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Gladys Pendergraph Brandon

Sallie Pendergraft

Ms. Sallie Pendergraft was born in Winnsboro, SC, lived in Durham as a child, and moved to Chapel Hill, NC, as a teenager. Ms. Sallie is one of the oldest living and active members at First Baptist Church. She co-founded the Lyon Park Family Life and Recreation Center in Durham and served for many…

 Sallie Pendergraft - On her education, faith, the Church of God, and Holmes Child Care

In this interview, Sally Pendergraft (soon turning 99 years old) discusses her family growing up in Durham and Chapel Hill. Her daughter, Christie who spent many years living in Georgia joins her to help her remember details about her life. The conversation covers the founding of the Church of God…

 Joanne Peerman - On her childhood, education, and school integration

This oral history is part of an oral history project called Southern Communities: Listening for a Change: Mighty Tigers--Oral HIstories of Chapel Hill's Lincoln High School. The interviewees were conducted from 2000-2001, by Bob Gilgor, with former teachers, staff, and students from Chapel Hill,…

Joanne Peerman

"We were not allowed into restaurants and nightclubs and the like. So anyone who wanted to go to wholesome family activities would go to school activities and sporting events and musical concerts given by the chorus from school. School played a very, very significant role in the black community. It…

Interview with James Peace

This video, created by Judith Van Wyk, was part of a project by Van Wyk documenting the impact and legacy of the desegregation of Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools. Courtesy of Judith Van Wyk. Video may not be altered in any way.

 Willie Mae Patterson - On the African American freedom struggle and Civil Rights Movement in Chapel Hill

Audio recordings of interviews conducted by Yonni Chapman with participants in the African American freedom struggle and the civil rights movement in and around Chapel Hill, N.C.

Willie Mae Patterson

"My granddad and my grandma they always had a garden. We grew up with a garden and they canned our food. We had a lot and they would can the vegetables, had a lot of tomatoes so they canned the tomatoes, and string beans, so you didn’t have to go back to the store in the wintertime to buy them.…

 Willie Mae Patterson - On cooking and food

As a part of the Jackson Center’s food ways project, Willie Mae Patterson speaks to her experience with food and cooking. White Patterson grew up with a very small kitchen, her grandma taught her how to cook and always had lots of vegetables in her garden. Some of Patterson’s most popular dishes…

Melvin Parrish

David Parrish

 Parrish Brothers, owners of one of the oldest African-American owned farms in Orange County

The Parrish brothers’ farm is one of the oldest African-American owned farms in Orange County. Here, they pose behind the truck they bring into town each day to Northside to pick up expired food from “Heavenly Groceries” to use on the farm to feed the animals and make sure that nothing is wasted.…

Bertina Parrish

 Michael Parker

This interview is part of a group of interviews conducted by Susan Simone exploring the lives and struggle of various members of the Northside community: a historically black and primarily residential neighborhood located immediately northwest of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and…

 Mr. Michael Parker, Knott’s Funeral Home

Knott’s Funeral Home is located on N. Graham St. in the original building of the Bynum Weaver Chapel and Funeral Home, one of the oldest black-owned business buildings in the region. Michael, who lives just blocks away, has worked in this historic building for over 40 years. He readily dedicates…

Karen L. Parker

"Most Black students wanted to go to historically Black colleges or universities because there was a sense of belonging. Because one thing about being one of the handful of Blacks on a predominantly white campus socially you can be very isolated." - Karen L. Parker

 Karen L. Parker - On her childhood, family, college experience, and race

Karen Lynn Parker was the first African American woman undergraduate student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She discusses her childhood; family history; moving to Los Angels; three marriages; division of race in her neighborhood; parents encouraging her to attend a predominantly…

Michael Palmer

"Wealth is in relationships. And if you wanted to measure that wealth, it is in the number of people that show up to your funeral. Because if people care enough, they’re gonna take time outta their lives to acknowledge yours." - Michael Palmer In his current position as Senior Outreach Coordinator…

 Michael Palmer - On his family, education, and career

As the son of a man in the Navy Michael Palmer grew up all over the East Coast, which helped shape him into the person he is today. While his mother passed away when he was young, his father always stepped up to be the best role model that he could be for his sons. Mr. Palmer talks about living at…

Tommy Owens

Tommy Owens and Jason Owens are brothers who moved to Chapel Hill around 2008. Tommy is described to be someone who is “always looking out for others” and the brothers share a vision of the Chapel Hill community as a place that is safe, full of good neighbors, but changing with time. Their shared…

 Mr. Tommy & Mr. Jason Owens

Tommy, pictured here with his brother, Jason, is always looking out for others. Reflecting on his vision of community, he described a neighbor as “somebody who extends a helping hand to people no one else will.”

Jason Owens

Tommy Owens and Jason Owens are brothers who moved to Chapel Hill around 2008. Tommy is described to be someone who is “always looking out for others” and the brothers share a vision of the Chapel Hill community as a place that is safe, full of good neighbors, but changing with time. Their shared…

 Judy Nunn Snipes and Gertrude Nunn - On the impact of the landfill and activism (clip)

 Judy Nunn Snipes and Gertrude Nunn - On living on Rogers Road when it was a wagon road (clip)

Darius Scott (DS): So, before you married Mr. Nunn, you were living over on Rogers Road? Judy Nunn Snipes (JS): Yes. Gertrude Nunn (GN): Exactly. DS: And at that time, it was still the wagon trail? S: Yes. GN: Yeah, uh-huh. DS: And could you talk a little bit about ? GN: I know nothing about a…