North Carolina Governor recognizes African American Heritage

North Carolina governor Mike Easley took time out of his busy duties to recognize the efforts of Mr. Odell Petteway, grandson of former slaves Georgewashington and Celia Ann White Petteway. Mr. Petteway, age 82, has preserved the history of the Edney Chapel Primitive Church and school in which his grandfather established. Governor Easley's letter salutes Mr. Petteway's determination to preserve such vital parts of Onslow County and North Carolina African American history. This letter represents for the first time an official Governer's recognition of a 19th Century African American Chapel and school in Onslow County.

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• Onslow
• slavery
• african
• american
• carolina
• tourism
• genealogy
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[GailBullock]

@pepjrp

That is your opinion. EVERYONE in Onslow County knew who Odell Petteway is, and EVERYONE knew who the governor was at the time. The point was that the Governor of the State of North Carolina recognized Odell, not that a European-American did so.

[GailBullock]

Had I known this was going to be on the Internet, I would have been more careful about stepping into the view of your camera. I was covering the event for The Advertiser News. That was a GREAT day in Onslow County, folks! Odell Petteway was recognized by not only the governor but by the Onslow County Board of Education and County Commissioners.

[pepjrp]

Very nice although, it would have been more richer had this piece been more accurately and respectfully worded as "European American Governor recognizes African American Heritage".