Hello, everyone! Here we are, on the last day of February at the eleventh hour, sending out our monthly newsletter. We just wanted to give a quick rundown of our upcoming events. 

Fort Clark Days will be taking place on March 3 & 4 (Friday and Saturday). This annual event is one of the most popular events that take place in Brackettville/Fort Clark.

SISCA will be located in two places. Members of our organization will be in the living historian section, educating visitors about our history. We will also be serving as food vendors. We will be selling brisket sandwiches.

Here's more information about Fort Clark Days

​From the official website:
 
For more than 40 years, Fort Clark Days has taken place at Fort Clark Springs in Brackettville, Texas. More than 100 living historians demonstrate skills from the past and educate our visitors about the history of southwest Texas. In addition to our living historians, we have arts & crafts and food vendors.  

Our 2023 celebration will be a living history (educational) event on Friday, school day.  Food vendors will be on site for lunch and dinner.  On Saturday, March 4 (open to the  public day), we will also have arts and crafts vendors. We are expecting more than 100 living historians in 2023.

Join us for a Street Dance Friday night in front of the Commissary from 7:00-10:00 PM. Arts & Craft Vendors will be open during the Street Dance. 

Fort Clark Days is sponsored by Fort Clark Springs Community Council, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization and Fort Clark Springs Association.   

Our annual multi-day event helps us fulfill three of the six purposes of Fort Clark Springs Community Council (FCSCC):

• To assist in the education of the youth and general public in the history of Southwest Texas.
• To preserve, protect, and promote the Fort Clark Historic District for its citizens, the visiting public and future generations. 
• To raise money to help achieve these goals.

Students at Lytle High School created Is Living History a Dying Art? and were runners up at the Young Filmmakers State Finals on March 12, 2021. Video was shot at the 2020 Fort Clark Days event. 

Click the link below for more information:

Here are some pictures from last year's Fort Clark Days.

​​Is it time to renew your membership? Our website makes it easy. Just click the button below to become a new member or to renew your membership. Or you can send us your check or money order by mail, if you prefer. Your membership is very important to us. There truly is strength in numbers. Become a member of the Seminole Indian Scouts Cemetery Association today. Thank you

Happy New Year, everyone! We hope your 2023 has gotten off to a great start. In this newsletter, we will let you know about an event some of us just attended and some of the events we are looking forward to this year.

From January 11-15, members of  SISCA attended an incredibly special event known as the 185 Year Seminole Maroon Family Reunion. Florida Black Historical Research Project Inc. is responsbile for creating and hosting this annual event. Check out the photos below. 

On Wednesday, January 11, there was a welcome reception at a beautifully eclectic place called the Seminole Inn.

On Thurday, January 12, attendees went on a bus tour of Jupiter. Our first stop was at the Mount Carmel Missionary Baptist Church. Because of the danger of flooding, graves are weighted with cement overlays that weigh 5,000 pounds!

Our next stop was Riverbend Park. This was where signficant battles during the Second Seminole War took place.

Our third stop was at a reserve, where a beautiful traditional African libation ceremony was performed by Theodore Lush.

On Thurday and Friday night, several lectures and presentations took place. Each talk brought enlightenment and interest.

On Saturday and Sunday, we returned to Riverbend Park. Each day, we listened to great lecutres and were entertained by two amazing drumming groups. We also honored the legacy of Isa Hamm Bryant, who was the founder of Florida Black Historical Research Inc.
​For more information, click the link below.

Because we know how important it is to plan ahead for some of our events, we will do our best to let everyone know (as far in advance as we can) about our upcoming events. What we know for sure is that we will definitely be participating in or hosting the three events that are listed above. Mark your calendars and join us for each one!

This will be our first official cleanup for the year!

​Is it time to renew your membership? Our website makes it easy. Just click the button below to become a new member or to renew your membership. Or you can send us your check or money order by mail, if you prefer. Your membership is very important to us. There truly is strength in numbers. Become a member of the Seminole Indian Scouts Cemetery Association today. Thank you!

Thank you for your continued interest and support in
the Seminole Indian Scouts Cemetery Association.

Merry Christmas, everyone! We hope that you and yours are enjoying this holiday season. We hope that everyone is safe and warm. In this newsletter, we wanted to provide a recap of some of the past events that SISCA members have participated in and look ahead to some upcoming events that we are really excited about. Read on to find out!

On Friday, December 2, Corina Torralba Harrington (treasurer) and Windy Goodloe (secretary) traveled to Beaufort, South Carolina, to attend the Four Sierra Leone-Gullah Homecomings.

Ahead of the symposium, they attended a pre-Kwanzaa celebration at Georgia Southern University. The event was organized by Dr. Maxine Bryant. She is the Director of the Center for Africana Studies and the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Center. Lillian Grant-Baptiste spoke eloquently and beautifully about Kwanzaa.

Kwanzaa is an annual celebration of African-American culture from December 26 to January 1, culminating in a communal feast called Karamu, usually on the sixth day. It was created by activist Maulana Karenga, based on African harvest festival traditions from various parts of West and Southeast Africa. (Wikipedia)

Following the pre-Kwanzaa presentation, they raced to Beaufort, hoping to catch Aunt Pearlie Sue and the Gullah Kinfolk's Christmas concert. They arrived in time to catch the tail-end of the performance, but just the short bit they saw was enough to know that the songs that are being sung in Mexico have origins in South Carolina. What was even more amazing was that Amadu Massally, the creator and host of the Sierra Leone-Gullah Geechee event, was called up to the stage by Aunt Pearlie Sue. He was recognized for all the work that he has done bringing the two groups togther.

