Mother Perry: A Legacy of Courage and Change in Naples Education

Everglades City, Florida, USA - Annie Mae Perry, fondly known as „Mother Perry,“ etched her legacy into the very fabric of Collier County, Florida, where she lived for over six decades. Born on February 18, 1910, in Monticello, she was delivered into the world by her grandmother, a midwife. Growing up in a family of five children, she attended a segregated school where her father served as a teacher, underlining the realities of racial segregation during her formative years. It was in this environment that Perry learned resilience and the importance of community.

At just 16, Perry married Willie Lee Perry, and together they celebrated 73 years of marriage until his passing in 1999. After moving to Naples in 1947, she began working in the fields, picking tomatoes for $5 a day. Her commitment to her community deepened as she became a midwife, delivering 514 babies over 25 years in an area marked by scarce medical resources. Pearl Dixon, Perry’s daughter, reflected on her mother’s experiences, recalling the segregated school system where black and white students waited at different bus stops. This reality was a stark reminder of the racial divide affecting not only education but the very essence of community life. Naples News recounts how Perry’s journey through segregation and her dedication to her fellow citizens redefined what it meant to be a change agent in her community.

A Legacy of Education and Advocacy

The struggle for educational equity permeated Annie Mae Perry’s life, reflecting broader national events that shaped the landscape of segregated education. Between the Civil War and the establishment of the Civil Rights Movement, African Americans faced glaring disparities in educational opportunities. Despite the 14th Amendment’s promise of „equal justice under the law,“ the Supreme Court’s ruling in Plessy v. Ferguson in 1896 legitimized racial segregation, establishing the „separate but equal“ doctrine. Schools for black children were systematically underfunded and poorly resourced, often forcing them to walk long distances to their overcrowded classrooms without adequate provisions. NMAAHC highlights these injustices, noting how they served as a rallying point for African American leaders seeking change throughout the 20th century.

In 1967, as Collier County schools were desegregated, Perry transitioned to working as a custodian at Naples High School, witnessing firsthand the changes her community underwent. The formation of the local NAACP chapter in 1975 recognized her dedication and efforts to improve conditions for her peers. She remained a pivotal figure in advocating for equality in education and beyond, impacting generations of students.

Remembering George Washington Carver High School

The history of education in Naples, particularly for black students, has recently come into focus with the first significant reunion of alumni from George Washington Carver High School, the only all-black high school in the area, operational from 1959 to 1968. Alumni have organized this event after a failed attempt in 1981, demonstrating just how enduring these ties of community and shared experience are. Utilizing social media, including a dedicated Facebook page, organizers anticipate a turn out of 60-70 attendees from the River Park community, an impressive gathering given the historically small graduating class sizes. Naples News emphasizes that many students had no other options, often either traveling to Fort Myers‘ Dunbar High School or dropping out entirely before Carver’s establishment.

Carver Rams sports teams stood proudly against their peers from other schools, though students at Naples High School were barred from attending these games until 1968. This reunion hopes to honor the contributions of early educators like Herb Cambridge, one of Carver’s first teachers, and to reconstruct a history that is often overlooked. Organizers face the challenge of compiling this story, as many records were lost over time. They aspire to ensure that younger generations grasp the significance of this history and the persistence of segregation’s impacts on their community.

Both Annie Mae Perry’s life and the legacy of George Washington Carver High School serve as powerful reminders of the struggles faced and the changes achieved in the pursuit of equality in education. Together, they illuminate the ongoing fight for justice and the importance of remembrance in shaping the future.