#sumter

[unteriors]

Green Swamp Road, Sumter, South Carolina.

[mother-lee]

sumter & everywhere

[unplaces]

Franklin Ln, Sumter, South Carolina.

[rebelyells]

January 9, 1861 the Star of the West was fired upon by the Citadel as it reinforced Ft. Sumter as a show of aggression against states rights! The first shots between North/South

[benandstevesposts]

Community members raised concerns that attacks are attempts to erase its history and gentrify its neighborhoods.

The calmness of the wind reverberated across the burial ground as Beverly Steele motioned to her mother’s grave in Oak Hill Cemetery. Three months ago, they buried her here, just 12 days shy of her 102nd birthday. 

It’s not uncommon for residents in the majority-Black, unincorporated community of Royal, Florida, to live past 100 years old. The Rev. Matthew Beard, the oldest resident in the community’s history, lived to be 115. 

On a recent February afternoon, Steele, dressed in her Sunday best, peered out at the acres and acres of land surrounding Oak Hill Cemetery, also known as the Royal Cemetery. As she reminisced about her mother, she also remembered her aunt, who was called on as the community’s local historian. She could recall who had the first brick house, the first postmaster, and the three founding families—Hollies, Picketts, and Andersons—of the community.

The sounds of large trucks chugging down the narrow road near the cemetery snap Steele back to today’s reality. Mere miles away from the site is Interstate 75, which split the community of Royal in half 50 years ago. A few miles from there is the old Monarch Road cemetery, or old slave cemetery as the locals call it. It, too, is split in half by a paved road. A family lives on the primary site where most of the headstones can be seen. It is the cemetery where Steele’s great-great-great-grandfather — and one of the community’s co-founders — is buried. 

Tucked away, 55 miles north of Orlando, Royal’s estimated 1,200 Black residents still live on the inherited 40-acre plots from the Homestead Act of 1862. The close-knit community is located in the city of Wildwood, which in the past two decades has grown in population to 150,000. The 77-year-old Steele and other Royal residents say the rapid growth of The Villages, a retirement community that borders Wildwood, is part of the constant development efforts upending their lives.

Recent plans for highways, affordable housing units, and industrial use projects are disrupting their peace and comfort. In some cases, residents have been pressured to sell their land. Several community members raised concerns to Capital B that these attacks are attempts to erase its history and gentrify its neighborhoods. They also fear the increased traffic and industrial pollution from the projects will cause detrimental health effects in its community, primarily elders. 

This isn’t the first time Royal citizens have come up against efforts to build in their community.

Residents and Sumter County commissioners rejected a plan in 1988 to construct a turnpike through Royal. In 2019, state lawmakers approved a bill to create the Northern Florida Extension, or turnpike project, to build three roads across rural central Florida, including Royal. Read more in the complete report here!

[cdntennis]

Palmetto Pro Open 2024 (Sumter, United States)

Canada's Carson Branstine won earlier today the biggest singles title of her career so far with a 7-6(6), 6-7(6), 6-1 victory over Sophia Chang at the ITF W75 in Sumter. This is the fifth ITF singles title of her career, her second this year, having won back in January the ITF W35 tournament in Monastir, Tunisia. With the win, Branstine should be ranked a career-high of No. 344 in tomorrow's new rankings.

(Picture : © Carson Branstine)

[drpauldragocharlottenorthcarolin]

Dr Paul Drago Charlotte North Carolina - An Avid Golfer | Imdb

Charlotte's Dr. Paul Drago, a dedicated physician, aims for comprehensive patient care, keeps updated with the latest medical innovations, and enjoys golf and family.

[conandaily2022]

Fort Bliss, Texas soldier Ny'Quan Ontario Thames released on $10.5k surety bond

Ny’Quan Ontario Thames, 21, of Sumter, South Carolina, United States is a U.S. Army soldier stationed at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas, USA.

[clbphotography3]

Sumter

Sumter worked 3F in :36.60.

[pauldragomd]

Paul Drago MD - An Accomplished Physician | Goodreads

With Yale training, Dr. Paul Drago excels in anti-aging medicine, cosmetic surgery, and caring for patient interactions.