Aunt Pearlie Sue is the creation of Anita Singleton-Prather, a native of the Sea Islands of Beaufort, South Carolina. Based on her grandmother, Aunt Pearlie Sue's character has entertained audiences with Gullah-flavored folktales for over 20 years from the schoolhouse to the White House.
In addition to being a renowned master storyteller, Prather is an educator, historian, business woman, writer, singer, actress, and director/producer.  She is the founder and artistic director of the musical performance group the Gullah Kinfolk. As a storyteller and singer, Prather has performed at many festivals, the Beaufort Gullah Festival, Penn Heritage Days Festival, Woodlands Festival, Spoleto USA  International Arts Festival in Charleston, SC and San Francisco Festival of the Sea, just to name a few. (from https://www.gullahkinfolktravelingtheater.org/aunt-pearlie-sue)

On Saturday, December 3, ahead of the symposium, there was an event that took place called Gullah Taste of Christmas. It featured numerous vendors and performances by the Gullah Kinfolk Traveling Theater. The highlight of the event (without question) was the rice cook-off.

The Four Sierra Leone-Gullah Homecomings was an event organized by Fambul Tik, which means "family tree" in the local Sierra Leonian Creole. The event, which was held at The Technical College of the Low Country brought together four groups that had traveled to Sierra Leone. The trips took place in 1989, 1997, 2005, and 2019. Members from each of the four groups told those in attendance about the experience of traveling to Sierra Leone, which is, for many, the area from which their ancestors were stolen into slavery.

The audience learned about a song that was sung in South Carolina that linguist Dr. Lorenzo Dow Turner discovered was a Mende song, originally from Sierra Leone. 
 
They also heard the story of Priscilla, who was taken into slavery in 1750, at just ten years old. Her seven-times granddaughter was able to return to Sierra Leone in 2005. 

Renowned linguist Joseph Opala gave a brief history about the Black Seminoles. After his speech, Corina and Windy spoke about the Gullah-Black Seminole connection and what life was like in Texas and Mexico.

Below are a few pictures from the event: 
1. The beautiful HUGE Christams tree that was the centerpiece of the Taste of Gullah event.
2. Windy Goodloe, Amadu Massally, Corina Torralba Harrington, and LeeJay Krueger
3. Gabriel Greaves (Black Seminole and scholar) and Corina Torralba
4. Amadu Massally and Corina Torralba Harrington
5. Windy Goodloe, Amadu Massally, and Corina Torralba Harrington
​6. The Sierra Leonian flag

Florida Historical Black Research Inc,, one of our sister organizations received a grant that will enable them to present their annual spiritual remembrance/family reunion for five days in January. Make plans to attend this important event. Click the link below for more information.

SISCA will be participating in Fort Clark Days as both living historians and vendors. We are certainly looking forward to it. For more information, click the link below.

​Is it time to renew your membership? Our website makes it easy. Just click the button below to become a new member or to renew your membership. Or you can send us your check or money order by mail, if you prefer. Your membership is very important to us. There truly is strength in numbers. Become a member of the Seminole Indian Scouts Cemetery Association today. Thank you!

Thank you for your support throughout the year. May the new year bring continue health, love, and properity.

Seminole Days 2022 was amazing! This Seminole Days, the first we've been able to celebrate in-person since 2019, was one of the most well-attended celebrations. We appreciated everyone who took the time to travel to Brackettville to help us celebrate and honor the legacy of the Seminole Negro Indian Scouts. Enjoy a few of the photos that were taken during the event.

We were honored to have Johnny Montgomery attend Seminole Days. He brought several of his paintings along with him. They were displayed in the Carver School throughout the weekend. He calls his work "cultural art." Many of his paintings depict Black Seminoles  and important events from our history. 

Members of the Seminole Indian Scouts Cemetery Association will be participating in the 4th Annual Texas Veterans Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. The event will take place in Denton, Texas. The four Medal of Honor recipients buried at the Seminole Indian Scouts Cemetery will be honored. They are Adam Payne, Isaac Payne, John Ward, and Pompey Factor. Clarion Windus, the fifth Medal of Honor recipient who is buried at the Masonic cemetery in Brackettville, will also be honored. 
​For more information, click the button below.

Another important event will be taking place in December. The Four Sierra Leone - Gullah Homecomings will take place on Saturday, December 3, beginning at 2PM EST at the Auditorium of the Technical College of the Low Country (104 Reynolds Street, Beaufort, SC 29902).
For more information and to purchase tickets, click the button below: 

One of our sister organizations received a grant that will enable them to present their annual spiritual rememberance/family reunion for five days in January. Make plans to attend this important event.

