Stories that Shape a Community

John McClane and Wendell McGahee laughed together after a panel discussion at Memorial United Methodist Church last Thursday evening. They are “homegrown” Fernandina men whose lives have been on different paths. They found commonalities when they shared stories. They could relate on a level that few in the room could understand. The panel discussion was part of the church’s celebration of Black History Month. The purpose of the event was to hear firsthand what it was like to be a longtime resident of Fernandina when it had a more diverse population and what the minority population experiences now.

Sharing personal stories is a great way to get to know others. It takes a willingness to listen before asking questions or replying with a story of one’s own. Louryne Spaulding, a lifelong resident and a teacher at Southside Elementary School, gathered the panel participants who were Wendell McGahee, whose family has been here for eight generations, her sister, Vernetta Spaulding and Bishop Jeanette Richo, who has been pastor of Greater Fernandina Beach Church of God for almost 40 of her more than 80 years.

I thanked the panel in advance because they agreed to do something few would volunteer for. They agreed to be in front of a large group of people they did not know and speak honestly about their lives. I asked the gathered group if they were willing to listen to honest storytelling. They replied with applause that they were.

I asked the panelists to share a memory. Wendell talked about growing up in a tight community that felt like a big family where everyone looked out for each other, helped each other in tough times, and celebrated in good times. Most of this happened in the context of “the box” or “the ‘hood," which is the area of homes that also includes the Peck Center and MLK Center from South Eighth to 14th streets between Beech and Lime streets. Unfortunately, this area is no longer affordable for many longtime residents as houses are bought by developers, lots are subdivided and new, more expensive homes are built. Wendell currently manages the funeral home at S. Fourth and Beech streets. When he was running for city commission in 2020, he was surprised to learn that some folks thought the only funeral home on the island was on Atlantic Avenue, even though his place of business has been there for 100 years. When something is outside our normal trajectory of experience, we don’t even see it.

Vernetta Spaulding recounted the first time she became aware of racism when she was about eight years old. She was raised to believe in herself and to be the best person she could be.

It used to be tradition for things to close on Wednesdays at noon. Families would walk downtown together in the afternoon. One Wednesday, she was walking hand in hand with her mother and younger brother when two white boys shouted out, “Dark clouds comin.'” Her mother’s hands tightened around her children as the boys repeated their chant. Vernetta asked her mother where the dark clouds were. She saw only blue sky. Her mother had to explain to her they were referring to them because they were “Negro.” This experience opened her eyes to a world she had not seen before but now could not unsee.

Pastor Richo is related to too many cousins to count. She said back in the day, families worked in the mills and everyone had shrimp boats. Families could make a good living when there were more jobs beyond service industry jobs. Many have left for Jacksonville and other parts of the South. When she returned after living and working on Long Island, she said, “I had to watch my behavior and remember where I was.” I asked the gathered group if they ever had to modify their behavior to remember where they were. As people of privilege because of race and class, they did not.

Pastor Richo had a heart for the youth in need or on drugs. She was instrumental in the forming of Hope House in 1990, which the Salvation Army now runs. It is her conviction that this town needs a permanent shelter building. It troubles her heart and soul to know there are people without permanent housing with nowhere to sleep who ride their bikes or walk around with all their possessions in backpacks. Her comments about the need for a permanent shelter drew strong applause from those gathered. (A future commentary will share more about Pastor Richo’s long and dedicated ministry.)

Honest stories are not easy to tell or to hear. Stories are the building blocks of community as we look back to a Fernandina that was and look forward to the community we want to be. The consensus of the group was that we have a lot of work to do. We can build the community we need and long for as we meet together more frequently, build deeper relationships and work toward mutual goals.

Here is a prayer by the renowned 20th-century theologian, professor, teacher, and mystic, The Rev. Dr. Howard Thurman: “Give Me the Listening Ear.”

I seek this day the ear that will not shrink from the word that challenges me to deeper consecration and higher resolve - the word that lays bare needs that make my own days uneasy, that seizes upon every good decent impulse of my nature, channeling it into the paths of healing in the lives of others.