Recollections: Sac’s Corner

­­This is a reprint of an original article by Sarah A. Cooper, a longtime resident and community leader of Graceville in honor of Black History Month. Cooper published this article in The Graceville News more than 20 years ago.

Originally published in the February 01, 2001 edition of The Graceville News.

How Much Do I Owe Him?

Mr. Herman H. Wilson Sr.

This is the man who gave me my first chance, Mr. Herman H.Wilson, Sr. Mr. Wilson served as a teacher and later became principal of St. Paul High School in Campbellton, Florida. He was a dedicated person. He was someone who encouraged young people daily.

When I graduated from high school in 1958, he was working in the classroom. He became principal a short time later. He served there many years and was well liked by everyone. He was a very soft spoken man, and when things bothered him, he had a certain frown that he could not hide. I can remember seeing him counseling with students. Most of them enjoyed being around him, because he was a very pleasant man.

In 1968, he offered me my first job as a Teacher-aid. That job afforded me the opportunity to go to college. There was a program 'LIFT" that had just become available, and each school in Jackson, Washington, Holmes and Liberty county was allowed the opportunity to choose one Aid to attend. (not more than two) Well, THANK GOD and Mr. Wilson, I was chosen from St. Paul. Their purpose was to educate us to become future elementary teachers This program was federally funded, thereby giving us the opportunity to attend college and not have to pay.

On the day that Mr. Wilson called and asked me if I was interested in working, I acted like the people you see on television when they are told that they have won the sweepstakes. This job paid $40.00 per week, and I thought I was gonna be rich. Mr. Wilson was a caring man, and gave many others the opportunity to work as a secretary and teacher aid. Most teachers appreciated their aids, because it was as if they had tutors to keep reinforcing what they were teaching. I had the opportunity to work with him for three years before I was transferred to Graceville Elementary School. Mr. Wilson was eventually transferred to Graceville Elementary after integration as the principal here also.

Mr. Wilson was a well respected man in our community and in his hometown, (Cottondale) as well. He belonged to Bethlehem AME Church in Cottondale. He served as Financial Secretary as long as he was able to function.

He was married to Mrs. Eva R. Wilson. They had one son, Herman, Ir., and raised two of his nieces, (I believe), Nathan Ann and Caroline. He was a great father. During the last years of work he became ill, and soon after retirement he was hospitalized, often. Being an only child, he cared for his mother until her death.

He is no longer with us now, but, the work that he did still speaks for him. He was a very good husband, father, church worker, teacher, leader in the community and most of all a very good FRIEND. I thanked him constantly for giving me my 'first" chance. I have always believed that a person should let the person/persons who helped you to get where you are in life, should be told how much he/she means to you. It makes that person feel good and you too. As I stated, Mr. Wilson is gone now, but, I ask myself this question sometime: "HOW MUCH DO I OWE HIM?" To me, what he did for me in the past is still shaping my future. Something to think about...

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