FLORIDA BLACK HISTORICAL RESEARCH PROJECT, INC. RECEIVES NATIONAL GRANT FUNDINGFlorida Black Historical Research Project, Inc. (FBHRP) has received $50,000 from Telling the Full History Preservation Fund—a grant program from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, made possible through the National Endowment for the Humanities under the American Rescue Plan.
The funding enables the planning and presentation of a five-day “185-Year Seminole Maroon Family Reunion,” on January 11-15, 2023, a physical and virtual gathering in Jupiter Florida (in present-day Palm Beach County), site of the two pivotal 1838 Battles of the Loxahatchee River during the Second Seminole War, which significantly altered the course of full American history.
The event also marks the 25th anniversary of the groundbreaking “160-Year Family Reunion” held in 1998, which brought Oklahoma Seminole Maroon (“Black Seminole” or “Estelusti”) descendants (of Trail of Tears survivors) to their Ancestral homeland of Florida for the first time, garnering remarkably broad local interest and support, and establishing permanent networks and exchanges which continue today, with January’s event expanding to include Maroon descendant communities in Mexico, Texas, and the Bahamas as well as Oklahoma and Florida itself.
FBHRP is one of 80 organizations that received $25,000 or $50,000 grants to interpret and preserve historic places of importance  that embody the history of underrepresented communities in our nation.
Telling the Full History grants support the core activities of humanities-based organizations as these organizations recover from the pandemic, using historic places as catalysts for a more just and equitable society. To learn more about this program, visit Forum.SavingPlaces.org/tellingthefullhistoryfund.

We want to say "thank you" to everyone who has supported SISCA, especially in recent months, as we prepared for Seminole Days and during Seminole Days. We truly cannot thank you enough.

Hello! It has been a while! 
We are hard at work preparing for Seminole Days 2022.
​Let's get up-to-date! 

This year will be the first time we've celebrated in-persion since 2019. In 2020, we had a drive-through BBQ plate sale. In 2021, we focused on outdoor activities across the three-day celebration, so we went out to Seminole Canyon, had our parade and BBQ plate sale, and our cemetery service on Sunday.

For this year's full itinerary, please take a look at the flyer below:

We've created a special section on our website that is dedicated to Seminole Days. Each event has its own page. If you have any particular event that you are curious about or would like more information about, this is the place to go.

For the past ten years (except for 2020 because of COVID-19), we have started off our annual three-day celebration with a trip to Seminole Canyon. This year marks a decade that we have been doing this. This trip is open to everyone. We will meet at the Carver School at 6:30 AM and will leave at 7:00 AM. We should arrive in Comstock (where Seminole Canyon is located) at about 8:30 AM.

Please note: According to our guide Tanya, because of the rain, we will have to take a different route to the Watering Hole. Be prepared to walk/hike a little bit longer. We will provide more information before Friday morning. 

For more information, click the button below:

Since Juneteenth 2021, we have been having monthly classes in an effort to revitalize our language, which is called Afro-Seminole Creole. During Seminole Days, we will have two lessons. One will be on Friday at 5PM and the second will be on Saturday at the same time. The classes will be taught by reknowned linguist Dr. Ian Hancock. We will be providing updated dictionaries and handouts for participants who are in attendance.

This year our guest speakers are Mr. Tom Ashmore and Mr. C.A. Maedgen III. The title of their presentation is Camp Meyers Spring and the Seminole Negro Indian Scout Encampment. Mr. Ashmore and Mr. Maedgen's presentation will begin at 6PM on Friday.
Tom Ashmore spent 22 years in the Air Force as a special intelligence analyst.  After retiring active duty he taught intelligence skills for another 20 years for the Air Force Intelligence School at Goodfellow AFB, Texas.  He headed up avocational archeological investigations for the Concho Valley and Iraan Archeological Societies and worked closely with the Texas Archeological Society over the last 15 years.  He completed a book in 2019 on his Butterfield Trail investigations, ‘The Butterfield Trail Through The Concho Valley And West Texas.’  He is currently a member of the West Texas Archeological Society and board member of the Southwest Federation of Archeological Societies.
​C.A. Maedgen, III is a military veteran having served in Viet Nam at Da Nang in the U.S. Air Force in 1970. Prior to military service C.A. graduated from SMU with a degree in Geology and MFA in Communications. After military service C.A. worked in Houston as a licensed Real Estate Broker for 10 years and in the last 30 years C.A. worked for a national chemical manufacturer. C.A. has many hours of avocational archeology at Forts Chadbourne and Concho historic sites, Butterfield Trail station sites, Horse Head Crossing, Lower Pecos Rock Art and archeology sites.  He served for over 10 years as the Region 10 Director of the Texas Archeology Society, 4 years as president of the Concho Valley Archeology Society, and past board member of the Southwest Federation of Archeology Societies.  He is currently an active member of the West Texas Archeology Society and Texas Archeological Society.

The Fort Clark Historical Society (FCHS) has worked closely with SISCA over the few years (nearly a decade) to honor the Scouts who called Fort Clark home during their service. Several markers have been erected thanks to the FCHS's dedication to keeping the Scouts' legacy alive.

This year, we will be having breakfast with the FCHS. They will be providing early birds with a variety of breakfast tacos and other goodies. The breakfast starts at 8:00 AM. It will be held at the Palisado Building on Fort Clark.  

We are so happy and proud to announce that our parade marshal for Seminole Days 2022 is Mr. Joe Louis Factor.
​
He is one of our board members. He is the main caretaker of the Seminole Indian Scouts Cemtery. He is a descendant of Pompey Factor.

Andwho doesn't love a parade?!
We are looking forward to our annual parade this year, as we do every year. 
​Would you like to be in the parade? If so, click the link below to access our parade entry form.

