Bryan-Lang Archives

08/07/2025

Finishing up our journey through the namesakes of our elementary schools is Matilda Harris Elementary School, named for Matilda Ann Tompkins Harris.

When Ms. Matilda Harris first began to teach, there were no schools for black children in the county, but she didn’t let that stop her—instead, she used church buildings and lodges to teach children in rural communities. Ms. Harris was what was known as a Home Demonstration Agent and a Jeanes Supervisor. Home Demonstration Agents provided education and support to rural women, aiming to improve their lives by teaching them more efficient methods for daily tasks. In the same vein, Jeanes Supervisors were black teachers who worked in southern rural communities, chosen by the County Superintendent for their leadership and teaching capabilities. For over 60 years, Ms. Harris educated the people of Camden County up until her passing in 1931 at 74. While she was an educator, she helped improve educational opportunities for the black community and established one-teacher schools in every community, all of which would eventually consolidate by 1924. In 1964, the General Assembly of Georgia decided to rename the Camden Training School as Matilda Harris Elementary School. Though this school would close after integration in the 1970s, a new one was built in Kingsland in 1989.

Ms. Matilda Ann Tompkins Harris was an incredibly influential force in expanding black education in our county through her tireless dedication and perseverance. Thank you to her and all the educators who work hard to make education better for everyone!

08/06/2025

As we work our way through the names of our elementary schools, we'd like to spotlight Ms. Mary Lee Clark next. 📖🎒

Mary Lee Clark was born in Camden County in January 1897. There isn’t a lot we know about Ms. Mary Lee Clark’s time as a schoolteacher here in the county, as she spent a lot of time traveling in rural areas to teach. At one point, she taught at the old Burnt Fort School, which had been a one-room school at the time. In the 1930 census records, we know that she was absent from her home in Tarboro, but that she worked as a teacher for rural schools. In 1940, she was listed as a boarder in Laurens County, where she was a teacher for the public schools. She finally returned to her family in Tarboro in the 1950 census, where she’s listed as the County School Superintendent and as head of household. She became Superintendent once Matilda Harris resigned and stayed Superintendent for 20 years until she retired in 1964. Around the time of her retirement, the County named Mary Lee Clark Elementary School in her honor. Beyond her work as an educator, she was also a member of the Providence United Methodist Church and served as their secretary and treasurer.

Either during her travels or her time back home, there's no doubt that Ms. Mary Lee Clark impacted countless students!

08/05/2025

Continuing on with our recognition of our elementary schools' namesakes, we wanted to take this time to talk about Mamie Lou Gross Crissey, who Mamie Lou Gross Elementary School is named for. ✏️📚

Mamie Lou Gross Crissey attended Stetson University in DeLand, Florida, from 1924 to 1928, where she graduated with a B.S. degree. While at Stetson, she was the Vice-President of the Young Women’s Auxiliary and was a pianist for the Christian Forum. Her journey as an educator in Camden County began shortly after she graduated and started working at the school in Woodbine. In 1937, she started her term as Superintendent of Schools, or as they called it at the time, the Secretary of the Board of Education. She held this position until December 1944, when she resigned, and Ms. Mary Lee Clark took her place. Later on in her life, she would become an author, publishing in 1970 a book titled The Early Baptist Churches of the 1800s of Camden County. She gave the first copy to Reverend Frank B. Hayes. In addition to her career as an author, she was also the Director of the State Bank of Kingsland at one point. She died in January of 1998 at 90 years old and was buried in Oak Grove Cemetery in St. Marys.

We here at the archive appreciate all the ways in which Ms. Mamie Lou Gross Crissey has helped our community!

08/04/2025

As summer comes to an end and school starts back up, we here at the Archive figured now would be a great time to spotlight our schools and their histories. 🍎🏫

Of the twelve schools here in Camden County, four are named after prominent educational figures in our community. As you’ve driven past or dropped your kids off for school, have you ever found yourself asking who they were?

After digging through some old newspaper clippings, census records, and flipping through Camden’s Challenge and Pen Portraits, we compiled some information regarding some of our schools' namesakes. Today we wanted to start with David L. Rainer Elementary which was named for Mr. David L. Rainer.

