Ben Evans and Ephraim Hall: Remembrance Rites and Soil Collections

Images courtesy of Dennis Keim

On Saturday, May 1, 2021 the members of the remembrance project gathered along with several community leaders and a couple dozen members of the community in Big Spring Park for a rite and soil collection for two lives violently lynched on April 17, 1878. We spoke their names out loud together - Ben Evans and Ephraim Hall - as we paused to remember their needless deaths during a dark time in Huntsville’s history. We participated in a communal lament written by Rev. Michael Goldsmith and heard from local historian William Hampton, who provided some historical context for us.

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: the Rev. Michael Goldsmith

Historical Context: William Hampton

Readers: David Person, Angela Curry, Tammy Cooney

Liturgy created by Rev. Michael Goldsmith

Video production by AVO Communications, Inc.