Hattie Redding 1931- Hattie Josephine Harris-Redding is a native <strong>of</strong> Titusville, Florida where she graduated as valedictorian from Titusville Colored School in 1951. After high school, Hattie enrolled at <strong>the</strong> famed Bethune-Cookman College (University) earning a bachelor’s degree in secondary education language arts in 1955.While a student at B-CC, she became a student ambassador, engaging notables such as: President Franklin Roosevelt and First Lady Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt, Ms. Marian Anderson, Duke Ellington and Nobel Peace Prize winner, Ralph Bunch, Ph.D., and o<strong>the</strong>rs. Around <strong>the</strong> time <strong>of</strong> her graduation, <strong>the</strong> world she once knew was changing rapidly. First, <strong>the</strong> Supreme Court had declared <strong>the</strong> separate but equal doctrine unconstitutional in its 1954 Brown v. Board <strong>of</strong> Education Decision paving <strong>the</strong> way for <strong>the</strong> desegregation <strong>of</strong> public schools and accommodations in general. Then, Mrs. Bethune died and a decade later, passage <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Civil Rights Acts <strong>of</strong> 1964 and Voting Rights Act <strong>of</strong> 1965 occurred. Hattie is a heir <strong>of</strong> Mrs. Bethune’s “Last Will and Testament”. When she commenced her teaching career, she broke her promise that she would never visit Brooksville again nor make it her home after a high school basketball game she attended against Moton. She found <strong>the</strong> conditions at <strong>the</strong> school deplorable. Fate had ano<strong>the</strong>r plan in mind. Hattie joined <strong>the</strong> Moton High School faculty as an English teacher in 1955. Things were no better when she arrived. Never<strong>the</strong>less, she honored BCC’s motto: “Enter to learn and Exit to serve” and she made a vow to do whatever she had to, to prepare her students for life. This vow included lodging with <strong>the</strong> McRae Family until personal housing could be secured. She never looked back. On November 22, 1963, <strong>the</strong> day President John F. Kennedy was assassinated, she walked <strong>the</strong> campus informing classes that <strong>the</strong> president had been assassinated. She was <strong>the</strong> class <strong>of</strong> 1959 sponsor and for <strong>the</strong> Class <strong>of</strong> 1964 which had one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> highest college enrollment and completion rate in <strong>the</strong> school’s history. More than 50% <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> class graduated from college or served in <strong>the</strong> military. Her class’ senior trip was to Nassau, Bahamas. The relationship she built with <strong>the</strong> class <strong>of</strong> 1964 has stood <strong>the</strong> test <strong>of</strong> time as a lifelong commitment. She was a popular player during <strong>the</strong> annual faculty-student intramural basketball game. She openly joined <strong>the</strong> <strong>Black</strong> students <strong>by</strong> wearing a dashiki for <strong>the</strong> first <strong>Black</strong> History Month Celebration to be held at <strong>Hernando</strong> High School. She worked at Moton from 1955-1969 and retired from <strong>Hernando</strong> High School in 1985. She also worked 9 years for <strong>the</strong> <strong>Hernando</strong> <strong>County</strong> Sheriff Office. A plaque was placed on <strong>the</strong> Mid-Florida Community Services Head Start <strong>of</strong>fice wall on School Street in her honor <strong>by</strong> MHS Class <strong>of</strong> 1964 and her family. Hattie is <strong>the</strong> founding secretary for <strong>the</strong> <strong>Black</strong> Educators’ <strong>Caucus</strong>, <strong>Inc</strong>., <strong>of</strong> <strong>Hernando</strong> <strong>County</strong>. She is a longtime member <strong>of</strong> Bethlehem Progressive Baptist Church and remains active in <strong>the</strong> choir as a musician, member, and secretary <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> pastoral inspirational committee. Her hobbies are reading, doing puzzles, playing <strong>the</strong> piano, and singing. She was a member <strong>of</strong> Moton High School 50th Anniversary, 1939-1989 Celebration Steering Committee. She is one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> elders <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Timmons Family Reunions. Hattie is married to <strong>the</strong> late Eugene Redding, Sr. and has one son Eugene “Jerry” Redding, Jr. Sponsors: Eugene and Patrice Redding Jr. “The progress <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> world will call for <strong>the</strong> best that all <strong>of</strong> us have to give” Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune
NOVEMBER <strong>2022</strong> Daylight Saving Time Ends 1900, James Weldon Johnson composes "Lift Every Voice and Sing" widely regarded as <strong>the</strong> <strong>Black</strong> National An<strong>the</strong>m Election Day U.S. Marine Corps Birthday Veterans' Day 1915, Booker T. Washington, educator and writer, dies Thanksgiving Day <strong>Black</strong> Friday First Sunday <strong>of</strong> Advent