West Memphis Black History
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Honoring Anthony Funeral Home, Inc. for Black History Month
The West Memphis Chamber of Commerce proudly honors Anthony Funeral Home, Inc. this Black History Month. As the first Black-owned business to join the Chamber in December 1986, Anthony Funeral Home holds a significant place in our communityโs history.
Founded by the late Mr. Solon Anthony and Mrs. Eleanor Anthony, the funeral home represents decades of dedication, service, and leadership in West Memphis. The Anthony familyโs commitment to compassionate care stretches back to the midโ20th century, when the business took shape under the vision and perseverance of Solon and Eleanor.
Today, Anthony Funeral Home continues to serve as a cornerstone in the community, operating multiple locations in the West Memphis area and carrying forward the legacy established by its founders.
As we celebrate Black History Month, we honor their legacy, their contributions, and their enduring impact on Crittenden County.
Celebrating Black History Month in West Memphis!
You live in a city shaped by Black history, culture, and leadership. West Memphis is a city rich with Black history, culture, and contributions that have make it who we are. This February, we honor those trailblazers, musicians, educators, community leaders and legends whose shoulders we continue to stand on.
From legendary blues artists to civil rights pioneers, the impact of Black history in West Memphis is woven into the fabric of our city. Letโs take this time to reflect, learn, and celebrate the achievements of those who paved the way for progress.
Join us throughout the month as we highlight the stories, achievements, and contributions of Black history makers connected to our great city.
City of West Memphis Black History Program
The City of West Memphis and West Memphis Community Outreach invites you to a powerful evening of faith, music, and inspiration as we honor Black History Month!
Thursday, February 26th
6:00 – 7:30 PM
Eugene Woods Civic212 W. Polk Ave
West Memphis, AR
Featuring- Lady Carreather Coleman Worship, 15th COGICSpecial Guests:
โข Pastor Anthony King – Faith International Ministry Center Church
โข Academies of West Memphis Choir
โข Turner MidSouth
and many more
This FREE event is open to everyone! Letโs come together as a community to celebrate history, culture, and the incredible contributions of Black leaders past and present.
DeltaArts and WM School District Presents…
WEST MEMPHIS!! History is taking the court at Lehr Arena!
๐๐โ๐ ๐บ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ป ๐ฎ ๐ด๐ฎ๐บ๐ฒโ๐ถ๐โ๐ ๐ฎ ๐น๐ฒ๐ด๐ฎ๐ฐ๐.
๐๐ฏ๐ด๐ฑ๐ช๐ณ๐ฆ๐ฅ ๐ฃ๐บ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐๐ช๐ด๐ฏ๐ฆ๐บ/๐๐ถ๐ญ๐ถ ๐ฅ๐ฐ๐ค๐ถ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ต๐ข๐ณ๐บ ๐๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ฑ๐ด, ๐๐ฐ๐ฑ๐ฆ๐ด, ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐๐ณ๐ฆ๐ข๐ฎ๐ด, ๐ซ๐ฐ๐ช๐ฏ ๐๐ฆ๐ญ๐ต๐ข๐๐๐๐ ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐๐ฆ๐ด๐ต ๐๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฉ๐ช๐ด ๐๐ค๐ฉ๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ญ ๐๐ช๐ด๐ต๐ณ๐ช๐ค๐ต ๐ง๐ฐ๐ณ ๐ข ๐ฑ๐ฐ๐ธ๐ฆ๐ณ๐ฉ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ด๐ฆ ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ค๐ฌ ๐๐ช๐ด๐ต๐ฐ๐ณ๐บ ๐๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ต๐ฉ ๐๐ฆ๐ญ๐ฆ๐ฃ๐ณ๐ข๐ต๐ช๐ฐ๐ฏ.
๐๐โ๐ ๐บ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ป ๐ฎ ๐ด๐ฎ๐บ๐ฒโ๐ถ๐โ๐ ๐ฎ ๐น๐ฒ๐ด๐ฎ๐ฐ๐.
