Greene County Democrat

Tag: William M. Branch Courthouse

  • Courthouse Commemoration ensures Civil Rights legacies carry on

    Courthouse Commemoration ensures Civil Rights legacies carry on

    by Managing Editor Maya Quinn

    This past Sunday, April 5th, Spiver Gordon held a commemoration program to honor civil rights leaders in observance of the anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr’s assassination. The program was held in the William M. Branch courthouse, a building rich with its own civil rights history. Dr. Carolyn Branch set the occasion with her passionate talk about local, national, and international connections to MLK’s legacy to our nation’s current political struggles, such as voting rights.

    John Zippert began the presentations by introducing the audience to Joanne Bland. Bland is known as the youngest civil rights activist to have ever been jailed at eight years old alongside her grandmother, who was attempting to register to vote. After this instance, Bland was jailed thirteen times by the age of eleven during further demonstrations against the administration keeping Black adults from voting. Zippert highlighted her remarkable activism in Selma, Alabama, during Bloody Sunday and for bringing MLK and the SCLC into the Selma Voting Rights struggle. She’d been honored for her commitments to civil rights by Representative Terry Sewell on the House Floor when she passed away on February 19, 2026. 

    Rev. Dr. William M. Branch, III, spoke about his father, William Branch, the namesake of the courthouse. He honored him for his kindness towards White citizens, even during the height of the Voting Rights Movement in Greene County. Branch was certain that kindness toward everyone would ultimately result in a civil and peaceful path forward in today’s political climate.

    Dr. Monty Thornburg gave remarks about Dr. Brown by providing a photo booklet titled “50 Years of Exile”. The document highlighted foot soldiers like Robert Brown, Spiver Gordon, and Lorenzo French, who were attacked in an attempt to erase Black History. Dr. Thornburg also reminded everyone that Elder Gordon made Brown’s monument and the renaming of the Robert Brown Middle School possible in 2016, fifty years from when Dr. Brown was “exiled” to Tishabee. “We wouldn’t  be here if it weren’t for Spiver preserving all this history.”

    Elder Spiver Gordon recounted the work of Dr. Bernard Lafayette, a Baptist minister and civil rights leader who also played a role in the Selma Voting Rights Movement. Lafayette founded the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) to mobilize students with peaceful and direct action protests like those demonstrated during Freedom Summer of 1964. Elder Gordon recalled moments where Lafayette was called derogatory caricatures like Uncle Tom, yet he maintained his composure and prayed for those disgruntled. 

    The final presenter was John Cashin, the son of the National Democratic Party of Alabama (NDPA) founder John L. Cashin, Jr. Born in Huntsville, Alabama, John Cashin Jr. was a dentist, civil rights campaigner, running for governor against George Wallace.  He led the NDPA to respond to regular racism in the Alabama Democratic Party that prevented Black citizens from running for office. His lawsuit against the Alabama Democratic Party was brought to the U.S. Supreme Court, which allowed a special election on July 29, 1969, to give Black citizens the freedom to become political leaders. Several presenters fondly remember Cashin for giving them their first airplane ride with an airplane that would buzz Spiver Gordon’s house to be picked up at the Eutaw Airport when he came to Greene County. The legacy of the Cashin family and pre- “Jim Crow” segregation was highlighted, along with John’s mother being a substantial civil rights leader as well.

    State Assemblyman Curtis Travis gave finishing remarks about carrying on the work of the civil rights leaders who were honored, and Rev. Dr. William M. Branch III gave a final prayer. This program and many others organized by Spiver ensure civil rights legends in Alabama are not forgotten. The tradition of sharing stories is essential in inspiring the current generation to continue the great work of their ancestors.

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  • Eutaw City Council learns that $110,000 remains on Prairie Avenue contract that may be available for other street repairs

    At the regular Eutaw City Council meeting on June 13, 2017, Torris Babb, City Engineer for the Prairie Avenue resurfacing project, reported that $110,000 was left of the original $500,000 grant for the project. Babb also indicated that the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) was willing to allow this money to be utilized for other road projects in Eutaw that directly connect to a state highway.
    While the roads in Branch Heights, which are in the greatest need of repair, cannot be included in this project, other roads at West End, M and M Subdivision and others that directly connect to a state highway can be considered. Babbs said even pothole repairs on tributary streets could be included. The Mayor and City Council took this report under consideration and will come up with a list of potential projects to negotiate with ALDOT. Babb emphasized that there was some urgency to begin discussions, make plans and contract the work before time expires on the grant.
    The Council also considered the payment of bills for the month of May 2017. There was much discussion of the bills and the specific accounts from which they should be paid. Council members requested a meeting of the Finance Committee and a Council Working Session on June 20 to review the City’s bank accounts and the sources and uses of funds coming into the City for operations, capital improvements and other services. The City is not operating with a budget, which defines income sources and uses of funds. Councilwoman Sheila Smith voted against paying the bills. She said, “this is a protest to the way the city is operating.”
    Councilman LaJeffrey Carpenter said, “ I tried under the last administration and this one to get a budget, so we would know and could project expenses, and which accounts to use to pay our expenses, but no one wants to make a budget. I have given up raising this as an issue – but the problem remains.”
    In other actions, the Council approved travel for the Chief of Police and Assistant Chief to attend statewide conferences on law enforcement. Travel reimbursement for Councilman Carpenter to the League of Municipalities meeting was also approved.
    Mayor Raymond Steele reported on needed sewer repairs, including replacement of pumps. The Council approved these expenses to be taken from the Water-Sewer Fund not the Capital Improvement Fund. The Mayor also reported progress on the USDA Loan and Grant water project. Work will resume on the Water Tower after the July 4th Holiday and may take until the end of the year to complete.
    The Mayor said he was meeting with the Chair of the County Commission on placement of a power pole, in front of the William M. Branch Courthouse, on a temporary basis during construction of the water tower. The pole has subsequently been placed in the street on the side of the Courthouse, according to the Mayor, at the recommendation of project engineers and Alabama Power Company.
    The County Commission and many citizens are not pleased with the placement of the pole in the street and wish that the City and County governments could come together on a better location.

    The Mayor also reported that city workers were following behind the water construction contractor fixing streets and curbs, installing new digital self-reporting water meters, clearing drains and doing other finishing and follow-up work. Council members said that the contractor should reimburse the city for this work.
    The Mayor said the City’s knuckleboom truck to cut limbs of trees blocking the streets was being repaired and would be put to work as soon as possible to keep up with fast growing grass, weeds and other vegetation. “We have so many problems and requests for street and drainage services but very little money to do the work,” said the Mayor with some degree of frustration. Residents of various areas of the city raised more issues of needed maintenance work during the public comment sessions.
    Ms. Deloris Powell of Lock 7 says she was grateful to get the water but that the contractor had left the construction areas and drainage pipes in a mess.
    Councilman Joe Lee Powell thanked the “Tommy Summerville Police Support League, Inc.” for donation of a police car for the Eutaw Police Department. Councilwoman Sheila Smith is a leader of the Tommy Summerville Police Support League, which is the charity that holds the license for the Palace Bingo Hall.

  • courthouse Pole.jpg

    Photo above shows temporary placement of electric power pole in the middle of street in front of William M. Branch Courthouse in downtown Eutaw, Alabama. The street is partially closed and parking for the Courthouse will be restricted for up to 12 months during the construction of a new water tower behind City Hall. Mayor Raymond Steele indicated at last night’s Eutaw City Council meeting that he was unable to negotiate a better placement for the pole with the Greene County Commission. The community questions whether the city considered all its options for placing the power pole and whether there was a serious effort by the city to work this out with the county.