​Johnny Montgomery has been painting for most of his life. He has been painting the Gullahs, Seminoles, and Black Seminoles for more than 50 years. He calls his work "cultural art." He is, also, a student of the history of his subjects, having studied for as long as he's been painting them. 

His most recent exhibit was at the Seminole Nation Museum in Wewoka, Oklahoma.

Mr. Montgomery is a Vietnam veteran. He was was a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division. He lives in Charleston, South Carolina.

Lovie is a Nigerian/Seminole/British/Ashkenazi-Jewish filmmaker, who raised an Army brat. He played professional basketball overseas. He developed a unique flavor for storytelling. Lovie first directed music videos, socially conscious/hip reality shows, and helped develop PSAs for non-profit programs for the homeless youth in the Southeast.

Lovie's experience as an actor in the stage productions Amistad and For Black Boys along with films such as "Fright Night", "Debt to Society", "UTU", and "The Sounds of War..." contribute to his ability to bring the character to life.

Lovie is producing the feature films "Supernal Darkness", a psychological action/thriller, and "Sidewalk Baby" an urban/hip hop bi-opic. Current projects in active development are a paranormal/sci-fi action-thriller called "The Blackest Yellow...", a black western called "The SINS".

Next on the film slate is a paranormal/action short called "Your 24..." which is Produced, Written, & Directed by Lovie. He will also be co-starring in Greg Hatanaka's upcoming horror/thriller "Amityville Cop" (October 2021) and Benny Tjandra's newest action-epic "Prey Of Wrath" which is due out in 2022.

Lovie is committed to create social awareness and positive change through film and television around the areas of child abuse awareness and child sex trafficking plus social-change topics.

Lovie's training and life experience combine to provide him a unique lens through which he views life. It is this lens which he applies to the discipline of storytelling as a Filmmaker/Actor/Writer/Director...
​

if you have a loved who has passed away within the past three years (2019 - 2022), please let us know so that we can honor them during our ceremony.

​

We want to take a to say "thank you" to everyone who has helped us prepare for Seminole Days. We simply could not have planned for this event without your help. This year is the first year we have been able to gather fully and in-person since 2019. We do not take this for granted at all. One million thank yous!

Happy New Year, everyone! We are so excited about 2020! It is a big year for us, and we can't wait to tell you all about what we are planning. This year commemorates 150 years since the founding of the Seminole-Negro Indian Scouts. We are planning to do a lot this year. Keep reading to find out.

In this newsletter, along with letting you know about our plans, we also want to let you know what has happened since our last newsletter. We will begin with a Seminole Days recap. From there, we will let you know about a special plaque that was given to a special person. You'll also read about and see several pictures from our Thanksgiving get-together and the 151st celebration of Cactus Jack's birthday at the Briscoe-Garner Museum in Uvalde, Texas. In late November, two beautiful souls passed away. In December, they were buried at the Seminole Indian Scouts Cemetery. You'll learn about them and see a touching photo that was taken following their burials. Also in December, a beautiful celebration of song took place in Nacimiento. Finally, we will discuss ways that you can become more involved with SISCA. Are you interested in sharing family photos? Are you interested in learning Afro-Seminole Creole? Would you like to share information about a Seminole-Negro Indian Scout? If so, find out how you can contribute and learn.

Seminole Days took place between Friday, September 20 and Sunday, September 22, 2019. Our annual celebration was packed with several events that were both fun and educational. 

On Friday morning, Seminole Days kicked off with our annual trip to Seminole Canyon. Each year, this trip becomes more sacred as hikers are taken on a tour that retraces the steps our Seminole Negro Indian Scouts ancestors trekked. That Friday evening, Dr. Anthony Dixon, author of Florida's Negro War, enlightened the audience about the wars fought by the Black Seminoles in Florida. His lecture was riveting and powerful. 

On Saturday, the majority of our Seminole Days events took place. Saturday morning, a group gathered in a beautifully shaded area in Fort Clark for the Robert "Bobby" Kibbetts' marker dedication. Following the dedication, our annual parade took place. Mr. Frank Arredondo was our parade marshal. After the parade, we gathered at the Carver School grounds. Dr. Rosalyn Howard, author of Black Seminoles in the Bahamas, spoke during our annual program. This was her second time speaking during Seminole Days. Her lectures are always beautifully insightful and personal. Later that afternoon, the elders' circle took place. Linguist Dr. Ian Hancock began the presentation with a short speech. This year, we began having an annual meeting. During the meeting, Mr. Warrior encouraged other members to donate, at least, $5 a month (more about this at the bottom of the newsletter). That evening, we enjoyed our annual pasta dinner, which was prepared by Dr. Al Nofi, and our annual dance. 

On Sunday, we gathered at the cemetery for our annual ceremony. Following the ceremony, we gathered back at the Carver School and had a pot luck before saying our goodbyes.

We wanted to show our appreciation for Joe Louis Factor, one of our board members. He has taken on the care and maintenance of the cemetery, often going out there every day to clean and observe its condition.

The Miss Charles Award was presented to Mr. Joe Louis on September 26. This award is for those who embody the dedication and generosity that Miss Charles was known for. We truly appreciate Mr. Joe Louis's attention and dedication to SISCA and the cemetery.

​The plaque reads: Thank you for giving your time, talent, and expertise to SISCA. You have made a difference through your dedication and hard work.

