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frominent Black people make noteworthy news
With the renewed interest in Hancock County, it would seem appropriate to recognize black Hancock Countians collectively, and in some cases individually, for the quality of their services and contrlbutloni.
As we peruse the pages of our coastal history it is gratifying to know there has ever been a warm relationship which was not made mandatory by desegregation.
Etienne William Maxion
was a teacher in the public schools of Hancock County. He was also postmaster at Pearlington from January 3, 1899 to May 31. 1916. He left that post to go to Washington where he was an employee in the Department of Agriculture. Maxson was author of a book entitled The Progress of the Races which was printed with copyright in 1930. His book lists B9 colored Captains and the vessels they mastered! Concisely and with accuracy Maxson's chapters included Pearlington. Logtown, Napoleon, Gainesville. Schooners and Deep Water Vessels, Industrial Progress as well as Educational. Business, Political and Religious Progress. One paragraph in his conclusion is repeated here in direct quotations for it reflects the character of this truly progressive man:	“I
would therefore implore the colored people to have faith in God. cultivate a friendly spirit with all with whom you may come in touch, educate and acquire wealth. Doubtless you
will then be in a position to demand all of the dvil rights you are now deprived of in the United States of America.''
Through the courtesy of Mrs. Roy Baxter a duplicate copy of this book was placed in the Rare Book Room of the Clty-County Public Library in Bay St. Louis.
Inex Labat, who began her teaching career in Bay St. Louis at the Valeria C. Jones School won recognition well merited for her long career as an outstanding educator. Retired in 1961 and now living in Bay St. Louis, Mrs. La bat holds membership in Mississippi Historical Society, Louisiana Historical Society, as well as the Historical Association of London, England. In June of 1976 she received a certificate of appreciation from the Hancock County Historical Society, having donated to the City-County Library an excellent collection of reference books.
Richmond Bartbe of Bay St. Louis, a noted sculptor, has works on permanent display in the Metropolitan Museum and the Whitney Museum of New York. His great American eagle dominates the entrance of the Social Security Building in Washington...his works are in private collections of France, England, Germany, India and other countries. Taken out of school at 7th grade level ui Bay St. Louis by his widowed seamstress mother to help support his family, Barthe went on to merit two Julius Rosenwald fellowships, two Guger' eim fellowships and numerous citations and awards. His first attempt at sculpture in 1928 exhibited in Chicago and named •The Negro in Art” started him on his road to fame. One of Barthe s works is a prized possession of the City-County Public Library.
Valena C. Jones nee Valena Cecelia MacArthur was born in Bay St. Louis August 3, 1872 and her teaching career started in rural Mississippi aroupd the year 1890. She was graduated from Straight College of New Orleans In 1892 and became principal of the Bay St. Louis negro school, five years later she went to New Orleans to teach in the public school system there. She died January 13, 1917 and in 1918 became the fourth black for whom a New Orleans public school was named. Tbe Valena C. Jones building in Bay St. Louis was formerly a Negro public school named in her honor. Following the desegregation of schools the school was converted into space for Hancock County Senior Citizens, the Bay St. Louis Fire and Police Departments and Employment offices. Mrs. Jones retired from teaching in 1901 to become the wife of the Reverend Robert E. Jones, remembered as Resident Bishop of the New Orleans area for the Methodist Episcopal Church. The Reverend Jones edited the Southwestern Christian Advocate. Mrs. Jones made an outstanding contribution as an educator and was voted the most popular teacher in New Orleans public schools. The elementary school named in her honor at 1901 North Galvez dates back to 1909.
Emile Hazeur, Jr. became the first black to serve a term of five years on the Bay St. Louis Separate Municipal Disiuct school board. A native of Bay St. Louis, Hazeur was graduated from St. Rose de Lima High School and attended Xavier University in New Orleans for two years. He later completed a three years tour of duty with the United States Air Force < ••med a certificate from the
Eighth Army School of Electronics and Radar, as well as a certificate from the . Naval Mine Warfare School at Yorktown, Virginia. The Hazeur family has long rated the recognition and respect of the Bay Community. Clement Hazeur and his brother, Emile, owners of property on Main Street for years operated a furniture repair, refinishing and upholstering business from their residences. Clement recalls they never left home, never advertised and were never
without more work than they could handle. Emile, Sr.'s death in 1963 dosed the upholstering business, Clement now 79 continues his services.
Arnette Giles of Pearlington recognized for her work with retarded children first taught in a school started by Mayor and Mrs. Warren Carver in 1959, through the years she devoted her life to the service of providing a foster home for children less fortunate, handicapped or retarded. The 40th child she and her husband, the Reverend Charles Giles, took Into their home was retarded, could not speak and could not hear. He had been cared for in the basement of the Harrison County Courthouse by policemen prior to being accepted by the Giles. Charles Giles, husband of Arnette, preached in the Valena C. Jones Methodist Church on Sycamore Street.
Louis Fiernas • an early postmaster in the Bay St. Louis post office is remembered as a man of dignity and worth, popular with both whites and blacks and respected for his civic contributions.
Piemas’ tenures in office reflected the political dimate of the times. He was "in” with the Republican and "out” when Democrats dominated. His local popularity, however, was unaffected by change-overs.
VALENA C. JONES, born on August 3, 1 Valena Cecelia MacArthur began teach Mississippi about 1890. She was principal Negro School 1892-1897 and taught from . school teacher In New Orleans. Man Reverend Robert E. Jones, resident Bisho area for Methodist Episcopal Church, M taught but kept actively interested in t schools have been named In her honor inci Jones in Bay St. Loats. At the age of 44 she on January 13,1917 and is buried in the Gn A year following her death a New Orleau named in her honor.