After graduating from the University of West Alabama, David Rainer began his career in education at Kingsland Elementary in 1958, where he taught seventh-grade history and science. He quickly worked his way through the ranks, and just three years later, he was promoted to principal, and in 1965, he became Superintendent of Schools. He served consecutively as Superintendent until 1984, when he failed to win re-election, but picked the mantle back up in 1989 and would retire in 1999. While Superintendent, he oversaw the integration of the schools and the establishment of Camden County High School, as well as seven other schools. In 1994, the County Board of Education decided to name David L. Rainer Elementary School in his honor. Just a year later, he was named the state’s top Superintendent of the year. After his retirement, he joined the Board of Commissioners in 2001 and served until 2012. He was also part of multiple committees for his church, Kingsland First United Methodist. David L. Rainer passed in December of 2023 at 87.

We thank Mr. Rainer for all his contributions to education in Camden County!

06/19/2025

Happy Juneteenth! To celebrate this holiday, we wanted to highlight a significant but often forgotten figure in our county's recent history: Mr. Donald Mitchell, the first black mayor in Camden County.

Donald Mitchell was born in Jacksonville, Florida on July 16, 1951, to Nathaniel and Rebecca Mitchell. He graduated with honors from Ralph J. Bunch High School in 1969 and had perfect attendance all 12 years. After graduating high school, he went on to attend the Tuskegee Institute (now known as Tuskegee University), where he got his B.S. in Biology in 1973. Upon receiving his degree, he returned to Camden to begin teaching science at Camden County High School. He would eventually become the assistant principal after obtaining his Master’s and Specialist degree in Supervision and Administration from Valdosta State College. In 1989, he would become the principal of Mary Lee Clark Middle School. Mitchell continued his career in education as the Director of Instruction/Curriculum for the Camden County School Systems up until his death in 1992.

Concurrent with his career in education, Mitchell was a dedicated public servant. Between 1977 and 1981, he served on the Woodbine City Council. In 1981, he became the first black mayor in Camden County when he was elected mayor of Woodbine and held this position until 1989. Beyond his political work, Mitchell impacted his community in a variety of ways. He volunteered for the local fire department and was also an emergency medical technician. He was an incredibly active member of his church, Hamilton Chapel United Methodist, teaching Sunday School and participating in multiple committees and projects. He also helped create the Woodbine Citizens Steering Committee, which is responsible for the organization of beloved and time-honored events such as the Annual Woodbine Crawfish Festival. In addition to his work as President of the District Funeral Practitioners, he co-owned and helped manage the Whittaker Funeral Home. He also ran a bus service out of Woodbine with his brother, Marlyn Othello Mitchell, aptly named M and D Mitchell’s Corporation.

Perhaps most notable of his contributions to our community was his service as a chairman of the Kings Bay Impact Coordinating Committee from 1986 to 1990. The purpose of this committee was to obtain and distribute federal grant money for change and growth caused by the Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base. Mitchell had gone all the way to our nation's capital to advocate for Camden County, in the hopes of securing funding for our ever-growing community. As Senator Lindsay Thomas put it, “You can remember [his dedication] as you look at your new schools, your new City Halls, your new courthouse, your new public safety complex, and your new library.”

After battling a brief illness, Donald Mitchell passed on September 17, 1992, at just 41 years old. His death was unexpected and affected many, including those beyond this small community. Upon hearing of his passing, Senator Lindsay Thomas made a tribute to Donald Mitchell in his remarks to Congress and requested that his letter to Mitchell’s mother be noted in the Congressional record (this tribute can be found here, on page 7: https://www.congress.gov/102/crecb/1992/09/22/GPO-CRECB-1992-pt18-4-3.pdf). As a testament to his lifelong diligence and commitment, the Defense Committee in D.C. felt he deserved recognition and Senator Thomas agreed—thus, the City of Woodbine built and named a new public safety building after him and bought a new fire engine.

