Flagg Grove School
5 April 2013
Michael L. Anthamatten, program director and founder of Spotlight Rising Stars, filmed a documentary of the dedication and concert to dedicate Flagg Grove School and introduce young rising stars to a hero by discovering her hometown and honoring her enduring legacy. The film debuts at the Bare Bones Film Festival the 13th of April 2013. Herein Muskogee, OK. And Tina's hometown is coming here as our guest to watch the film.
Boards from the Booker Knob School from 1850, located in Denmark, Tennessee, were used to restore the Flagg Grove School.
The Booker Knob School was in too bad a shape to be restored.
Here is a picture of the Booker Knob School.
The Booker Knob School
Tina Turner's Assistant Visits Brownsville – 14 Jan. 2013
We've had some exciting things going on at the West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center this year. Among them is a very special visit by Tina Turner's assistant, Rhonda Graam. Rhonda spent a week with us hearing about the Center and the restoration efforts of Flagg Grove School. She met with local official and others involved in the project.
We also spent a few days touring Nutbush and Ripley and "tromping" around in cemeteries where Tina's ancestors are buried. (Did I mention it was the middle of January and COLD?) We had some great adventures and lots of fun.
This was Rhonda's first time to visit the area even though she has been with Tina since 1964. We were so glad to show her around and share our community with her.
One of the highlights was a visit with a couple of sisters who remembered going to school with Tina at Flagg Grove and Carver High School. It was amazing to sit around the kitchen table and hear these stories. The only thing missing was Tina. I could just imagine her sitting there engaged in the conversation; laughing and remembering all those crazy days of childhood. (Still can't believe I did not get a picture. I was so engrossed in their stories that I simply didn't think about snapping a picture.)
We're also appreciative to all those who changed their schedules and made time to talk with Rhonda. Since our visit, Rhonda has let us know that Tina is "thrilled with the information" that she gathered and with Rhonda's explorations while in Brownsville.
As we move forward with the Flagg Grove project, I hope that Rhonda will visit again and especially when we are ready to dedicate the school. In the meantime, we'll stay in touch and keep her posted of our progress.
Rhonda Graam in front of the Flagg Grove School
