2012 Meeting Programs

February 2nd Program Details
Featured Speaker: Sallyann Hobson & Emma Williams

In keeping with the tradition of focusing on black families’  heritage and culture during Black History Month, the Granville County Genealogical Society, 1746, Inc. is pleased to offer a presentation by Ms. Sallyann Hobson and Ms. Emma Williams about the history of  the Big Zion A.M.E. Church in Granville County, N.C.on February 2, 1012 at 6:30 P.M. at the Richard H. Thornton Library. Ms. Hobson and Ms. Williams, both members of the Granville County Genealogical Society, have strong family ties to the church and it’s history.

Sallyann,  presently living in Stem, N.C. after retiring from the U. S. Navy, is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the Granville County Genealogical Society.  She has researched information on the church for many years.  In addition to sharing her research on the church history, she will discuss her experiences in finding family members with ties to the church and her own cultural awareness as a result of her research.

Emma, currently on the staff at the Richard H. Thornton Library  is a member at Big Zion A.M.E. Zion Church.  She relocated to Oxford from New Jersy where she retired  from the N.J. Department of Corrections with 27 years of experience.  After coming to North Carolina, she worked for 2 years at Polk Corrections at Butner, N.C.  She is the mother of 3 adult daughters and has 5 grandchildren and one great granddaughter.  She is dedicated to the ongoing research of the church and her family.  She discovered her family relationship to Sallyann Hobson several years ago while doing research on the church.

The presentation will touch on the Methodist Episcopal Church split over the issue of slavery in 1844, the northern African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church formation in 1796, and the actions of local Salem Church members in the early formation of one of the oldest African American churches in Granville County.  In addition, Ms. Hobson will share what family history information she has gathered during her research .

The meeting will be held in the large conference room at R.H. Thornton Library on Main Street in Oxford at 6:30 P.M. on February 2, 2012.  Visitors are cordially invited to join with the society members for  this program.

All GCGS meetings are open to the public and guests are cordially invited to attend.

 

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Questions or comments send to: GCGS.office@gmail.com