The impact of the great man that was Donald Mitchell cannot be understated, and his contributions are still felt today. As we pay homage to Mr. Mitchell this Juneteenth, we’d like to remind you of all the sacrifices and advancements the Black community of Camden County has made.

04/04/2025

Looking for more books to add to your collection? 📖📖

Come visit us here at the Bryan-Lang Archives to browse our book sale before the Crawfish festivities kickoff 🦞 From genealogical research to children's books, we've got you covered!

Please note that all sales are final and will be cash-only. Any and all proceeds will go to our Bryan-Lang Foundation, which makes the preservation of Camden County's rich history possible.

Questions, comments, or concerns? Don't hesitate to reach out to us at 912-576-5841 or simply swing by the Archives, located at 311 Camden Ave, Woodbine, GA.

We hope to see you there 😊🦞📖

02/11/2025

Come join us on Saturday! You will not want to miss this.

Come join us for our annual African American History Festival! The festival will be held on Saturday, February 15th, 2025, from 10 AM until 3 PM. There will be exhibitors from local, state, and federal institutions with programs throughout the day. The event will be capped off with a Ring Shout performed by the Geechee Gullah Ring Shouters!

The programs will include:
LaTanya Abbott-Austin speaking about the life and legacy of Robert Abbott
A Presentation by Melanie Zeck from the Library of Congress and Griffin Lotson, Global Goodwill Ambassador, Expert Federal Commissioner on the National Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Commission, and seventh-generation member of the Gullah Geechee community.
The Geechee Gullah Ring Shouters will perform a traditional ring shout.

We hope to see you there!

10/31/2024

Thank you for celebrating American Archives Month/Georgia Archives Month with us! For the last story we have a more macabre one. Happy All Hallows Eve.

The Murder of John Hall Malphurs, Jr.
In Camden County in the early 1830s, rivalry and bad blood existed between the Mizell brothers, (Enoch, Joseph, and Charlton) and John H. Malphurs, Jr. On Christmas Eve 1832, the Mizell boys and their brother-in-law, John Pearce, attacked John Malphurs, killing him. Enoch, Joseph, and John Pearce were arrested, charged with murder, and held at the Court House in Jefferson, Georgia. Charlton Mizell, who committed the crime, eluded arrest and fled the State.
The prisoners prayed that a writ of Habeas Corpus be granted. The court ordered that the evidence be re-examined and it was found that they were not guilty of being accessories to the murder, but that the act, as shown by the evidence was committed by Charlton Mizell. The court ordered a $200.00 reward.
John Hall Malphurs, Jr., was born in Liberty County in 1807. He never married and was content to make his home with his widowed father and younger sister. He received a lucky draw in the 1832 Gold Lottery (Cherokee County). As a young man with no marital ties, it is believed he was contemplating relocating to the "Georgia Gold Country,” but his dreams were shattered with his death.
Charlton Mizell was apprehended in 1833. He was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to four years in the State Penitentiary. He died in prison on April 28, 1834.

10/30/2024

Canning Plants
In 1877 the St. Marys City Council voted to offer free land to encourage the settlement of the town. In a pamphlet distributed by the city, the ordinance stated that the city was free of debt and owned a large body of land suitable for fruit and vegetable growing and offered the land to any person who would clear and plant crops or erect a factory on the land. The land would be free of cost for ten years, but after that time the city would sell the lot, offering the tenant the first option to buy.
St. Marys experienced a recession in the early 1900s and times were hard. Townspeople fished, shrimped, gathered oysters, and whatever else they could to earn a living. Three sawmills were in operation, providing a few jobs, and one canning plant owned by J.S.N. Davis Jr. and George W. Brandon was in operation. In 1912, the recession ended when three more canning plants opened up, creating more jobs. Davis and Brandon's plant, located near the cemetery, canned shrimp, sweet potatoes, and string beans. The Hardee Brothers and C.A. Taylor operated shrimp canning plants on the waterfront, and on the North River was Georgia Canners Inc. advertised as shippers of fresh and cooked prawns, shrimp, and vegetables.
At that time women did not usually work outside of the home and it was hard to find women to work in the canning plants. Many St. Marys housewives earned extra money at home by snapping beans and paring vegetables while cooking their evening meal. The vegetables were picked up late afternoon and delivered to the plants for canning.