๐๐ฏ๐ด๐ฑ๐ช๐ณ๐ฆ๐ฅ ๐ฃ๐บ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐๐ช๐ด๐ฏ๐ฆ๐บ/๐๐ถ๐ญ๐ถ ๐ฅ๐ฐ๐ค๐ถ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ต๐ข๐ณ๐บ ๐๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ฑ๐ด, ๐๐ฐ๐ฑ๐ฆ๐ด, ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐๐ณ๐ฆ๐ข๐ฎ๐ด, ๐ซ๐ฐ๐ช๐ฏ ๐๐ฆ๐ญ๐ต๐ข๐๐๐๐ ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐๐ฆ๐ด๐ต ๐๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฉ๐ช๐ด ๐๐ค๐ฉ๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ญ ๐๐ช๐ด๐ต๐ณ๐ช๐ค๐ต ๐ง๐ฐ๐ณ ๐ข ๐ฑ๐ฐ๐ธ๐ฆ๐ณ๐ฉ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ด๐ฆ ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ค๐ฌ ๐๐ช๐ด๐ต๐ฐ๐ณ๐บ ๐๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ต๐ฉ ๐๐ฆ๐ญ๐ฆ๐ฃ๐ณ๐ข๐ต๐ช๐ฐ๐ฏ.
The Panelists:
Ryan Jones (National Civil Rights Museum)
Marcus Brown (NBA Legend)
Sonja Tate (WNBA Trailblazer)
Charles Stackhouse (NFL Powerhouse)
Curtis Washington (MLB Standout)
Ryan Jones (National Civil Rights Museum)
Marcus Brown (NBA Legend)
Sonja Tate (WNBA Trailblazer)
Charles Stackhouse (NFL Powerhouse)
Curtis Washington (MLB Standout)
Moderated by: Dr. Tywanna SmithโOle Miss Hall of Famer & International Pro Athlete turned Award-Winning Sports Strategist
Event Details: February 19th | 6:00 PM Lehr Arena (Academies of West Memphis)
Come hear the stories of grit, grace, and the “dreams” that started right here in our backyard in this DeltaARTS community event sponsored by West Memphis School District.
Did You Know?
Did you know that some of the most legendary names in blues and modern music got their start right here in West Memphis? From Howlinโ Wolf and B.B. King to Ike Turner, Shirley Brown, Junior Parker and Johnnie Taylor, our city played a major role in shaping the sound of American music.
As Rufus Thomas once said, โWest Memphis was like Las Vegas,โ buzzing with talent and a thriving music scene that left a lasting impact on the world.
This #BlackHistoryMonth, weโre celebrating the powerful influence that West Memphis had on the blues, soul, and beyond.
All-American Footballer Tom Watkins
by Dr. Debra West via Facebook
Thomas (Tom) Watkins attended West Memphisโs Wonder High School in the 1950s. There he was nurtured by Coach William Slacks, who saw potential in his athletic ability. Coach Slacks encouraged and supported Tom, making it possible for him to further his education after high school. He chose to attend Iowa State University.
Watkins earned the first of his two first-team All-Big Eight selections during the 1959 season, leading Iowa State’s renowned “Dirty Thirty” team in rushing with 843 yards on the ground, the second highest total in the NCAA that season.
As a senior in 1960, Watkins was a first-team all-league pick and earned All-America honors after rushing for 688 yards and 10 touchdowns for a team that finished 7-3 overall. He ranked 12th in the nation in rushing yardage in 1960, and his 10 touchdowns broke the single season school record. He was invited to play in the East-West Shrine Bowl, Hula Bowl and the All-American Bowl following his senior campaign and was honored as Iowa State’s 1961 Athlete of the Year. He was later inducted into the Iowa State Universityโs Letterwinners Hall of Fame.
Watkins continued his football career after graduation, finding his niche as a dependable running back and punt and kickoff returner for three teams (Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, Pittsburgh Steelers) in the NFL. He played seven seasons in the NFL, totaling 1,792 yards rushing, 590 yards receiving and 17 touchdowns.
Utilized primarily as a return specialist, Watkins racked up 970 yards in punt returns and 2,510 yards in kickoff returns. He led the league twice in punt return yardage (1963, 1964) and once in kickoff return yardage (1965) as a member of the Lions. He ran back three punts for touchdowns in his NFL career.
Watkins married Camilla Ruth Hoffman in 1961 and the couple raised five children.
