Daring pilot Bessie Coleman flew into hearts of Orlandoans in ’20s
On May 3,1926, Orlando’s Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Institutional Church was the scene of one of the largest funerals in its history. Founded in 1880, Mount Zion was Orlando’s oldest African American church, and mourners included prominent residents such as educator Moses Crooms, who was a pallbearer.
The subject of mourning was a daughter of Chicago who had found a place in the hearts of Orlandoans — Bessie Coleman, the daring pilot and inspiration to youth who had died in an air accident over Jacksonville.
In times when most Black women were limited to jobs such as maids or manicurists, she had gained a coveted international pilot’s license in 1921, and Dr. J.A. Finlayson’s eloquent review of her life during the service had held his audience spellbound, the Orlando Sentinel reported.
Now, we have a fresh opportunity to learn more about Coleman from her great-niece Gigi Coleman, in an online program on March 8 presented by the Orange County Library System.
Undaunted by prejudice
Born Jan. 26, 1892, in Texas, Coleman moved in 1915 to Chicago. When her brothers returned to the Windy City from World War I, they described a lack of prejudice in France and also told tales of wartime aviation. Coleman’s mind was made up: She would learn to fly.
Undaunted after U.S. flight schools turned her down, she traveled to France to get her license, and on her return became a flier and lectured, determined to combat discrimination.
During a Florida speaking tour, Coleman met the Rev. H.K. Hill of Orlando’s Mount Zion and his wife, Viola Tillinghast Hill, a respected community activist. She became close to the Orlando couple and stayed with them at the Mount Zion parsonage.
“For Bessie, the spacious house on shady, tree-lined Washington Street became the center of her life, the idyllic home she had never had,” Doris L. Rich writes in her biography, “Queen Bess: Daredevil Aviator.” The Hills encouraged her to open a beauty shop to earn money to buy her own plane.
Coleman had lost her first airplane during a crash, and she was buying a used Curtiss JN-4, or “Jenny,” from a Texas company in installments.
Edwin Beeman, a wealthy white Orlandoan whose family had made its money in chewing gum and who was fascinated by aviation, gave Coleman the money for the final installment, historian Jim Clark notes in his book “Orlando: A Brief History.”
With her plane paid for and on the way from Texas — flown by white mechanic William D. Wills — Coleman headed to Jacksonville for an exhibition. During a rehearsal on April 30, the plane spun out of control. Coleman was flung to her death; Wills died in the crash.
Thousands of mourners attended services for Coleman in Jacksonville, including schoolchildren who had heard her speak only the day before she was killed. Then her body was put on the train to Orlando.
After the May 3 service, mourners crowded the Orlando train station to say goodbye. Hundreds of Black Orlandoans sang the melody of ‘My Country, ‘Tis of Thee.’ “
More than 15,000 people paid their respects in Florida and Chicago to the woman who is credited with inspiring other African-American fliers.
To learn more
On Monday, March 8, at 6:30 p.m., the Orange County Library System presents “An Evening with Gigi Coleman,” an online program about the life and legacy of Bessie Coleman, presented by her great-niece. To register, go to the “Calendar and Events” section at www.ocls.info.
Next week, at 2 p.m. on Feb. 28, OCLS takes its annual African American Read-In online with a program featuring novelist Beverly Jenkins and Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden, as well as readings by Central Florida luminaries.
‘Down the Rabbit Hole’: Take a trip with Alice of Wonderland fame in this experience from Creative City Project. Guests will meet a character from Lewis Carroll’s book and embark on a walking tour through Mead Botanical Garden, past scenes from the story, with its famous characters. The outdoor adventure is designed to ensure social distancing and safety amid the pandemic, and visitors age 5 and older will be required to wear masks. To ensure the safety of guests, timed entry is 5:30-8:30 p.m. in limited groups of 10-15. Wednesday-Sunday through March 14, Mead Botanical Garden, 1300 S. Denning Drive, Winter Park, $22-$25, creativecityproject.com.
Kite Day: Make a free kite and fly it. Sponsored by the Avalon Park Foundation. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. March 6, Avalon Park, 3625 Avalon Park West Blvd., Orlando, free, 407-2081455 or email russmozier@ yahoo.com.
Orlando Boat Show:
Sponsored by the Marine Industry Association of Central Florida. Exhibitors, shows, demonstrations, seminars and speakers. Social distancing and masks required. 10 a.m.-8 p.m. March 5-6, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. March 7, Orange County Convention Center, West Building C, B4 and B3, 9800
International Drive, Orlando, $9 for adults, free for ages 12 or younger, 407-685-9800, orlandoboatshow.com.
14th Annual Women United Luncheon:
Presented by Heart of Florida United Way, this is a virtual event on Remo platform. The keynote speaker will be Lisa Nichols, founder and CEO of Motivating the Masses Inc. 10:45 a.m. virtual networking; 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. virtual program March 4, $55-$75, hfuw.org, 407-835-0900.
Virtual Family Day:
Celebrate the love of art and enjoy quality fun at home inspired by Black History Month and American Heart Month. View family-friendly videos of art activities, music, storytellers, and dancers. Videos available through Feb. 28. Create art projects with simple materials at home or with a free art kit, available for pickup on a first-come, first-served basis until they run out. Free, but reservations are required. Orlando Museum of Art, 2416 N. Mills Ave., Orlando, 407-896-4231.
Central Florida Sounds of Freedom Band and Color Guard concert: The third annual benefit concert will benefit the Orlando Youth Alliance. The concert will be an open-air event. There will be socially distanced open air seating, as well as masks, hand sanitizer and other safety protocols. All audience members will be expected to comply with protocols. All proceeds collected will be donated to The Orlando Youth Alliance. March 13, Walt Disney Amphitheater at Lake Eola, 99 N. Rosalind Ave., Orlando, free, donations accepted, cfsof.com.
