Summerton in Clarendon County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
Levi Pearson Sr.
Photographed By C Summers, September 20, 2022
1. Levi Pearson Sr. Marker
Inscription.
Levi Pearson Sr.. . Mr. Levi Pearson, Sr. was a farmer and a humble man of strong faith and integrity, who believed in fairness. He initiated the fight to improve educational opportunities in Clarendon County in 1947 by asking Clarendon School District 26 to provide bus transportation for the black students in the county. In 1946 Levi Pearson, along with his brother Hammett, and more than a dozen other families chipped in to buy an old school bus for transportation for Davis Station students; meeting weekly to collect funds for gas, repairs and the driver. Numerous appeals to school officials were unsuccessful. Levi later filed suit in 1947. Levi Pearson vs. Clarendon School, seeking bus transportation for his children; Eloise, Daisy and James and all children of Clarendon County. The ramifications for this action were severe and he suffered many hardships. However, he never left his home. He, along with his brother Hammett, did not waiver in their commitment to provide equal education for all county children. This case was the catalyst that led to Briggs vs Elliott, which was later combined with four others that culminated in the 1954 landmark case Brown vs Board of Education.
Mr. Levi Pearson, Sr. was a farmer and a humble man of strong faith and integrity, who believed in fairness. He initiated the fight to improve educational opportunities in Clarendon County in 1947 by asking Clarendon School District 26 to provide bus transportation for the black students in the county. In 1946 Levi Pearson, along with his brother Hammett, and more than a dozen other families chipped in to buy an old school bus for transportation for Davis Station students; meeting weekly to collect funds for gas, repairs and the driver. Numerous appeals to school officials were unsuccessful. Levi later filed suit in 1947. Levi Pearson vs. Clarendon School, seeking bus transportation for his children; Eloise, Daisy and James and all children of Clarendon County. The ramifications for this action were severe and he suffered many hardships. However, he never left his home. He, along with his brother Hammett, did not waiver in their commitment to provide equal education for all county children. This case was the catalyst that led to Briggs vs Elliott, which was later combined with four others that culminated in the 1954 landmark case Brown vs Board of Education.
Erected 2022 by Summerton Community Action Group (SCAG).
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans
Location. 33° 36.562′ N, 80° 21.499′ W. Marker is in Summerton, South Carolina, in Clarendon County. Marker is at the intersection of 4th Street and Larry King Highway, on the left when traveling north on 4th Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1154 4th Street, Summerton SC 29148, United States of America. Touch for directions.
More about this marker. 5 Monuments located in Briggs vs Elliott Scotts Branch School Historical Park
Credits. This page was last revised on September 25, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 19, 2023, by C Summers of Manning, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 144 times since then and 72 times this year. Last updated on September 22, 2023, by C Summers of Manning, South Carolina. Photo1. submitted on September 19, 2023, by C Summers of Manning, South Carolina. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
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