The Witness interviewed three members of Selma RPC in preparing this issue. Some of their life story is printed in below in their own words, and other quotations from them are in “Three Selma Women Speak.”

Ruth J. Brooks

I was born in Wilcox County, Ala., in 1927. I celebrated my 80th birthday last February. I was reared on a farm with one sister and five brothers. My mother was a teacher, and my father was a farmer who at one time operated a small grocery store. I went to a United Presbyterian school and graduated in 1945. From there I went to Hampton University in Hampton, Va.

In 1949, my family moved here to Selma. I taught for 40 years—business education majors—and I served as co-op teacher for a number of years in a predominantly black high school. When Selma integrated its school system [1965], I taught at the integrated high school. I became a Reformed Presbyterian in 1949 under Dr. Claude Brown’s pastorate. Presently I serve as superintendent of Sunday school, the adult Sunday school teacher and church treasurer.

Louvinia Brown

I was born in Wilcox County, and my family moved to Selma when I was five. I was born in 1916, so I’m 91 this year. I attended public schools through the 9th grade. We had segregated schools at the time. The black schools only had 10th grade education, so I finished the 10th grade and then came here to the Knox Academy Reformed Presbyterian School for 2 years.

Then I went to Tuscaloosa, Ala., to Steeldon College, which was a Presbyterian Church (USA) school. After graduating there I went to Knoxville, Tenn., to a United Presbyterian school. I came back to Selma after graduating in ’41 from Knoxville College, and became a teacher in Knox Academy. I taught for 2 years and then I became librarian. There were no libraries in the black schools at that time. So, I organized libraries in the high school and four elementary schools. I worked as librarian for 43 years and retired in 1984.

My husband, Pastor Claude Brown, had finished [Knox Academy] four years before me, though I hadn’t met him. I met him at Knoxville College. He’d gone to Knoxville College and graduated from there. He was born and reared here in Selma and I was raised here in Selma, but east and west never met until 1944.

I met him through a neighbor who was a member of his church. I was Methodist. She said she wanted me to meet her pastor, and that’s how we met.

Samela Woodson

I was born right across the hall in this house. So I’m still at home, living in the same house. I went to Knox Academy School and finished there in 1947. I married Coleman Woodson the day after I graduated from high school. He was back from World War II.

After we married I was supposed to be going on to [college], but I became pregnant. When I started the school, I was too sick to continue, so I dropped out. I started again, became pregnant with my second child, and dropped out. So after I became pregnant with the third child I said, “I need a job. I won’t try to go back to school.” I was out of school for quite a while before I did go back in 1972. I worked at the American Candy Company as a machine operator for 24 years.

Then Rev. Brown asked me to take over the kindergarten at the church because the lady in charge of it was retiring. I was at the kindergarten 7 years.

Then my oldest son said, “Mom, you’ve always wanted to go back to school; why don’t you go now?” So I did. I went to Selma University for 2 years, then went on to Alabama State and got my B.S. After that I got a job in the Dallas County school system. After receiving tenure I went back and got my masters degree. When I went to college, my daughter was going to Sterling College.

I have 6 children and 16 grandchildren.