This article is to acknowledge the accomplishments and struggles of a well-educated African American woman who was born, raised, worked and lives in Louisville, MS. She is Bettye Roberson Sherrod, who lives in the Antioch Community. She has been a trailblazer in Early Childhood and Secondary Education for 41 years. During Black History Month, we acknowledge the accomplishments, contributions, and life struggles of Africans from slave ships to championships and to the great dream that is now America. Black History is American History that is often hidden or ignored in the history of America. African America History is important to all Americans, not just to blacks because many accomplishments have been made possible only through the combined efforts of sacrifices and prayers of all races working together. As we celebrate Black History Month, we realize that there is still work to be done to bring about equality to all of God’s children, equality in housing, education, healthcare, employment, criminal justice, and all areas of life. (African American History and Black History is used interchangeably in this article)
During Bettye’s employment in Noxubee County School District 1998 - 2010, she taught many classes of African American History and Literature, which is rare or nonexistent in most school systems. Bettye’s unwavering services impacted many children and their families to excel in society as productive students and citizens.
Bettye is the daughter of the late Nannie Hughes and Willie Roberson, Sr. She is the granddaughter of the late Kytie Knowles and Nelson Hughes; her paternal grandparents are the late Mahalia and Alex Roberson Sr. She is one of eight children, and her siblings are Willie “Dub” Roberson Jr., Wendell, Billy, Robert, Walterine, Joan, and Kay. She has two daughters, Kim and Kineta “Cristie”, five grandchildren Asia, Lauren, Lyndsey, Jordan, and Jaslyn plus one God-granddaughter Lexis. She is a member of Antioch M.B. Church and an active member of the NAACP, Friends of Dean Park, Inc., and Alcorn Alumni Association.
Bettye’s education experience began at the two-room Harrington Community School. There were two dedicated teachers Mrs. Carrie B. Thompkins and Mrs. Lillie M. Jackson. She was a 1961 honor graduate of Louisville Colored High School and a 1967 honor graduate of Alcorn State University with a double major in Business and English education. She continued her education at Mississippi State University in Business Administration and at Jackson State University in Early Childhood Supervision.
Bettye’s employment began in Hinds County Public Schools in Utica, MS. In 1968, she relocated to Louisville to provide assistance to her disabled parents and to seek employment; however, she was faced with racial denial. After passing the government civil service test and receiving notification to apply in Winston County, the director refused to let her apply and said, “He would die before he hires a black in that office”. Months later, Bettye’s name was added to a list of hundreds of blacks that were discriminated against in a class action suit by the U.S. Justice Department versus the State of Mississippi.
Shortly after that devastating experience, she was employed by Wesley Education Association Project Head Start as a Program Secretary. Because of her education, work ethic, and abilities, she received several promotions, including Bookkeeping/Payroll Clerk and Deputy/Finance Director. In 1984, she was hired as the first and only female Executive Director in the local Head Start Program since its inception in 1965. This job provided Bettye the opportunity to communicate and partner with the Superintendent, School Board, State Politicians, U.S. Senators, and U.S. Representatives. As a result, she requested Representative Bobby Moody to select the first black females to serve as Pages at the Capitol. They were Juanita Turnipseed, the daughter of Gloria and the late Lamar Turnipseed; she is a graduate of the University of Mississippi, and Kimberly Sherrod, the daughter of Horace and Bettye Sherrod, she is a graduate of Mississippi State University. Bettye has provided assistance to many individuals to enhance their lives.
While a student at Alcorn in 1963, the late Mr. Charles Evers organized a protest to fight for justice and equality for blacks and other minority races when James Meredith enrolled at the University of Mississippi. You might recall this was the same year President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, TX.
In my first year of teaching (1967-1968) at Utica, MS, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in Memphis, TN and this tragedy sparked protests and boycotts in the surrounding towns.
In 1987, Mr. Harvey Darden, Bettye, and the late Dr. Morris Kinsey, the State NAACP Field Director, organized a County-Wide peaceful protest of the Louisville Public School systems and a boycott of white-own businesses.
We encourage you to obtain and read a copy of the Wednesday, June 3rd, 1987, Winston County Journal. However, I will share a few meaningful changes; the promotion of black assistant principals to principals, the hiring of black principals, black coaches, & black band directors, and the enhancements for black teachers and students in the classrooms.
One of Bettye’s joyful senior citizen highlights was the days she spent with her longtime friend, the late Mrs. Pearlean McReynolds, in 2017 celebrating her 50th-year Golden Graduation Ceremony at Alcorn State University. The surprise presence on the day of the ceremony was seeing her daughters and grandchildren in the audience.
Bettye’s motto is “May the work I have done and the lives I have touched speak for me”.
