"Mother Dear," her story, her house.

[sheclown]

One of Nicole's favorite sayings is that "every house tells us a story".  That was very true for me today.

I met with a woman who was interested in having the foundation of her older home repaired.  At a Special masters hearing earlier in the day. she cried to hear the demolition plan by code enforcement.  They cited her for structural concerns.  We  crawled under the house to check it out -- I've seen much worse, and that was just yesterday.

I asked her how long her family has owned this house -- she told me her story.

Her great grandmother lived in South Carolina in the early part of the 1900s.  She lived on a plantation although she was not a slave -- slavery having been abolished decades before.  The plantation owner was abusive, repeatedly raping her.   So she gathered her courage and left South Carolina.  She ended up in Jacksonville. 

According to the family, Bethel Baptist Church built a home for her in the early 1920s.  Rebecca Turner, otherwise known as "Mother Dear" by her extended family, raised her family and their families in this home. 


Rebecca Turner's great granddaughter and grandson.

What a great story of new beginnings.  And hope Jacksonville once was.    This house, according to her great granddaughter, took care of their family for almost 100 years. And it happened in Jacksonville.

Unfortunately the neighborhood has suffered - been carved up by highways and hospitals, has lost its former glory. Although truly magnificent houses still stand.

This is the area of town by SHANDS, off Davis St and 13th.

We will miss the history of this neighborhood when it is gone.  Hopefully, this house will remain standing.

[sheclown]

June 21, 2016

Jacksonville Historic Preservation Commission
C/O The Jacksonville, Planning and Development Department, 3rd Floor
Ed Ball Building
214 North Hogan Street
Jacksonville, Florida 32202

Dear Chairman and Respective Committee Members:

On behalf of the family, and as 4th generation owner of 2106 Moncrief Road property, I respectfully request that our property be considered as "landmarked".  As owner, I would be willing to remove noncontributing items like the siding, etc. I/We thank you for your consideration.

The neighborhood has had historical significance to the African American community.  The area was considered, "the place to be" for aspiring Negroes in the 1920's.  My great grandmother, Rebecca Turner, found her way to Jacksonville fleeing for her life and the safety of her unborn child from South Carolina.  Ms. Turner found work in Jacksonville as a railroad "Pullman". This was considered a good job for Negroes at the time. She later became a mother and entrepreneur owning a dry cleaners and two rental properties.  Ms. Turner was a faithful member of Bethel Baptist Church. Bethel Baptist Church was instrumental in constructing her home at 2106 for Ms. Turner and her daughter, Mary Lou (Pinkney) Dicks. Ms. Dicks' daughter, Mrs. Thelma Pinkney Geiger, was very active in Jacksonville. A 40 year teacher and administrator at Duval County Public School, she was twice voted "Teacher of the Year", and was one of the first African American administrators selected to integrate the school district.  The city of Jacksonville beautifully honored the life of Mrs. Geiger at her homegoing celebration in December 2010.

But the family of Rebecca Turner was indicative of others in the neighborhood who were seeking more for their families. The community, and in particular Moncrief Rd. and Frazier St., was home to many prominent leaders. On the corner house of Frazier and Moncrief were owners of Getter and Baker funeral home. The Ginwright's in the big 2-story house across the street, two doors to the left of 2106, the Whitehead's next door to 2106, and "Lance's" family opposite side corner house on Moncrief were all said to be leaders in the community. 

The request for landmarking this property is not merely to memorialize the life of Ms. Rebecca Turner, but its preservation would be a physical representation of early Hendersonville settlers in who sought an opportunity to freely exercise their potential and demonstrate their ability in a safe and supportive environment. They were quiet trailblazers and unsung heroes. In many ways, this was the beginning of their story.

Sincerely,
Joyce Pinkney
Great granddaughter of Rebecca Turner