Ethel Deloris Demps (1944-2017)

Ethel Deloris Demps (1944-2017). . , "Telling our story is not just about remembering Cosmo as it was, it's about preserving and protecting our heritage and legacy.", The late Ethel Deloris Anderson, affectionately called "Low", was a life-long resident of Cosmo who was committed to preserving the culture and heritage of her community. She was a direct descendant of Cosmo's early settlers and she embraced the Gullah Geechee heritage of her ancestors throughout her life., Ethel married her childhood sweetheart Earl Demps and they raised their two children in Cosmo. Real estate development began to change the familiar surroundings of Cosmo over time. It became almost unrecognizable as the once large and close-knit community she loved and cherished. She made it her mission to tell the story of Cosmo and to preserve its history., Freedom Park represents the public recognition that she dreamed of for years. It is meant to be a place where all are welcomed to gather and learn about Cosmo and the Gullah Geechee people of Jacksonville., (sidebar) , As you stand here, imagine groves of oaks with low-hanging branches, cypress trees, clumps of elephant ears, wild plums, honeysuckle in the air. Sun peeks through but it's always cool. There was a time when standing on this spot you could not only see the River but you could hear the water brushing up along the shore., Everybody living here knew each other. We were connected to everything and everybody around here, either by blood or by church. We were self contained and self-sufficient back here. Some families grew fruits and vegetables. Wild pigs, rabbits and possums were everywhere. We hunted the land for food, fished the waters and even sold what we caught to people coming in and out of the communities bordering Cosmo. We had two churches and your family belonged and worshiped at one of them. There wasn't much you had to leave for. , -Based on reminiscences of Ethel Deloris Demps, Special thanks to the residents of Cosmo, their many descendants, Mr. William "Bill" Truitt, and the Cosmo Historical Preservation Corporation. Additional support for this project came from Jacksonville City Councilmember Al Ferraro, Lyn Corley, Ennis Davis, the U.S. National Park Service, the Jacksonville Gullah Geechee Nation Community Development Council, the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Commission, the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation, the City of Jacksonville and the State of Florida., (captions) , Ethel Deloris Demos, showing her pride in her work to preserve the history of her beloved community as well as the cultural heritage of the Gullah Geechee people. (Demps Family Archive), Proud Cosmo descendants working together to preserve their ancestral community. (Cosmo Historical Preservation Association)