Drayton Hall Memories

gmcdaniel4444@gmail.com

4 years ago

First on Facebook – May 2, 2021

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In 2012, Drayton Hall sponsored a dedication ceremony for its African American cemetery that dates to c. 1800, and I invited Lorraine White to sing since she has a wonderful voice. She’d said that she had family connections to Drayton Hall.

At the program, I introduced her to Charlie Drayton, born in 1918 and the last owner of Drayton Hall.

Lorraine said that her great grandmother lived on the west side of the Ashley River Road at Drayton Hall into the 20th century. Her name was Binah. Did he know her?

Charlie’s head tilted back and with a big smile, said, “Binah?”

“Yes, Binah.” Lorraine replied.

Charles explained, “When I was little, my parents used to bring me out here, and it was Binah who took care of me. I don’t remember her clearly since I was so young, but her name I remember well. It was Binah.”

They embraced.

From my upcoming book due out in in the fall of 2021, “Drayton Hall Stories: A Place and Its People.”

Preview my new book “Drayton Hall Stories: A Place and Its People”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

George W. McDaniel, Ph.D., is President of McDaniel Consulting, LLC, a strategy firm that helps organizations use history to build bridges within itself and to its broader constituents. The company’s tag line, “Building Bridges through History,” is grounded in McDaniel’s personal beliefs and his experience in site management, preservation, education, board development, fundraising, and community outreach. Rather than using history to divide us, he strives to help organizations use history, especially local history, to enhance cross-cultural understanding and to support local museums, preservation, and education. Dr. McDaniel led volunteer efforts with Emanuel AME Church and historical organizations in Charleston to use historic preservation to enhance racial reconciliation and healing. McDaniel is also the Executive Director Emeritus of Drayton Hall, a historic site in Charleston, SC, owned by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. He retired from Drayton Hall in 2015 after 25 years of distinguished service.

A frequent writer, speaker, and facilitator about such issues, he can be reached at gmcdaniel4444@gmail.com or through his website at www.mcdanielconsulting.net.

All images courtesy of the author unless otherwise noted.