08-05-2025
A state historical marker to be placed at Harmony Baptist Church
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF)- A state historical marker will be unveiled in Augusta – honoring a man who was a trailblazer during his time.
The Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History, in partnership with the Georgia Historical Society and Pamplin College at Augusta University will be hosting the big ceremony.
Two of them got accepted here in Augusta and students out of Pamplin College of AU have been waiting for this moment.
It will honor Rev. Dr. William Jefferson White.
He was a religious and civil rights leader who lived most of his life in Augusta.
He wore many hats like starting the Augusta Institute, now Morehouse College.
In 1880, he established Augusta's Ware High School and 'Georgia Baptist', a weekly African American newspaper that covered religious and civil rights issues.
AU's Dr. Melissa DeVelvis and her students started the process for the marker 2 years ago.
'It goes to the Committee for the Georgia Historical Society. They get like at least 30 applications every year. They pick around six. And we were one of them. And it's not only just us, the congregation, Children of Israel Synagogue downtown also got one this year. And so a month after ours. Yeah. So August, they got to state historic markers this year, which is super cool,' said DeVelvis.
The unveiling will take place at Harmony Baptist Church on Hopkins St at 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
