Born in 1918, Mother Ethel Rivers is recognized as the oldest living Gullah, and has the distinction of being the only living former resident of Hilton Head Island’s historic Mitchelville. She is the keeper of the native islanders’ history, and she is revered by all who know her.
Hilton Head’s Gullah community dates back over 150 years, yet island-wide, there are only a few visible remnants from the past that remain today. As the Gullah community continues to strive for the preservation of their land and culture, the effort to keep the pride and memories of their ancestors alive with reverence, while maintaining their historic island cemeteries is a daily challenge.
One of the perks that growing up on an island that was designed with golfing as its focus is, that eventually you’ll pick up the game. That’s what happened to a group of the island’s Gullah children; growing up being surrounded by golf courses, they were inspired to get into the game. And play they do. But that’s getting ahead of the story.
As a result, close to 80% of American Blacks who are descendants of slaves can trace their lineage back to the Gullah Geechee Corridor with the majority of them coming from South Carolina. At one point, the majority of South Carolina’s population consisted mostly of African slaves, with the highest concentrations in the plantation areas of the Lowcountry. By the 1860 census, the population was 703,620, with roughly 57% or 402,000 classified as slaves.
A need on the island and the native islanders needing a voice, coupled with the initiatives that the Rotary had for children, she knew that it was the right place for her to be. “Kids just grab your heart. They should know that they are loved and appreciated. They should never be cold or without.” With that as her motivation, she became an active member of the Rotary, and for the last four years, she has been involved in their Safety Town Program and the committee chair for the Annual Happy Feet. As the chair of Happy Feet, and with the support of Belk’s, she coordinates over 50 volunteers and the donation of shoes, socks and jackets to island children in need. This year, she was able to serve over 270 children.
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Bennett envisions a historic trail that links the following sites and historic assets: “Santa Elena, telling the story of European Exploration and Settlement, Penn Center, telling the Gullah Geechee and Reconstruction stories, Beaufort and Port Royal telling the story of Reconstruction, and Hilton Head telling the stories of the Civil War and Mitchelville.”
By Luana M. Graves Sellars Artwork by Sonja Griffin Evans You might have already heard
There’s no question that our Lowcountry, Bluffton and Hilton Head are well known and recognized for its beauty and being among the best places in the country to live, retire and vacation.
