Vernon Dahmer, a Civil Rights activist from Forrest County, was murdered by the Ku Klux Klan in 1966. His house was firebombed for trying to register people to vote. His wife and children narrowly escaped to safety.
For the sacrifices he made to help all people, the Forrest County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Monday to memorialize Dahmer with a monument on the lawn of the Circuit Courthouse. On hand for the meeting were Dahmer’s widow, Ellie Dahmer, the Rev. Arthur Siggers, the Rev. Reginald Woullard, former District Attorney Lindsey Carter and assistant DA Robert “Bob” Helfrich.
Board President David Hogan made the motion to begin the process of setting up a committee to design a memorial, which was seconded by District 4’s Rod Woullard.
“Most recently, the federal government has built the African American Museum in Washington D.C., our state government has built a Civil Rights Museum in Jackson,” said Hogan. “ We have a Civil Rights icon that paid the ultimate price right here in Forrest County, so the board feels like it’s time for us to memorialize Mr. Dahmer’s life. wWe believe it’s past time and we’re sorry for what the family has had to endure through the years. The vote today is a vote in that direction, to begin the planning process, establish a committee and work together to help with the design.”
In 1998, District Attorney Lindsey Carter and Assistant District Attorney Robert “Bob” Helfrich prosecuted Sam Bowers, the Imperial Wizard of the KKK, orchestrated the attack on the Dahmer family.
“I happened to be in the DA office during that time and am proud to have been part of the successful prosecution of him,” said Hogan.
Hogan’s motion included tha XXX of $20,000 out of his district recreation fund to begin the development and design processes. He said early estimates for the memorial are approximately $50,000.
“We may consider taking donations or selling bricks along the way,” he said. “We may solicit for private donations when the time comes.”
Hogan said the thought is to put some sort of pedestal with a bronze likeness of Dahmer on top of the pedestal with the possibility of some benches around it and a brick patio-type area. “It might be a place we could sell some bricks.” he said. The memorial would be placed on the lawn in front of the district attorney’s office.
“We are very grateful for Mr. Dahmer’s efforts back in the 60s and the board unanimously agreed it was fitting and proper to do something to memorialize his life and I’m glad we did. I have spoken with the Dahmer family and they are supportive of this and want to have a part in it.”
District 2 Supervisor Charles Marshall felt it would be a good idea to put a committee together to work on the design and the wording on the plaque, and to have the Dahmer family represented on that committee.
Ellie Dahmer thanked the board. “Thank you for the recognition you are giving my husband,” she said. “Vernon Dahmer was a Christian man. If I’ve ever seen Christianity put into practice, Vernon Dahmer and Clyde Kennard were the two I saw put it into practice. They didn’t see color, they only saw people and were concerned about everybody. And if they needed them, they were there to help them. Thank you.”
Woullard, who seconded Hogan’s motion, noted that “more than anybody on this board, I’ve probably disagree or have disagreed with our president and made it known to him on different issues, but on this issue, Mr. President, I want to stand with you and commend you, because this is something you came up with and nobody else pushed you into doing it,” he said. “I appreciate it and will never ever forget it.
Sue Polk, a Forrest County election commissioner, worked with Ellie Dahmer for several years on election committees. “She was a second momma to me,” Polk said. “I looked up to her as my mentor and still look up to her.”
Marshall noted that the Dahmer incident occurred while he was overseas. “One of the things that really hurt me and is a sticker in my heart, is I was in the service volunteering in the Navy and the final Dahmer family member was in the service and we were overseas trying to protect our country,” he said. “It was devastating. It’s sad that we can go overseas and help establish a Democratic government, but not protect our own. This sticks in my heart something awful. I would like to see a committee established.”
Marshall asked interested parties to contact County Administrator Betty Carlisle.
Dahmer said she and Hogan had talked several times about the memorial. “I think it’s wonderful,” she said. “Vernon Dahmer did a lot for this community. Not only did he work for the black people but he worked for the white people.”
She hopes the memorial will help other people remember her husband and his sacrifices. “We can never forget him, not even at night,” she said. “It’s a night we can never erase from our minds. I’d like to see a statue of him for the young people to see, other people growing up other than our family. Our family already knows about him, it’s engrained in their heart and our grandchildren know about him. We’ve had support all along and are glad of that continued support.”
Once erected, Dahmer hopes “people will look at the memorial and realize what happened to us and hope it never happens to anyone else, no matter what color they are. Nobody deserves to go through what we went through.”
Dahmer, who said she felt like a person who had lost a lot,
hopes the memorial will serve as a teaching moment. “Along with the Civil Rights Gallery in Jackson, there’s a lot of people who didn’t realize the struggle we put up. Remember, he never had a chance to vote. His card came in the mail after we’d buried him.”
Bettie, Vernon F. Dahmer Jr., Dennis Dahmer, Bettie Dahmer