To find out more about the early businesses of St. Marys, visit the Bryan-Lang Historical Archives. Hours of operation are 9:00-4:30, Mon. - Fri.

10/18/2024

Mr. Ozaki and the Lettuce Shed

In the 1950s, three Japanese families resided and worked in the Woodbine area. All were partners in the Maryfield Plantation, a marshland farm dedicated to the tedious business of producing and packing thousands of heads of crisp lettuce annually.
Bill Ozaki and his wife Hana, both American citizens arrived in Woodbine hoping to leave their bleak pasts behind. He had served in the U.S. Armed Forces during WWII and she was forced to enter an internment camp in the Arizona desert two months after the Pearl Harbor attack.
After the war, they married and moved to Camden County, where they joined Bill's cousins in the lettuce business. The old lettuce shed was built in the 1940s. More than fifty workers, mostly women, stripped outer leaves from fresh heads and sent them along a conveyor to be washed, sorted, and packed. An ice house nearby provided ice for cooling. Lettuce would be transported to railroad cars and shipped to many cities on the East Coast.
The Ozaki's and their three children became active community members, joining the Methodist Church. He worked on the lettuce farm and operated the ice house, she helped charter the Woodbine Woman's Club and was a veteran of PTA meetings.

10/08/2024

First Coast-To-Coast Flight Made by Brunswick Man

The first transcontinental flight in 24-hours flying time was made by a Brunswick native, Lt. William Devoe Coney of the 91st Aero Squadron. Coney took off from Rockwell Field, San Diego, California at 7:00 p.m., February 21, 1921. He was forced down at Bronte, Texas by a snowstorm. He completed his flight at Pablo Beach, Jacksonville, Florida on February 24, 1921. He covered 2,079 miles in 36 hours 27 minutes elapsed time, and 22 hours 27 minutes of flying time.
On his return flight, Coney crashed near Crowville, Louisiana, on March 25, 1921, and died of his injuries at Natchez Hospital on March 30, 1921.

10/03/2024

We are continuing to celebrate American Archives Month/Georgia Archives Month here at Bryan-Lang Historical Archives.

The Burning Pine Stumps

The town of Kingsland was seriously threatened on May 16, 1949, when four blazing cars of pine stumps on a Seaboard freight train stopped in the middle of town. Edwin C. French was 15 years old and a junior at South Camden High School when he witnessed the fire from across the street in front of Kingsland Botting Works, a Coca-Cola bottling company.
Firefighting equipment was immediately summoned from Colesburg, St. Marys, Fernandina, Brunswick, and Jacksonville, as fire hoses were brought out by local firefighters. The fire was so intense that the wooden post office began making popping sounds. Firefighters changed strategy and started hosing down the side of the building and the post office was saved.
Herbert Etheridge, a semi-retired Methodist minister, who often married eloping couples from Florida wrote a poem about that fiery night. It was published on the front page of the Southeast Georgian Newspaper.
The Light’ard Knot
Fire in Kingsland

By Herbert Etheridge

All was quiet in the village –
Through the town was heard no sound
But the crowing of a rooster
And the barking of a hound.

Streets and sidewalks were deserted
Save a preacher man or two
Who was looking toward Florida
For someone to say “I do”
Merchants sleeping on their counters
Yet enough awake to say
To their customer “I pray thee,
Come again some other day!”

Then a tooting Diesel engine
Came a thund’ring up the track
Loosing four cars of burning pine stumps
Just beside the railroad shack.

Then the people came a-running ---
Crowding ‘round to see the sight;
Men and women filed with wonder
And the children filled with fright.

Ninety men were there as bosses,
Nine were there to man the hose,
But the women bless their figures
Were only there to stand and pose.

Till our hair has turned to silver
We’ll recall that burning pine
And we’ll measure time and spaces
By the fire of forty nine.

(The attached photo is not the train involved in this story. This is a representation of the train that could have been involved.)