Salute To Working Mothers Of Hayti /Fayetteville Street, Durham, NC
By Denise Hester

Thanks to Ms. Hilda Smith who shared this picture of her grandmother, Ms. Lollie Brown, who was walking through downtown Durham after work.

She was originally from Caswell County near Yanceyville. Ms. Brown worked as a domestic and often made a bus transfer downtown. And like most families of that era, the household consisted of extended family.
But on this day, she probably walked home to 610 S. Elm Street which was easy walking distance from downtown Durham before NC 147 destroyed Hayti.

Her home on S. Elm Street was located near where the current EMS building sits on Old Fayetteville Street. The old Mechanics & Farmers Bank branch was located at the corner at 617 Fayetteville Street and Elm Street. Like many women in our community she mentored young girls and was a member and usher of Oak Grove Baptist Church. She was also a member of the United Order of Tents, an organization of African American church women founded in 1867 by Annetta Lane and Harriet Taylor.

With approximately 50,000 members at its height, it had chapters across the county and was the oldest benefit society for black women in the United States.

This picture captured the dignified presentation of Black women of that era from her hat down to her shoes. This picture speaks volumes.