Watkins enjoyed shaping the lives of young people. He worked with Detroit’s inner city children and served as football coach at inner city Chadsey High School from 1973-2006. He was also a successful business man, owning and operating McDonald’s and Dairy Queen Franchises within the Detroit metro area and finishing his business career as the owner of TW Graphics in Detroit.
He remained an uninhibited advocate for Iowa State his entire life, and was especially proud that his granddaughter, Fallon Ellis, went on to play for the Iowa State women’s basketball team (2011-2015).
Thomas Watkins died in 2011 at the age of 74.
(Information courtesy of Ms. Mary Toney and ๏ฟผfrom: https://cyclones.com/news/2011/11/3/205327328.aspx
Life & Times in West Memphis, Arkansas 1950
by: American Black History via Facebook
West Memphis, Arkansas during the 1950s, the fight for Black civil rights intensified alongside efforts to dismantle racial segregation.
While some educational facilities in Arkansas, including potentially in West Memphis, might have begun initial desegregation efforts, the 1950s marked a period of increasing pressure for desegregation, especially following the Brown v. Board of Education decision.
After the Supreme Court’s ruling, the West Memphis School District, like many others, started the process of desegregation. Initially, they established attendance zones in 1955-1956.
The broader Civil Rights Movement was gaining momentum across Arkansas during this time. Organizations like the NAACP became more active in advocating for Black rights.
One notable instance of activism, though occurring slightly later in Memphis (neighboring West Memphis), involved sit-ins at public institutions and businesses to protest segregation. These actions, common throughout the South in the late 1950s, eventually led to desegregation in some Memphis businesses in 1962.
Racial Tensions and Jim Crow: Arkansas, like other Southern states, was subject to Jim Crow segregation laws, which mandated racial separation and discrimination against Black people.
In the 1950s, tensions escalated as Southern whites reacted to the growing assertiveness of Black individuals and groups demanding their rights.
The economic situation for many Black families in areas like West Memphis was deeply affected by systems like sharecropping, which perpetuated economic hardship and dependency on landowners.
Edward ClarkFirst African American Policemen in West Memphis
by Lorraine Mohammed via Facebook
These two officers were the. First African American police officers in West Memphis, AR
The first African American police officers to patrol the streets of West Memphis, Arkansas, were Johnny Sparkman and Lee Switzer
The first African American police officers to patrol the streets of West Memphis, Arkansas, were Johnny Sparkman and Lee Switzer, who began their service in 1955.
Historic Milestone: Sparkman and Switzer began their patrol in 1955, marking a significant step in the integration of the West Memphis Police Department.
Rev. Earnest Coleman
Celebrating #blackhistorymonth in #WestMemphis. During Black History Month, weโre honoring those leaders who shaped West Memphis through faith, service, and steady leadership.
Rev. Earnest Coleman was well known throughout the community as a faithful pastor, mentor, and peacemaker. Through his ministry, he reached people across congregations, neighborhoods, and generations. His impact went far beyond Sunday mornings. He supported local initiatives and encouraged unity across denominational lines, strengthening the spiritual foundation of our community that still stands today.
Black History Month is a time to recognize those whose lives made a lasting difference in our city. We honor his legacy and thank him for the difference his legacy continues to make in our city.
Johnnie Taylor
by Weems World Inc. via Facebook
Weems World presentsโฆ.Black History Month/Arkansas Edition!
Today we honor the late/beloved Johnnie Taylor; Crawfordsvilleโs own! Thatโs right, Mr. Taylor was born in Crawfordsville, Arkansas and raised in West Memphis until his grandmother moved to Kansas City. After starting his singing career in church, the legendary Sam Cooke befriended him and the rest is history!
Indeed, Taylor would become a legend himself, armed with a โone of a kindโ soulful and timeless voice! Johnnie produced too many hits to name, while being inducted into both the National Rhythm and Blues Hall of Fame and the Blues Hall of Fame. So the next time you are riding through West Memphis, coming from Southland with your last two dollars, remember that the 3X Grammy nominated JT is Arkansas Black History!
Black History Month :: Arkansas Delta
by Keith Ingram via Facebook
Black History Month Recognized in West Memphis
by Hubert Bass via Facebook
Alderman Hubert Bass officially created the recognition of Black History Month in West Memphis, Arkansas – on an 8-2 vote of his Resolution that he wrote and passed.
(also for Crittenden County while serving as Justice of the Peace)