiary.

King had traveled to Memphis in support of striking African American sanitation workers who were protesting unequal wages and working conditions.

On Saturday Feb. 1st the Center has scheduled a Tour of the AA Cultural Center in Jonesboro Ar. All interested individuals are asked to meet at the Herron Center/Museum and car pool to the center.

Feb. 6th and 7th  at 9 a.m.  there will be a Spinning Demonstration given by Ms.Watson

Feb. 8th and 11th at 9 a.m. Quilt story about the Underground Railroad

Feb. 12th Stories/Craft by Ms Lisa Perry PhD from AR History Commission

Feb.13th  the Mosiac Templar Cultural Center will present a Educational Program

Feb. 15th at 6 p.m. Marilyn Clogging company will be preforming at the Herron Center/Museum as a fund raiser.

Feb.16th will be the annual Old Fashion Hog Butchering. This event will begin around 7 a.m

Feb. 19th Stories/Craft by Ms Lisa Perry PhD from AR History Commission

Feb. 23rd There will be a Presentation about the Aferican American Catholic School that was operated by the Benediction Nun’s of St.Paul’s Catholic Church in the late 1800 and early 1900.

Feb.25th  Luncheon with the cast of “Ain’t I a Woman” cast at 11 a.m.

A Presentation of “Ain’t I a Woman”  will be preformed at 7 p.m. at BRTC .

If you would like to bring a group to any of these events call the Herron Center at 870-892-4433 or come by the center at 1708 Archer St Pocahontas ar.

Agenda

• 10am – Walk begins at the Courthouse, will continue down Marr Street to the Community Center.
• 10:30am – Music by Marilyn’s Clogging and St. Paul’s School at the Community Center
• 12 noon – Chili lunch and a birthday cake at the Eddie Mae Herron Center

For more information call 8924433

This story has long been believed as fact. The story has been published in books, articles, and online resources such as the Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture. The above photo is the only known image to exist of the school, take around 1889. The photo includes several children along with Father Eugene Weibel and Sister Agnes Dali.

In the spring of 2012, local historian Cindy Robinett was doing some genealogical research for EMHC and after thinking about the story of the school, contacted Jennifer Nichols, church secretary at St. Paul, to see if there might be any records of African-American individuals who were associated with the one-room school. What happened as a result of that initial search has actually changed the history of African-American education in Arkansas. Soon Nichols called Robinett and excitedly relayed that a record book for the school had been found in
the St. Paul Church archives and it dated from 1894-1909!

The public was invited to attend a free presentation on Saturday evening, October 13, starting around 7:15 pm at the Eddie Mae Herron Museum/Center located at 1708 Archer Street, where they discussed the school, the findings in the record book, race and religious relations in Randolph County at the dawn of the 20 th Century, and other history linking the African-American community to St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Pocahontas.

The Menu is below

Bar B Q Sandwiches $3.oo   Plates with Cold Slaw, Beans, and a Drink $6.00

Turkey Lags $5.00   Plates with Cold Slaw Beans and a Drink $7.50

Polish Sausage with Kraut $2.50  Plate with Slaw, Beans and Drink $5.00

Bar B Q Nachos  $3.50

Plain Nachos $2.00

Gatorade $1.50

Canned Drinks $1.00

Water $1.00

The Booth will be open Thursday and Friday from 5 P M  -

Saturday will start serving at 11 A. M.

Please come and support the center. Good Food, Good Compamy.

Place your order now by calling the Center at 892-4433 or go by the center at 1708 Archer St. in Pocahontas. 

The roast may be picked up at the center between 4 P.M. to 6 P.M. on Friday April 6th and again between 3 P.M. to 5 P.M. on Saturday April 7th.

Dr. Lillie Mae Fears is a professor of journalism and the assistant for diversity initiatives at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, Arkansas.

A native of Phillips County, Arkansas, Fears holds degrees from Phillips County Community College, Arkansas State University, and the University of Missouri-Columbia. She serves on several boards and councils in the state including the Head Start Policy Council, the Arkansas Humanities Council Board, the Delta Cultural Center Policy Advisory Board, the ASU Museum Advisory Council, and she is a member of the Greater Jonesboro Chamber of Commerce.

A community and public school volunteer, she enjoys working with children and spending time with family.