[aunt-marys-niece]

AMN Deep Cleanse Protection Kit is a energy rejuvenating spa-like experience in your own tub and out. Our AMN Ps64 protection kit cleanses the body and soul and it removes heavy negative energy. The kit contains 4 dressed tea candles, Ps64 Protection lotion, a prayer to remove any negativity and a deep cleansing bath soak. #auntmarysniece #AMN #2023 #sumter #sc #hoodoo #workthatworksforyou #spiritual #Spiritualwork #deep #cleanse #protection #kit #candles #bathsoak #lotion #foryou #LadyQ (at Sumter, South Carolina) https://www.instagram.com/p/Co-VN4sO_EG/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[genealo-me]

I Just Broke My Whole Family Tree: Are We Johnsons, Lesanes or Both?

I just broke my whole family tree, well not the whole tree but definitely the Johnson line. Famiy oral histoy says that my great grandfather Charley Johnson was born Charley Lesane but due to circumstances in the South he changed his name to Johnson when he moved to Philadelphia.

But then I found this marriage notice from Mayesville in 1916, I was definitely confused. Here was my great grandtather in South Carolina with the surname Johnson.

(Related: License to Marry Issued to Great-Grandparents on the Johnson Side)

I followed him back on the census.

In 1930, you see Charley in Philadelphia listed with his wife Rebecca, children Maggie, Elizabeth, Mary and Moses, and some lodgers.

In 1920, you see Charley Johnson in Mayesville, South Carolina, listed with his wife Rebecca and two daughters Maggie and Elizabeth.

In 1910, you see him listed as a son of Eliza Johnson who was a widow.

But I couldn't find him on the 1900 Census. Here you see Jack and Eliza Johnson's household.

Looking at the 1880 Census, I see Jack and Eliza Johnson's household had children Maggy, Milton and John.

If you look at the ages here in the 1880 Census vs. the 1900 Census, the children listed in 1900 are at least 20 years younger than those in 1880 and those from 1880 are no longer in the house.

There were several of the Johnson sisters that married Lesanes so my question was "I know we are Johnsons but are we also Lesanes or related by marriage?"

I had a theory that maybe Charley was not a child of Jack and Eliza Johnson but instead a grandchild because other grandchildren were listed in the household. So one of my cousins on the Johnson side and I scoured the 1900 Census for anyone named Charlie, Charley, or Charles around the age of my great grandfather, first in Sumter County and then in the state of South Carolina. At least we thought we did.

Months passed.

One day I saw what was going on with the 1900 Census. We just couldn't read the Census (the transcription is off as well).

What does this say?

I think it says Charles Lesane, grandson. (You can't imagine the number different ways that Lesane/Lesesne is spelled on the Census.) There's also something else there that I can't read.

Since I only see one daughter in the 1880 Census, I have assumed that Maggy was his mother. Since there's no 1890 Federal Census to look for, I am looking for the family in the South Carolina state census. And I plan to verify both his parents with any new information.

I have a lot of information on the Lesanes. I am no longer confused about the Lesane connection though I don't have the exact person. I still have a lot to verify with the oral history and relationships. I have so much more to research now.

Sources:

Newspapers.com - The Watchman and Southron - 1916-12-16 - Page 5

Year: 1930; Census Place: Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Page: 10B; Enumeration District: 0322; FHL microfilm: 2341831

Year: 1920; Census Place: Mayesville, Sumter, South Carolina; Roll: T625_1712; Page: 10B; Enumeration District: 132

Year: 1910; Census Place: Mayesville, Sumter, South Carolina; Roll: T624_1465; Page: 16B; Enumeration District: 0105; FHL microfilm: 1375478

Year: 1900; Census Place: Mayesville, Sumter, South Carolina; Roll: 1543; Page: 17; Enumeration District: 0111; FHL microfilm: 1241543

[unplaces]

27 Harrison St, Sumter, South Carolina.

[rebelyells]

On this date, January 9th, 1861, South Carolina responds to the first in a series of acts of war committed by the United States government against the Palmetto State, by firing on the Star of The West, attempting to reinforce Ft. Sumter. Credit John Fisher

[mckinleygirl98]

no comment

[athleticperfection1]

Lake Sumter Volleyball