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ESKRIDGE
William B. Eskridge - Civil Rights pioneer dead at 99
William B. Eskridge, a Carroll County community leader who in the 1930s was the region's first African American
to vote in a presidential election, died Monday, June 19, 2000, at Greenwood Leflore Hospital. He was 99. Services
for Eskridge, who died of congestive heart failure, will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Roberts & Sons Mortuary in
Winona.
A native of Carroll County, Mr. Eskridge was a retired farmer and teacher. He received his early education in Carroll
County and transferred to Tuskegee Institute in Tuskegee, Ala., where he received his high school diploma. He also
attended Alcorn State University in Lorman, Rust College in Holly Springs and Mississippi Valley State University
in Itta Bena.
Geraldine E. Roberts of Greenwood described her father as a kind man who cared about people and the community.
"He was involved in so many things," she said. He was a member of the Carroll County Voter's League and
the Carroll County Chapter of the NAACP, and he was a Mason and a Shriner.
Eskridge was also active in public service. He was instrumental in the formation of the Carroll County Agricultural
High School in Summerfield.
He also helped with black voter registration drives during the Civil Rights Movement. "He hauled children
to school on a pulpwood log truck," Roberts said. "He put side planks and a tarpaulin on it and took
children to school. And nobody gave him gas money."
Children thought of Eskridge as a father, Roberts said. "He always pushed education for his kids and others,"
she said.
Eskridge also served as a supervisor with President Lyndon B. Johnson's War on Poverty program for Carroll County.
And, he taught hands-on farming skills to World War II veterans, Roberts said. Eskridge was a pioneer with the
Head Start Program for central Mississippi. He was a former chairman of Sand Ridge Corporation in McCarley, and
a former owner of a lumber company and pulp wood yard. Eskridge also was a former Sunday School superintendent,
a steward and a trustee at Ebenezer Christian Methodist Episcopal Church near McCarley.
He stayed active in church until he got sick, Roberts said. "He would always tell the young people, 'It's
your time to take over, but I will advise you,'" she said.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Eddie Mae Cain Eskridge. He is survived by two sons, George M. Eskridge of
Chicago and Walter W. Eskridge of McCarley; two daughters, Geraldine E. Roberts of Greenwood and Vertyle Liddell
of Southaven; 17 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and seven great-great-grandchildren.
Dr. J.Y. Trice will officiate. Visitation is today until 7 p.m. at Roberts & Sons Mortuary. Burial will be
in Ebenezer Cemetery near McCarle
[The Greenwood Commonwealth - June 22, 2000 - Transcribed by C. Horton]
LANG
Services for Joe Lang, 97, of Greenwood, who died of heart failure Saturday, Aug. 19, 2000, at Greenwood Leflore
Hospital, will be 1 p.m. Saturday at East Percy Street Christian Church. Mr. Lang was a member of East Percy Street
Christian Church. He was a retired farmer. He is survived by one son, Joe Lang Jr. of Indianapolis; one daughter,
Lula Mae Daniel of Greenwood; one brother, R. A. Lang of Chicago, Ill.; 16 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren;
and two great-great-grandchildren.
The Rev. T. P. Rush will officiate at the services. Burial will be in Hemingway Cemetery in Carroll County. Pallbearers
will be Curtis Wiggins, Robert Wiggins, Jeffery Wiggins, Clarence Wiggins, Mellon Daniel and David Wright. Visitation
will be until 6 today at Sanders & Sanders Funeral Home.
[The Greenwood Commonwealth - August 25, 2000- Transcribed by C. Horton]
NORTON
Mr. Daniel Norton and his wife, of Carrolton, died last week within three days, aged 78 and 74 years. [Memphis Daily Avalanche, 5 Jun 1867 - Submitted by K. Torp]
