By Walter B. Curry, Jr., Ed. D
The Awakening: The Seawright-Ellison Family Saga, Vol. 1, A Narrative History
The Seawright narratives include the stories of Robert L. Seawright, who charismatically and jovially survived the challenges of life despite his shortcomings and untimely the deaths of his young parents. The story of Robert’s son, Wallace Seawright, Sr., a beloved husband, father, deacon at Baughmanville Baptist Church, Prince Hall Mason, and sharecropper, raised his family of sixteen children with clear moral values and supplemented his income which allowed him to survive the pitfalls of sharecropping life. The story of two brothers, Roosevelt and Henry Seawright, beloved husbands’, and fathers, ascended to legendary status, skillfully in brick masonry and craftsmanship in the city of Aiken, South Carolina, and surrounding areas.
The Ellison narratives include the story of Floster and Nora Miles Ellison, Sr., who were generational pillars of their community through service in their respective professions, families, and roles as deacon and deaconess respectively at Smyrna Missionary Baptist Church. Floster and Nora’s son, Floster L. Ellison, Jr., who excelled in professional barbering and social work, inspired by the collective activism during the Civil Rights Movement, co-founded the Palmetto State Barber Association, and enjoyed a legendary career as chief of social services at Crafts-Farrow State Hospital, an agency of the South Carolina Department of Mental Health. The story of Floster and Nora’s grandson, Tommy Ellison, whose experiences as a youth singing on the children choir at Smyrna Missionary Baptist Church, inspired him to pursue a legendary career in African American gospel music, affectionately known by many of his fans as “Mr. Superstar of Gospel”.
Award winning Author
Walter B. Curry, Jr., Ed. D
Walter B. Curry, Jr., Ed. D is a native of Orangeburg, South Carolina. Dr. Curry received a bachelor’s degree in political science from South Carolina State University, and has earned several graduate degrees in education, which includes a doctorate degree in Curriculum & Instruction from Argosy University,
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Sarasota. Dr. Curry has taught middle school social studies for five years and currently is an adjunct professor of education at Claflin University.
In 2018, Dr. Curry launched Renaissance Publications, LLC. On September 1, 2018, he published his first genealogy book, The Thompson Family: Untold Stories from the Past (1830-1960). The book chronicles the reflections and experiences of his relatives that shed new light on African American History in Aiken County and South Carolina. In October 2019, Dr. Curry received the 2019 African American Historical and Genealogy Society Book Award in the Non-Fiction Category-Genealogy for his book. On February 12, 2020, the South Carolina Legislature recognized Dr. Curry for his significant work in service to African American History and Heritage in South Carolina and congratulate him on his book award.
Dr. Curry is a member of several civic, historical, and professional organizations which includes: South Carolina Genealogical Society, South Carolina African American Chamber of Commerce, Aiken-Barnwell Genealogical Society, Friends of the Aiken County Historical Museum, Aiken County Historical Society, Old Edgefield District Genealogical Society, African American Historical and Genealogical Society. He is also a volunteer for the International African American Museum. As a volunteer, he coordinates outreach efforts to local stakeholders to solicit memberships and partnerships.
In addition, Dr. Curry has done several book signings and presentations at local conferences, workshops, bookstores, and schools across the state and nationwide. His most recent project is “Salley and The Thompson Family” an exhibit in the Aiken County Historical Museum that featured the founding of Salley, South Carolina and the illumination of his ancestors and relative stories through artifacts and primary sources.
Dr. Curry currently lives in Columbia, South Carolina with his wife, Takiyah S. Curry, who is a registered nurse and graduate of the University of South Carolina. They have two sons, Braxton & Braylon.
By Walter B. Curry, Jr., Ed. D
The Thompson Family: Untold Stories From The Past (1830-1960)
Graphic Novel
Through the stories of his ancestors and relatives, Dr. Curry take us on a compelling journey through African American history into his family. The Thompson Family: Untold Stories from The Past (1830-1960) chronicles the rich history of this Aiken County family. Several narratives that include a slave who purchased his freedom, an enslaved relative who served as a cook in the Confederate Army, a young relative who was tragically murdered, and a sharecropper who became a prominent soil conservationist.
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Follow Dr. Curry’s thoughtful insight on how his family stories of hard life in servitude as slaves to achieving personal successes, personal/civic responsibility, sacrifice, ultimate freedom, overcoming adversity, and redemption gives us all a greater appreciation of how the past helps shape our narrative today.
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Below are some of the ways you can engage Renaissance Publications for presentations and speaking engagements.
Presentations
The Thompson Family: Untold Stories from The Past (1830-1960)
Learn about the soulful journey back in time and explore the rich history of this Salley, South Carolina family from 1830-1960. These are the true stories of hard life in servitude as slaves to achieving personal successes and ultimate freedom. Dr. Curry’s thoughtful insight gives us all a greater appreciation of how the past helps shape our narrative today.
Presentation mode: Online or In-Person
Lavinia Corley Thompson-The personal story through slavery in South Carolina, through war and beyond.
Learn about the incredible story of Lavinia Corley Thompson who was a daughter of an African woman who was captured during the Middle Passage and how she became the only African American woman in South Carolina to receive a Confederate pension.
Presentation mode: Online or In-Person
Speaking Engagements
Book Dr. Curry for your next speaking engagement.
” Reviving Authentic Knowledge Through Genealogical Scholarship “
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My Writing Blog
Demystifying The Myth of Black Confederates
I have read with great interest works of noted historians examining the positions of those who claim that blacks who served in the Confederacy were not soldiers. Some have even suggested there are no records verifying blacks served in the Confederate army; and if they...