​(Photos courtesy Corina Torralba Harrington)
​

On November 19, several members gathered to enjoy an early Thanksgiving meal. We dined surrounded by Christmas decorations as festive music played softly in the background. 
​(Photos courtesy Corina Torralba Harrington)

On November 23, several SISCA members traveled to Uvalde, Texas, to celebrate the 151st birthday of John Nance Garner, also known as Cactus Jack. He was the 32nd vice president, serving alongside Franklin D. Roosevelt. 

SISCA's table displayed several photos and pieces of memorabilia that detailed the history of the Seminole Negro Indian Scouts and their descendants. Our table was set up beside Allen Mack, who is our favorite Living Historian/Buffalo Soldier reenactor. 
​
(Photos courtesy Corina Torralba Harrington)
​

Rose Mary Haywood Scott was born on March 3, 1926 in Del Rio, Texas. She passed away on November 24, 2019 in San Angelo, Texas. She was buried at the Seminole Indian Scouts Cemetery on December 7, 2019. Memorial services were also held in San Angelo, Texas and Los Angeles, California.

A Celebration of the life of Paul Glenn Ward
Sunrise May 4, 1949 ~ Sunset November 27, 2019
Viewing 4-7PM Friday, December 6, 2019 Sunset Memorial Oaks Funeral Home
2020 N Bedell Ave, Del Rio, TX 78840 (830) 778-2020
Funeral Services 11AM Saturday, December 7, 2019 at Brackettville Sunset Funeral Home
302 Spring Street Brackettville, Texas 78832
Internment at the
Seminole Indian Scout Cemetery
With presentation of USA Military Honors
Repast immediately following at The Seminole Indian Scout School and School Grounds

Obituary of Paul Glenn Ward

On May 4, 1949, in Del Rio, TX Paul Glen Ward was born to the proud parents of Willie and Mary Ward. Paul’s sister was born two years later. The family moved to Brackettville where they stayed until Paul’s father completed his sixth year of military service. Now residing in Ozona, TX, Paul started first grade and was baptized in 1955 at Saint Mary Magdalene Catholic Church. His Godparents were John Joe Nunley and Hazel Washington. Under recommendation from Uncle Pete Pierce and Auntie Annie Mae Pierce, Paul’s Father relocated the family to Los Angeles, California.

Paul attended Saint Odilia’s Catholic School, made his first holy communion and later the sacrament of confirmation. Although Willie Ward bought a home for his family in San Dimas, California, Paul and his sister spent summers between two sets of Grandparents in Ozona and Del Rio, Texas. Paul enjoyed spending time with his Grandpa Billie Ward, foreman of the Ralph Jones Ranch, riding horses and roping, branding, feeding, cleaning, and handling cattle. Papa Billy believed that hard work would help young Paul prepare for manhood. For three to four weeks, leaving at five a.m. on Monday morning for the ranch, they did not return to home until mid-day on Saturday. Paul learned to swim in the community pool. Going to the double-feature movies and having fun with the kids in the neighborhood were favorite pastimes. As he attended Damien High School, Paul became an outstanding athlete, receiving, for three years, the most valuable player award in track and varsity football. He also excelled in science.

At seventeen years of age, Paul joined the United States Army doing basic training at “Fort Ord” in Northern California. He traveled to and lived in several countries during his years in the military and completed three tours of duty in Vietnam between 1966 and 1976. In the field of battle, Paul relayed phone messages with orders to drop Napalm, Agent Orange and bombs. His special duties included going through underground tunnels to dismantle Vietcong strongholds; and to locate and destroy stockpiles of weapons or supplies. He was wounded in battle and spent time in Germany healing. In addition to an honorable discharge, Paul received the following Army decorations: National Defense Service Medal; Army Commendation Medal; Vietnam Service Medal; Vietnam Campaign Medal w/60 Dev: Vietnam Gallantry Cross w/palm; Expert Badge (M-14 Rifle); Marksman Badge (16 Rifle). When the war was over, like many veterans, Paul had a very difficult time adjusting while lamenting the thousands who died.

Paul met his smart and beautiful wife Specialist 4 Paula Jones (General Westmoreland’s secretary) in General Westmoreland’s Office. He had come to Fort Eustis, a US Army installation in Newport News, Virginia, to receive an award for being wounded in Vietnam. It must have been love at first sight. Paul and Paula were later married, and their first son Kenneth Eugene Ward was born Sept. 29, 1976. Their second son, Erin Antonio Ward was born Oct. 2, 1978 in Trenton New, Jersey.

Best memories Paul shared: reuniting in San Dimas for a wonderful vacation with his 10 and 12 year old sons; Celebrating his Paul’s 65th birthday with his best friend Dora Factor, her daughter and many more - hosted by his cousin Billy Joe and his loving wife Marian; Paul’s first visit to Alamo Village with his sister- they had a great time before the movie set was closed for good; Paul’s enjoyed working, cooking and eating at the Sirloin Stockade Restaurant;. and the best memory will always coming together on Seminole Indian Scouts Celebration Days the third weekend in September in Bracketville, Texas.