Orange County Retired Educators Association:
The program will be “Mosaic
of Cultures - Culture of African Women” presented by Fairolyn Livingston, Chief Historian at Hannibal Square Heritage Center. Anyone who has worked in education is invited. 10:30 a.m. March 4. To receive an invitation to this digital Zoom meeting, email ocrea2018@gmail.com or call 407-843-6909.
PASOS (Parents and Spouses of Suicide) Grief Support Group:
A program of the nonprofit First Nature Foundation, offers a virtual Zoom meeting twice monthly (for safety during the pandemic), the first and third Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. The group is facilitated and supported by a Licensed Mental Health Counselor with grief counseling experience. If you are interested in participating as a parent or spouse of suicide, email kerul@ firstnaturefoundation.org. There is no charge to join. Donations are not required but are welcome.
2021 Virtual Garden Festival - Zoom Virtual Presentation:
Join the UF/IFAS Orange County Extension Agents and Master Gardener Volunteers for a daylong learning event. The day includes nine informational and interactive half-hour long presentations covering many topics including landscape design, growing mushrooms, and creating a butterfly puddler. Advanced registration required. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. March 27, $20. Material lists and information will be sent prior to the event. Register at ocextension.eventbrite.com.
African American Read-In:
Celebrate African American literature in poetry, story, and performance through virtual format in conjunction with the 2021 Annual National African American Read-In.
Keynote presentations will be given by Librarian of Congress Dr. Carla Hayden and bestselling author Beverly Jenkins. 2 p.m. Feb. 28. For more information, visit ocls.info/readin or call 407-835-7323.
A Healthy Table - Virtual Cooking School: Join the University of Florida IFAS Extension monthly for a series of interactive cooking experiences. 7:30 p.m. Feb. 23, March 23, April 27, May 25, June 22. $25. Register at bit.ly/ahealthytable or call 407-254-9218.
Free mobile clinic offers checkups for uninsured children:
Register for free checkups for uninsured children ages 17 and younger, where family income is less than or equal to 200% of the federal poverty guidelines. Nemours Children’s Health System is scheduled to visit one of the following community centers for appointments 9 a.m.-1 p.m. each Saturday through mid-March - Hope Community Center in Apopka, Community Hope Center in Kissimmee, Orange County Community Centers and the Florida Department of Health in Sanford. To learn more and to register, call 407-650-7715.
Mosquito Management in the Home Landscape; Zika and Bromeliads — Zoom Virtual Presentation:
Orange County Residential Horticulture Agent Ed Thralls will show how to reduce the mosquito population in the home landscape. A discussion of Zika will be included. Register at ocextension. eventbrite.com and receive hyperlinks to “Mosquitoes Topics at UF” via email. 2-3 p.m. Feb. 23, free.
Virtual History Group:
Presented by The University
Club of Winter Park. Wayne Bowen, UCF professor of history, examines the complicated Black Legend of the Inquisition, encouraging us to consider this organization in comparative religious, political and legal context. To attend the virtual event, email your full name to info@ uclubwp.org. 10 a.m. March 1, free.
Philosophy Group: The group meets to discuss various topics. Bring topics and questions. 10 a.m. March 2, University Club of Winter Park. To attend, email your full name to info@uclubwp. org expressing interest. Free.
Unusual Edible Plants for the Home Vegetable Garden — Zoom Virtual Presentation: Orange County Residential Horticulture Agent Ed Thralls will discuss unusual vegetables that may increase your vegetable garden productivity. Once you register at ocextension. eventbrite.com, you will receive viewing instructions and you “Florida Vegetable Gardening Guide” and “Ethnic Herbs and Greens Crop Production Manual” publications via email. 6-7 p.m. March 4, the first 50 tickets are free, after those are gone there are $3 and $5 tickets.
Organic Methods in the Home Vegetable Garden — Zoom Virtual Presentation:
Orange County Residential Horticulture Agent Ed Thralls will discuss how to grow your own food naturally or organically requires no special tools or special tonics to be successful. Learn about organic gardening including soil building techniques, disease and insect control, use of organic material to improve sandy Florida soil, organic fertilizers, fungicides, insecticides and more. Once you register at ocextension. eventbrite.com, you will receive hyperlinks to “Organic Gardening Topics at UF” via email. 2-3 p.m. March 9. The first 50 tickets are free, after those are gone there are $3 and $5 tickets.
Spring Lawn Tune Up — Zoom Virtual Presentation:
Orange County Residential Horticulture Agent Ed Thralls will discuss how to get the lawn back into shape. Learn the four varieties of southern turfgrasses. Included will be a discussion of pest management and use of insecticides, fertilizers, herbicides and fungicides. Register at ocextension.eventbrite.com and you will receive instructions on viewing the program and you will receive “Selecting a Turfgrass for Florida Lawns,” “Insect Management in your Florida Lawn,” “Homeowner Best Management Practices for the Home Lawn” and “Weed Management for Home Lawns” publications via email. 9-10 a.m. March 13, the first 50 tickets are free, after those are gone there are $3 and $5 tickets.
Guided Garden Tour in-person event:
Orange County Residential Horticulture Agent Tia Silvasy will lead a guided tour of the Exploration Gardens at the Orange County Extension Center. Learn about Florida-Friendly Landscaping, vegetable gardening, and flower species to attract bees, butterflies and other beneficial insects. Register at ocextension.eventbrite.com. 10-11 a.m. March 18, University of Florida IFAS ExtensionOrange County, 6021 S. Conway Road, Orlando, $5 per individual.