Greenwood in Greenwood County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
Dr. Benjamin James Sanders, Jr.
1899-1990
Photographed By Brian Scott, September 20, 2008
1. Dr. Benjamin James Sanders, Jr. Marker
The first born son and seventh child of Benjamin and Elsie Goodman Sanders was born in Allendale, S.C. near Appleton in Barnwell County. The son of a farmer with no school in his community, he attended a one-room one-teacher school that housed grades one through five. He later entered Hardin Academy which was six miles away and walked twelve miles daily to school, unless the horse was free. Determined to get an education, he entered S.C. State as a preparatory student and later received B.S. degrees from S.C. State College and Pennsylvania state and a masters degree from S.C. State College. His love for music extended from S.C. State College to the Morrison Glee Club at Oberlin College, Oberlin, Ohio.1928 - Taught the sciences for seventeen years at Brewer Normal School, which was operated by the American Missionary Association.
1945 - Appointed principle for Brewer High School, a position held until retiring in 1969.
1967 - Paved the way for enrollment of the first black student at Lander College.
Under his leadership, Brewer grew from a total of seven teachers to a faculty of sixty-four and from an enrollment
this page online
Lander college conferred upon him the Doctor of Humanities Degree in 1979. He was elected to the Greenwood Hall of Fame in 1981. He was a 33 degree mason, a member of Trinity United Methodist Church and a trustee of Greenwood Museum. He was married to the former Lucille Percival.
Dr. Benjamin J. Sanders was a pillar of this community and he left a legacy of service to mankind.
Erected 1995 by Brewer High School Alumni Association and Greenwood School District 50.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Education. A significant historical year for this entry is 1928.
Location. 34° 11.817′ N, 82° 8.595′ W. Marker is in Greenwood, South Carolina, in Greenwood County. Marker is on East Cambridge Avenue, on the left when traveling east. Marker is located at the intersection of North Hospital Street and East Cambridge Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Greenwood SC 29646, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 10 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Old Greenwood Cemetery (approx. 0.6 miles away); Mount Pisgah A.M.E. Church (approx. 0.7 miles away); Magnolia Cemetery (approx. 0.8 miles away); Greenwood SC Memorial Marker (approx. 1.1 miles away); Marshal Ferdinand Foch (approx. 1.1 miles away); Textile Workers Monument (approx. 1.1 miles away); World War Memorial (approx. 1.1 miles away); Main Street (approx. 1.1 miles away); Municipal Fountain (approx. 1.1 miles away); In God We Trust (approx. 1.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Greenwood.
Credits. This page was last revised on December 13, 2019. It was originally submitted on September 20, 2008, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 1,483 times since then and 40 times this year. Photo 1. submitted on September 20, 2008, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina.