Paul was blessed with 70 years, he departed Nov. 27, 2019, the day before Thanksgiving. Preceding Paul in death were his wife Paula Ward; his parents, Mary and Willie Ward; his Grandparents: [Nancy Wilson-Williams, Clifton Williams, John Wilson, Gertrude and Billie Ward}; his friend & companion Dora Factor; cousins, Billy Joe Pierce, Debbie Pierce, Dorothy Nell Best and Alford Best; Aunt Hazel Washington and Uncle Earl Wilson.
Paul leaves to cherish his memory, his two sons: Kenneth Ward (Farada), Erin Antonio Ward (Kimberli); Billie Jean Frierson (sister), David Frierson (brother-in-law),Pete Pierce (uncle), Juanita Montague (aunt); grandchildren: Farah Lee Ward, Soraya Ward, Michael Ward, and Katherine Ward; nephews and nieces: Rashad Frierson, Spencer Chenier and Gregory Chenier, Chante Frierson, Sheri Frierson Chenier, Cassandra Frierson, Sadie Frierson, and Saia Frierson; cousins: Marian Pierce, Ethyl Warrior, Rodessa Jones, Cynthia Shaw, Linda Wytch, Louise Thompson, Terry Shaw and Extended families:: Keshia Factor, Warrior’s, Wilson’s, Gill’s, Taylor’s, Washington’s, Montague’s, Payne’s, Hall’s, Grayson’s, July’s, William’s, Bowleg’s, Hatley’s, Daniels, Perryman’s, Roach’s, Wytch’s, Blank’s, Young’s, Benson’s and of course the Ward’s.

Active Pallbearers
Clint Williams, James Bass, Earnest Benson,
Herbert Blanks, Clyde Adams, Bernie Sanders,
Honorary Pallbearers
Kenneth Ward, David Frierson, Pete Pierce, William Warrior, Brother Jackson,
Rashad Frierson, Russel Coleman, Patrick Montague, Erin Antonio Ward,
Michael Ward, David Montague, John Wytch, Denise Benson, Terry Shaw,
Tommie Wytch, Joe Wytch, Michael Montague, Luther and Clarence Ward

Acknowledgement
The Ward and Frierson Families express our sincere thanks for your many sincere expressions of love through our time of bereavement.
Your cards, flowers, visits and above all your prayers have been of great comfort. It’s during a time like this that we realize how much our family and friends mean to us.
Your kindness will be acknowledged by mail please complete the envelope.

Miss Me–But Let Me Go by Christina Rossetti

When I come to the end of the road And the sun has set for me
I want no rites in a gloom-filled room. Why cry for a soul set free?
Miss me a little–but not too long And not with your head bowed low.
Remember the love that we once shared, Miss me–but let me go.
For this is a journey that we all must take And each must go alone.
It's all a part of the Master's plan, A step on the road to home.
When you are lonely and sick of heart Go to the friends we know
And bury your sorrows in doing good deeds. Miss Me–But Let me Go!

​Internment at the
Seminole Indian Scout Cemetery
With presentation of USA Military Honors
Repast immediately following at The Seminole Indian Scout School and School Grounds

Following the burials of Mrs. Scott and Mr. Ward, their families gathered at the Carver School for the repast.
​

On December 26, our treasurer, Corina Torralba Harrington, and two of our board members, Jerry Fay and Dina Rodriguez, attended an event called Cantando la Historia in Nacimiento. This very special event showcased the songs of the Negros Mascogos. Many of them were Negro Spirituals which were sung in English, even though Spanish is the only language many of the Negros Mascogos speak. Their teacher Jordy Barrera is responsible for organizing this event. He has been working very hard to teach the songs to the children and make sure they understand the meanings of the songs. Two highlights were "(It's a) Very Happy New Year" and "This Little Light of Mine."

SISCA will be selling the program from this event. More details will follow shortly.
​
​(Photos courtesy Corina Torralba Harrington)

(FYI: There is some great video of the children singing. Unfortunately, I was having a hard time uploading the videos onto the site. Please check out our Facebook to see the videos.)
​

We love that you all have liked and followed our Facebook and Twitter pages, but sometimes, it feels like we're having a very one-sided conversation. 

We are looking for ways to change that. One idea is to open our feed up to you, so we can show the beauty and diversity of the Seminole Negro Indian Scouts descendants and the greater Black Seminoles/Negroes Mascogos community.

Does this sound like a great idea? Would you like to participate?

If so, all you hae to do is upload a picture to our Facebook messenger or any of our other socail media accounts (Instagram and Twitter), or you can email us at seminolecemeteryassoc@gmail.com

The photo(s) belongs to you and will only be uploaded with your permission. If they aren't watermarked or copyrighted, we will add that for you.

What kind of photos are we looking for?

Any and everything that shows you and your loved ones living and enjoyoing life. They canbe in color or in black and white. They can be from 100 years ago or from yesterday. We just want to see you and your loved ones/ We hope this will include parties/dances, marriages, (embarrassing) school photos, graduations, and lots and lots of candid shots.

Along with the photo, we'd like you to share a little bit of information about it, like who's in it, when it was taken, and/if there is an interesting story that goes along with it.

Our goal is to upload, at least, one photo a day. We are so excited and can't wait to see what you guys send in.

​Please let us know if you have any questions. Thank you!

 

Afro-Seminole Creole is the language spoken by Black Seminoles and their descendants. Unfortunately, for many reasons, it was not passed down to subsequent generations and is in danger of being completely forgotten as more of our elders pass away. 

We want to change that.

