Carranza Morgan

shared with BJ Jones on tape Jan. 28,1992

Not a Bird with Feathers

I worked with Clarence Jordan during farming season. At that time there was a lot of trouble with people in this area. My wife worked in the candy kitchen baking fruitcake. My experience with Clarence was a great one. He was a man that didn't fear trouble. I remember when he had a fruit and vegetable stand on Highway 19 and twice it was destroyed. After that he went into pecan plant and sewing industry. During the time of the boycott, Clarence was unable to sell or purchase anything in Sumter County. I would go and purchase what items he needed and deliver it at night. I lived right up the road and at times you could hear gun shots. I remember that time that the KKK wanted to buy the farm from Mr. Jordan. There were people and cars lined up all down the road. The people were dressed in the long white robes and hoods. But Clarence didn't sell out. After that time of the fruit and vegetable stand, he went into the egg business. He had a hard time selling the eggs. They tried everything they could to drive him out. A lot of blacks were afraid to come and work at Koinonia.

During my time of working with Clarence he was a good man, he paid very good wages. We worked on a production sharing system rather than a certain amount a day. He was very fair although there were times we did a lot of things at night because of the trouble in Sumter County. I was blessed because I lived just up the road and on my own place. I had only one white visitor to visit me: asked a lot of questions about Clarence and his operation, he wanted to know what Clarence was doing. I didn't have the problem like Mrs. Jackson or Randolph Edwards who had their house burned and cross burning. I think that Clarence was very brave to go through this type of stuff, but he didn't give up.

I remember when Clarence would have Bible study for the neighbors and especially the kids. He would send a truck around to pick up the people and have Bible study with them. He spent a lot of time helping people in Sumter County. I would classify Clarence in the same boat as Martin Luther King and John F. Kennedy who tried to make changes and equal justice for all. Clarence really made a lot of difference here in Sumter County. Especially when it comes to housing, building decent housing for people. People were afraid to work for him, so he hired people from Ocilla to help build houses and people from Albany to work in the pecan plant. After the trouble stopped then people became a little more at ease. Millard came in and continued his house building dream. Florence and Clarence had a lovely family. I remember when the boycotting for the school started. I was driving the school bus. Lenny and Danny were some of the first white kids to be part of integrating the schools. Whenever we did any work, Lenny was right out there, too. Clarence didn't make any difference with people. He made life a lot easier for a lot of people in Sumter County with housing, jobs and very fair wages. Clarence was a man who didn't give up. No matter what happened he still stayed and made things work.

My son was one of the kids who worked with Clarence to plant the pecan trees down near the Cemetery. After the week he worked and Clarence paid him he came home and said, "I am rich!" He had never worked outside the home and with what Clarence paid him he was on top of the world.

I can remember a Black family who lived here -­the Angrys. Clarence was such a good man that the Angrys lived here and worked and farmed. Clarence and his family lived upstairs and the Angrys lived downstairs. The Angrys had some problems and had to move away. But Clarence kept going on, he treated everyone the same.

During the boycott time, Clarence was shot at, things were burned down. The people in Sumter County didn't want to buy or sell him anything. One night I remember, when they used to take turns being a security guard, the man who was on duty that night --his flashlight was shot out of his hand! I came up to deliver some supplies for the crews and Clarence had to be extra careful about coming out to get things, but at that time night delivery was much safer. I did all that I could to try and help. He was a man that didn't give up. If one thing didn't work, then he would try something else. And through the days he tried to do things in a Christian way, especially, when he tried to teach the Word of God to the children. He had a lot of struggles but he hung in there. I am especially glad that he started the housing project and to see how it has grown in Americus and Plains and hope that this continues. A lot of people have been helped. I don't visit Koinonia like I used to but I see that good work is still going on.

I remember when Clarence was telling us about how his brother didn't understand how he could come down here and stay with all the struggles, and it was heart breaking with him. Florence also had the same problem with her family, and she told them, "I love him and I wouldn't dare leave him." The family had some hard times but they made it.

In my closing, Clarence reminded me of an old saying: He wasn't like a bird with feathers and all, because he didn't flyaway. He stayed through the struggles, ups and downs --he held out until the end. I hope and pray that his dreams and work continue. Clarence was a good friend and neighbor to my family. He helped provide us with jobs. He was a man who never tried to get revenge on anyone who had done him wrong. He was a good leader for this community and Sumter County. I thank the Lord for him coming to this county and making a difference in my life and so many others. Praise to God for this man and his life.

The Koinonia Kids lined up (18 of them!) for boarding the school bus, September 1958

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