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Jun. 12—SAVANNAH — The Georgia Historical Society recently announced the unveiling of a new historical marker in Chatham County commemorating Bynes-Royall Funeral Home Inc. in Savannah. "The Bynes-Royall Funeral Home has provided funeral services for over 140 years in Savannah," GHS Marker Manager Elyse Butler said. "This new historical marker, along with the Louis B. Toomer: Founder of Carver .
Family means a lot to Frenchye Bynes.
She’s the owner of The Bynes-Royall Funeral Home in Savannah, the oldest continuously Black-owned funeral home in the country, and the oldest continuously Black-owned business in Savannah. Before her, it was her parents’ business, dating back to the 1950s.
The family just found out that Georgia Historical Society will be placing a historical marker outside the family business, after a year of waiting and months of exhaustive research done for the application process an initiative led by Bynes’ daughter, Megan Wilkerson
Wilkerson said her interest in telling her family’s story was borne partly out of a desire to diversify the stories of Black Savannah. Something beyond slavery and old churches she wanted to highlight Black businesses and Black excellence.
Savannah funeral homeâs secret role in the Civil Rights Movement
Savannah funeral homeâs secret role in the Civil Rights Movement By Jessica Savage | January 18, 2021 at 3:36 PM EST - Updated January 18 at 4:39 PM
SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - A woman with family ties to the Savannah Protest Movement reflects on the secret meetings her parents hosted that led to the cityâs desegregation.
The leaders in attendance included Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Back in 1963, Olga Bynes Bland was about 14 years old - and very aware of the inequalities in Savannah.
âI lived under the segregated rules in Savannah. We had the water fountains, you had to ride in the back of the bus, you couldnât go through Forsyth Park. We had to go to separate schools. Everything was separate but it wasnât equal,â she said.