This year, we want to focus on revitalizing our language. We are still working on ways to learn it, but we want to start by introducing an Afro-Seminole Creole Word of the Day. Thanks to the work of renowned linguist Dr. Ian Hancock, we have a dictionary that we can work from. The dictionary will be available for sale shortly. Check out the website, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter each day to learn a new word.
​

 This year, 2020, is the 150th year of the founding of the Seminole Negro Indian Scouts. The first group of Seminole Negro Indian Scouts crossed the border into Texas on July 4, 1870. They were mustered into service for the U.S. Army on August 18, 1870 at Fort Duncan, in Eagle Pass, Texas. We are looking forward to spending the year celebrating this important milestone in the history of the Seminole Negro Indian Scouts.
​

Our next regular meeting will take place on Saturday, January 11, 2020 at 1:00 PM. If you would like to participate via teleconference, please contact us for the call-in information.
​

One of our members, Mr. Clarence Warrior, was moved during our annual meeting after learning that, many times, we pool our personal resources to meet our financial goals. Below is his suggestion for improving this situation and getting others involved:

In 2020, SISCA would like to raise $2000 to help with maintaining and improving the cemetery and school grounds. Currently, the membership dues collected are being used for this work, but more money is needed. A descendant has suggested that members be invited to donate $5 a month (or $60 for the year) to help with expenses. If 33 members can make an annual donation of $60.00 for the 2020 year, we will easily reach our goal of $2,000. Donations can be submitted through the SISCA website or by check (sent to SISCA). Thanks for helping!

Clarence Warrior
Descendant of Carolina Warrior

Twenty-nineteen was a big year for SISCA. It couldn't not have been without the  support of so many of you. We are forever in your debt, and we are dedicated to making 2020 an even bigger year.

Our next monthly meeting will take place on Saturday, June 8, at 1:00 PM at the Carver School. We are looking forward to seeing you there.

​

On October 5, 2018, the votes were tallied by the Kinney County Judge's secretary Yvette Garcia. Of the 41 votes that were received before the September 28 deadline, all the votes were unanimous for SISCA's proposal, which was to return the entrance to its original design. Of the 14 votes received after the deadline, 13 voted for the original entrance as well. SISCA informed the Conoly family and Lee Young about the results via email on October 5.

 On November 12, 2018, SISCA was cc'd on a letter that David Conoly wrote to Lee Young stating that the Conoly family feels that SISCA has fulfilled our side of the agreement made on June 4 and that the community has spoken with a vote that clearly indicates that most active SISCA members are in favor of the entrance being returned to its original design.

On November 13, 2018, Lee Young responded to David Conoly's letter. In this letter, he accepts the outcome of the vote and agrees to restore the entrance to its former appearance. In addition, he states that the Absentee Seminole Tribe had discontinue its plans regarding further improvements and modifications to the cemetery. He also mentions that the article in the ASTT's constitution which stated their jurisdiction was the Carver School Grounds and the Seminole Indian Scouts Cemetery was removed on September 14, 2018.

Currently, the ASTT has removed the rock from the poles but has not yet reattached the gate or addressed the issue of the cement pad the rocks were on, which sticks up above ground level and is dangerous. SISCA is looking forward to the completion of the restoration so that we can begin our own plans to renovate the entrance by cleaning and painting and giving it some TLC.

December proved to be a very fun and productive month for SISCA. We had a very special meeting on December 1st.

This meeting served as our Thanksgiving/Christmas celebration. Several members arrived with special dishes they had prepared, and many were delighted by the Christmas tree and decorations that greeted them. (Special thank you to Mary and Al Nofi for decorating the school.)

And a few days later, we had the opportunity to visit with a curator from the Smithsonian and a writer who is completing her book about John Horse.
​

Photo Courtesy of Sarah Nicole Johnson.

Photo courtesy of Corina Torralba Harrington.

Photo courtesy of Sarah Nicole Johnson.

Photo courtesy of Corina Torralba Harrington.

Photo courtesy of Kato Wittich.

Our annual dance was held inside the Carver School this year. The normal location was changed because of the rain. Nonetheless, as was the theme for the whole weekend, regardless of the weather, everyone had a great time.

Paulina Rocío del Moral González was born in Torreón, Coahuila, in Northeast México. She received a bachelor’s degree in Social Communication at Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Xochimilco (1986) in México City. Years later, she received a Master’s Degree in Social Anthropology (2006) at Centro de Investigaciones y Estudios Superiores en Antropología Social, in Chihuahua City, with a dissertation on the mestizo pilgrimage to Señor de Mapimí Sanctuary in Cuencamé, Durango. In 2013, she wrote a thesis on ethno-meteorology and a regional ritual system in North Central México to achieve her Ph.D. in Anthropological Sciences (2013) at Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa, in México City.
 
Part of her life has been dedicated to independent research, alongside editorial works, advising to non-governmental organizations, and freelancing. In the summer of 1991, she visited the Mascogo community of El Nacimiento, Coahuila for the first time and started a modest cultural fieldwork in 1992, which culminated in the publication of the book Tribus olvidadas de Coahuila (Forgotten Tribes of Coahuila, 1999), the first monography on the black Seminole of Coahuila and Texas. It was edited in México. She is also co-author of Recetario Mascogo de Coahuila (Mascogo Cookbook, 2000, reprinted 2004 and 2014).

In 2014 and 2015, with the support of Conacyt (The National Council of Science and Technology in México), she did research about body, ethnicity, and ritual in the communities of El Nacimiento and Cuarterones y Morelos, both in the Múzquiz municipality, Coahuila.

