Pioneers of Reconciliation – 2016
We posthumously honor these Pioneers who represent the very heart and soul of Shreveport. They embraced a responsibility to create positive change toward basic civil rights for all citizens. From reverends to church members, from community leaders to enlightened residents and courageous youth, these citizens joined together to facilitate change. Sacrificing blood, sweat, and tears, often enduring physical and mental abuse as well as loss of homes and lives, these Pioneers of Shreveport were part of the movement for basic racial equality. They paved a path toward mutual respect, equal rights, and in many cases, reconciliation. As we work to gain an understanding of our differences, our similarities, and their unique contributions, we must also forge an understanding of reconciliation based on improving the lives of those who want to call Shreveport our home. Pioneers may have worn many unique labels, but all had the desire to make our city better for the next generation.
We recognize some of the Pioneers who helped bring us here as we also seek to facilitate change and move our city to a better place tomorrow.
- Mr. Rosie Banks, Sr.
- Leonard C. Barnes
- Brother Baruti
- Joyce Bowman
- Mrs. Willie Boyd
- Anne Brewster
- Jean Brierre
- Charles Brown
- Helen Brown
- Rev. C. Byrd, Sr.
- Clara Carr
- Melvin Collins, Jr.
- Melvin Crockett
- Joe Davis
- Peola Davis
- Louise Demery
- Rev. Herman Farr
- Dr. Charles E. Galloway
- Marie Gifford
- Carrie Grossley
- McHenry Hardy
- Pete Harris
- Virginia Harris
- McHenry Hardy, Jr.
- J.K. Haynes
- Hilry Huckaby
- Mimi Hussey
- Alphonse Jackson
- Haller Jackson, Jr.
- Howard Jackson, Jr.
- Ben Johnson
- Bishop Joseph Johnson
- Dorothy Johnson
- Ida Kennon
- Ophelia Kennon
- Mrs. Eddie Jones
- Rev. E. Edward Jones
- Rabbi David Lefkowitz
- Albertha Lewing
- Judge Paul Lynch
- Rev. B. J. Mason
- Sister Margaret McCaffery
- Claude Clifford McLain
- Mildred Oliver McLain
- William Norris
- Dr. Camp Payne
- Dr. Louis Pendleton
- Rev. J.R. Rethledge
- Rev. C.F. Robinson
- Lawrence Roque
- Dr. Joseph Sarpy
- Rev. A.L. Scott
- Virginia Shehee
- Rev. Connie Dwayne Simmons
- Rev. John B. Simmons
- Rev. L.P. Sims
- Bernice Smith
- Dr. James T. Stewart
- Rev. Jiles Stills
- Jessie Stone
- Frances Sullivan
- Calvin Wilkerson
- Balistine Hopkins Williams
- R.L. Williams
- E.P. Wimberly