Marker commemorating a 1948 slaying missing
MOBILE, Ala. — A historical marker that was erected to commemorate the racist killing of a black man in south Alabama more than 70 years ago is missing.
Relatives of Rayfield Davis tell WPMI-TV that city officials haven’t been able to answer their questions about what happened to the sign acknowledging his slaying, and they want answers.
Davis and a white co-worker, Horace Miller, reportedly got into an argument about race while riding home from work on a bus in 1948, and the dispute continued after they exited the vehicle. Davis was later found beaten to death in a ditch along a roadside.
Miller, 20 at the time, told police Davis angered him by telling him equality was coming for whites and blacks, al.com reported. A grand jury decided against indicting Miller in the beating death.
A roadside marker was erected to acknowledge Davis’ death in 2018, but all that’s left now is the metal post. The post isn’t damaged as though a car hit it, indicating that someone purposely removed the marker.
“I’ve called other officials on the City Council, and nobody knows nothing,” said Linda Kidd, a cousin of Rayfield. “It’s just like it disappeared into the air.”
Mobile police didn’t return a message seeking comment about the marker, and authorities haven’t announced any information about the disappearance.
“It hurt my heart because it’s gone,” Kidd said. “It’s gone, and nobody knows what happened to it.”
A granddaughter of Miller sent a letter that was read at the marker dedication ceremony in which she said the man’s descendants do not share his views on race.