The Mays Site held its grand opening on April 26, 2011 and we are soon to celebrate our 10th anniversary. As part of this celebration we are producing a

10th anniversary magazine that will commemorate the life of Dr. Benjamin E. Mays, our 10 years of success as a historical preservation site, and promote the

Historical Site and Museum here in Greenwood, SC.

The magazine will feature a photographic commemoration of the Historical Site, scholarly articles on the life and legacy of Dr. Benjamin Elijah Mays, and highlight the

10 years of accomplishments of Historical Site and Museum. It will feature many quotes from the notable president of Morehouse College (27 years:1940 – 1967), and

will tell the story of his birth in Epworth, SC, and his rise to becoming a 20th century giant through his outstanding leadership as a teacher, minister, scholar, author, theologian, and activist.

We are hosting weekend of events beginning Friday, November 5, 2021 and ending on Sunday, November 7, 2021.

EVENT ONE

The Legacy of the Schoolmaster (Panel Discussion)                                                                                                                                                   

Co-Sponsored with Lander University and The GLEAMNS Dr. Benjamin E. Mays Historical Preservation Site

Location: Josephine B. Abney Cultural Center Auditorium at Lander University                    

Friday, November 5, 2021 6 pm

Panelists:

Dr. Randal Jelks

Professor of African and African American Studies and American Studies

University of Kansas

Author of Benjamin Elijah Mays, Schoolmaster of the Movement: A Biography

Dr. John H. Roper

Professor of History at Coastal Carolina University and Author of The Magnificent Mays: A Biography of Benjamin Elijah Mays

Dr. Orville Vernon Burton

The inaugural Judge Matthew J. Perry Distinguished Chair of History and Professor of Pan-African Studies, Sociology and Anthropology, and

Computer Science at Clemson University. Author of the Forward to Benjamin Elijah Mays’ Autobiography, “Born to Rebel” published by the University of Georgia Press.

Moderator:

Dr. Kevin Witherspoon

Professor of History and Inaugural Dr. Benjamin E. Mays Endowed Chair, Department of History & Philosophy at Lander University.

EVENT TWO

10th Anniversary Celebration                                                                                            

“A Legacy Worth Preserving”                                                                                  

GLEAMNS Dr. Benjamin E. Mays Historical Preservation Site                                    

Saturday, November 6, 2021                                                                                             

10 am – 12 pm                                                                                                           

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Randal Jelks                                                                      

Author of Benjamin Elijah Mays, Schoolmaster of the Movement: A Biography

Musical Guests:  Minorities On the Move Gospel Choir (Lander University)

EVENT THREE

Worship Service at Old Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Epworth, SC (the childhood church of Dr. Benjamin E. Mays)

10 AM

Old Mt. Zion Baptist Church

3107 Highway 248 South

Ninety Six, SC 29666

864-227-3141

Guest Speaker:

Reverend Dr. Grady Butler

Mentee of Dr. Benjamin Elijah Mays,

Morehouse Man, and cell mate of Rev.

Dr. Martin Luther King during the Civil

Rights Movement.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________