In Memory of Educators Who Made a Difference
With students back in school, we are reminded of the many selfless educators who dedicated their lives to establishing and sustaining our local schools and improving education for all students. Riverdale, Porterdale and East Porterdale Cemeteries are the final resting place for many educators, including some who were pioneers in the Columbus-Muscogee County schools. We pay tribute to all educators and honor the following leaders who are in our care.
William H. Spencer (1857-1925), Porterdale Cemetery
Mr. Spencer served the community as a teacher, a Principal and finally as Superintendent of Colored Schools. His greatest goal was to have an accredited high school for people of color in Columbus. Mr. Spencer faced strong opposition, but his persistence was rewarded five years after his death when Spencer High School was created and named in his honor.
Roland Bird Daniel (1866-1955), Riverdale Cemetery
Mr. Daniel served as Superintendent of the Columbus School District for 31 years, and also as President of the Georgia Association of Educators. Daniel Middle School was named in his honor. During his tenure in local education, Columbus was noted as a model for the introduction of industrial-vocational training into the public school system, and he was recognized world-wide as the authority on the subject.
Samuel Charleston (1904-1999), Porterdale Cemetery
Mr. Charleston was an icon of education during his 42-year career in the ColumbusMuscogee County School system. He was Principal of Spencer High, Claflin Elementary and Spencer Junior High Schools before becoming the first Principal of Carver High School. He also helped organize the nonpartisan Voters League; was the first black person to sit on a federal jury in Columbus; and in 1970, he was a member of the grand jury that elected James Grant as the first black member of the School Board.
Lyda H. Hannan (1909-2000), Porterdale Cemetery
Mrs. Hannan spent her entire career in education. She was named Principal of Pou Street Elementary School in 1945, and remained there until her retirement in 1968. She was active in her church and volunteered countless hours throughout the community. Her years of dedication and exemplary service to education were honored in 1990 when the new facility built on the site of the old Pou Street School was named Hannan Elementary in her honor.