Name/Title
Interview with Sam W. Halls [DVD]Entry/Object ID
2018.002.018Description
Interview with Sam Halls about his recollections of the Johnson Funeral Home on Venning Street in Mt. Pleasant. He sheds light on the history of the business, including the segregated nature of it, and his recollections of Mrs. Johnson.
The funeral home, one of the first African American businesses in Mt. Pleasant, was owned and operated by Margurite and Peter Johnson. Situated on the same property where the Johnsons lived (at 440 Venning Street), they purchased the business in 1939. After Mr. Johnson's death in the 1950s, Margurite Johnson ran the funeral home as the town's first female funeral director from 1953 until her death in the 1990s. Both of the Johnsons were active in their community and active politically. Mr. Johnson was a charter member of the Mt. Pleasant NAACP and a member of a number of civic and religious groups and Mrs. Johnson was a member of the Democratic Women's Society, board member of Friendship AME church, and prior to her ownership of the funeral home, owned her own laundry service. 440 Venning Street is now used as the offices for the African American Historic Settlements Commission but it is still owned by Mr. Halls, who once worked for Mrs. Johnson as an apprentice and purchased the business at her death. He remains owner of what is now known as Johnson-Halls Funeral Home.
Date of interview: June 21, 2018. Interview conducted by Katherine Pemberton (HCF) and Sada Stewart (intern) at 440 Venning Street. Leigh Moring (HCF), videographer.
1 DVD: 36:41
Digital files (MP3/audio and MP4/video) on MyPassport-OralHistory (external hard drive)Collection
HCF Oral History CollectionAcquisition
Accession
2018.002Source or Donor
New Library Catalog Records (2018)Acquisition Method
Found in CollectionLexicon
Search Terms
Halls, Sam W.--Interviews, Funeral directors--South Carolina--Mount Pleasant, Funeral homes--South Carolina--Mount Pleasant, African Americans--South Carolina--Mount Pleasant--Social life and customs, Mount Pleasant (S.C.)--Social life and customsPublication Details
Author
Halls, Sam W.Series
Historic Charleston Foundation Oral History ProjectDate Published
2018Notes
Copy No.: 1Location
Location
Container
DVD (Videos) Box 1Shelf
AV MaterialsRoom
Margaretta P. Childs ArchivesBuilding
Missroon HouseCategory
PermanentDate
February 7, 2023General Notes
Note
Notes: Consent Form and transcript on Media link.
MP3 (audio) and MP4 (video) files on MyPassport hard drive.
This interview is eligible for the Lowcountry Digital Library.Created By
admin@catalogit.appCreate Date
September 18, 2018Updated By
admin@catalogit.appUpdate Date
February 17, 2023