Presently, Dr. Del Moral is working as a coordinator of traditional cooking and morteros workshops as part of the Colectivo Comunitario Mascogo, an initiative sponsored by Mexico’s federal Ministry of Culture for revitalization of Mascogo’s cultural heritage.

Invited by SISCA, Dr. del Moral will offer the conference “Bride Theft among the Coahuila Mascogos” for Seminole Days, edition 2018, afternoon session at Carver School, Saturday September 15, in Brackettville, Texas.
 

SISCA objects strongly to any construction on the site of the Seminole Indian Scout Cemetery without the approval of its officers and membership. The historic sign and entry are the property of SISCA, and the ASTT has no standing to remove or alter them. We would be within our rights to countersue Mr. Young and the ASTT for their actions in undertaking these changes, which already include extensive defacement of the property, including the removal of the cemetery gates and the partial erection of stones around the pipes. We have chosen not to do so at the moment.

Fortunately, on Monday, June 4, 2018, Mr. Stan Conoly, one of the brothers who owns the land on which the cemetery is built, was able to negotiate a cessation of the activities at the cemetery just in time to preserve the original sign and gate before they were more seriously damaged. The Conoly family has now sent a letter to SISCA and to the ASTT in which they state that SISCA is the custodian of the cemetery and that any alterations to the cemetery should be agreed upon by the entire community.

SISCA is the only organization that represents the entire community of descendants of the Seminole Negro Indian Scouts. Mr. Young's proposed Absentee Seminole Tribe of Texas only represents those descendants who are able and willing to send their family’s paperwork to him.

Historically SISCA members have been vetted through oral history and the fact that, as a democratic, informal, local organization, everyone knows everyone, so it is easy for SISCA to figure out if someone is a descendant without extensive paperwork. SISCA has been figuring out who should be buried in the cemetery since 1967 through oral history, and members come from every family of descendants, some of whom are unable to produce paperwork, for a variety of reasons, among them because some of their ancestors were born in Mexico, and most notably because Texas did not institute statewide registration of births until 1903.[1] SISCA is the only organization that represents the voice of all Scouts descendants in decisions about the cemetery in which their ancestors are buried.

Mr. Young’s proposed plans to alter the cemetery would change the nature of the cemetery, and it is essential that the entire community be given a voice as to what changes may be made.

It is important to note that on April 4, 2017, Mr. Young began a GoFundMe campaign “to renovate the historic Seminole Indian Scouts Cemetery entrance”.[2] As of June 13, 2018, the campaign is still active, and his goal is currently listed at $12,000. According to the site at the time of this letter, he has received $4,485, which is 37.4% of his goal. When asked why he decided to begin his project at this time, he stated that he had reached his goal. In reaching said goal, Mr. Young has stated publicly that he has raised $5,000[3], but nowhere near the $12,000 listed on his GoFundMe page. On his GoFundMe page, Mr. Young shared an initial sketch that showed, not just the entrance being renovated, but the entire fence line being completely changed. Because he hasn’t raised the $12,000, it seems that he is not even doing the project he initially set out to do. It would appear that, because he did not reach his goal, but because he seems to have set a self-imposed deadline, he has scaled back his initial plans, going from changing the fence line and the entrance to just focusing on the entrance. On June 4, 2018, when we asked Mr. Young to provide a drawing or blueprint of his plans, he was unable to provide them. This concerned us.


[3] https://www.gofundme.com/seminole-indian-scouts-cemetery, accessed June 12, 2018

[2] Rubén Cantú, “‘Civil War’ rattles Brackettville’s historic cemetery,” Del Rio News Herald, June 6, 2018.

[1] https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/How_to_Find_Texas_Birth_Records, accessed June 12, 2018

​

                             Seminole Days Celebration 2017
                                         Friday, September 15 – Sunday, September 17, 2017
​
Friday, September 15, 2017:

• 7:30 AM – Trip to Seminole Canyon (The group will meet at the Carver School.)
• 6:00 – 8:00 PM – Lecture Series – Allen Mack, The Living History Foundation and Dr. Shirley Mock will give a short presentation about her research on Black Seminole women

Saturday, September 16, 2017:

• 8:30 AM – Robert “Bobby” Kibbetts Marker Dedication – Fort Clark Springs (This event might be canceled. Please check our website and Facebook page for more information.)
• 10:00 AM – Parade (Participants line up at Brackett ISD at 9:30 AM/ends at Carver School)
• 11:00 AM – Annual Program - Guest speak: Pastor Y.J. Jimenez
• 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM BBQ Plate Sale
• 1:00 PM – Joseph Hill’s The Black Border Warriors: The Seminole Negro Indian Scout – Brackett ISD Auditorium
• 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM Bingo
• 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM Spaghetti Supper
• 8:00 PM – 1:00 AM – Dance

Throughout the entire day, there will be vendors and booths, museum tours, a silent auction, and movies being shown at the Carver School Grounds.
Sunday, September 17, 2017:

• 10:00 PM – Service at the Seminole Indian Scouts Cemetery
• Following the service - Special meeting at the Carver School

Is it time to renew your membership? Our website makes it easy. Just click the button below to become a new member or to renew your membership. Or you can send us your check by mail, if you prefer. Your membership is very important to us.