The Fourth Annual Little Rock Family Day will be held September 5 at Whittaker School from 1:30-5:30 p.m. To RSVP, call 706-793-2551.

By Professor Ulysses Wesley Mays  M.A.
Life in this small southern town could be can hard at times on its children’s! However, families working together to assist each other taught us the true meaning of love, respect, teamwork, and hard work!
In Little Rock in the 1960’s and 70’s money was hard to come by! However, people were fair, honest, respectful of each other, and assisted with the raising, in some degree of the town’s children!  Many of the youth worked in the hot tobacco and long cucumber fields, in the summer to help make ends meet!
Times has changed the appearance of Little Rock over the years. This town was once well groomed and very popular especially known for its outstanding baseball teams. Today run down houses and uncut yards can be observed in some areas. However, this has not changed the mental toughness and kind hearts of many of the older resident!
The Calhoun’s, McClain’s, Rowell, Manning’s, Prices, Stanton’s, Braswell, Pages, Thomas, Blackwell’s, Mack’s, McInnis, McNeil’s and Smiths were just a few of the outstanding families that  help    shape the outstanding value system of this small town over the years!
Love and hard work were the bonds that held this town together! The elders of Little Rock back in the day had a way of teaching life hard lessons and installing great work habits in the youth! These nuggets of wisdom have stayed with many of us even to this day!
Every great town has a humble beginning! The official town of Little Rock was born in 1853. However, Little Rock was once called   “Harlleesville” which was founded around the late 1780’s.
Records do not show the reason for the name change from Harlleesville to Little Rock. However, I believe the name change was in honor of and to show respect to the great Native American population in the area! Little Rock is in fact a proud Native American name!
Obviously before there was a Dillon, SC (founded 1888) or Latta, SC (founded 1887) respectively, there was Little Rock. It was the center of commerce for the region. In fact Little Rock served as a supply point for the Confederate Army during the Civil War!
Certainly often the true heroes of small towns are overlooked! These heroes are the teachers and educators. Some of these gifted and caring citizens’ warrior will live in our heart and minds forever! Mrs. Amanda Harrell, Mr. Ulysses Madison, Ms. Townsend, Ms. Page, Ms. Magnolia Williams, Mr. Maxie Rowell and countless others were in love with the idea of teaching and directing the minds of youth of the Little Rock and surrounding areas as well.
Knowing, respecting, and embracing your past may help prepare you for a brighter future! However, please do not live in the past. It is not where you came from in life but where you plan to be. I am proud and honored to have had the Little Rock, SC experience, and even prouder to call it my home town!