Remembrance Rites and Soil Collections for Herman Deeley
On Saturday, March 5, 2022 Madison County Remembrance Project gathered with community members of Huntsville to commemorate the life of Herman Deeley. Deeley was lynched Jan. 18, 1915 near Ditto Landing in a town formerly known as Taylorsville. Today, we said his name to start the process of reconciliation – and, together, we dug up the past, collecting soil from the site. One jar will be housed at EJI's Legacy Museum in Montgomery, Alabama. The second will be on display at Huntsville Revisited Museum. A memorial marker will also stand near the site, along the river walk between Ditto Landing and Hobb's Island Marina.
You can learn more about Herman Deeley’s lynching by clicking here.
As we continue to make plans for future remembrance rites, we are always seeking greater community involvement. If you are interested in joining with us for future efforts, please click here to share your information.
Welcome: Angela Curry
Historical Context: William Hampton
Readers: Minister Crystal Pollard, Sarah Carmack, Katie Calvert
Soloist: Shane Bloemetjie
Liturgy created by Rev. Michael Goldsmith
Video production by Steven Jackson and Candace Nalls
Photography by Willoughby Hastings