Known as "Bombingham" for the 50 racially motivated bombings that took place there between 1945 and 1962, Birmingham, Alabama remained completely segregated in the early 1960s and was a prime focus of the civil rights movement. Now he spoke quietly to a crowd of 8,000 at a joint funeral for three of the bomb victims. Verify and try again. A project of the Southern Poverty Law Center1991-2023. To this day, the location of Addie Mae's body remains a mystery. She married James Bartlett Stuart on 23 June 1905, in Grayson, Texas . And this isn't just an old story from Victorian times. This photo shows President Kennedy's visit to Redstone Arsenal on Sept. 11, 1962. On the morning of Sunday, September 15, 1963, 14-year-old Collins was in the church basement room with a group of other children. I'm shot," he told his brother James with his dying breath. Members of the Ku Klux Klan planted a box of dynamite at the church, which was a major organizing center for the black community and civil rights protests. When Addie Mae Collins was born on 31 October 1884, in Texas, United States, her father, Robert Clay Collins, was 39 and her mother, Martha Ann Kennedy, was 22. Four girlsAddie Mae Collins (age 14, born April 18, 1949), Carol Denise McNair (age 11, born November 17, 1951), Carole Rosamond Robertson (age 14, born April 24, 1949), and Cynthia Dionne Wesley (age 14, born April 30, 1949)were killed in the attack. The 16th Street Church, frequently used as a meeting place for leaders including .css-47aoac{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:inherit;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:#A00000;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}.css-47aoac:hover{color:#595959;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;}Martin Luther King Jr. and Ralph D. Abernathy, was an obvious target for this activity. From left, 11-year-old Denise McNair and 14-year-olds Carole Robertson, Addie Mae Collins and Cynthia Wesley were killed while attending Sunday services. cemeteries found in Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama, USA will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Rudolph, who spoke to the press following a service at the church marking the anniversary of the bombing on Monday, said the family tried to exhume Addie Mae Collins around the year 2000, in order . In 1977, a 73-year-old Chambliss was convicted of the murder of Collins and sentenced to life in prison. Please try again later. Those disparities stem from laws that allow for medical schools to take possession of bodies of the homeless (who are more likely to be black than white) and "presumed consent" laws, which allow hospitals and coroners to assume that a dead person would want to donate their body parts. Try again later. As Birmingham took on the appearance of a battle zone, with hundreds of police, troopers and guardsmen patrolling the streets, another black teen, Johnny Robinson, was shot to death by police. Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? Indeed, this tragic event may cause the white South to come to terms with its conscience.. Immediately after the blast, church members wandered dazed and bloodied, covered with white powder and broken stained glass, before starting to dig in the rubble to search for survivors. The murders sparked nationwide outrage and energized the civil rights movement. Try again later. The man at right is unidentified. English This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. Original caption: Alabama-Birmingham-bombings-Body being removed at 16th Street Baptist Church bombing. The church bombing was the third in Birmingham in 11 days after a federal order came down to integrate Alabamas school system. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. Addie Mae Collins' younger sister, Sarah, was the last person to see the girls alive. The lives of all four girls intertwined and tragically ended at 10:21 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 15, 1963,when a bomb planted by Klansmen outside the ladies lounge at the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham exploded, instantly killing them and injuring 20 others. Weve updated the security on the site. In the rubble of the 16th Street Baptist Church were the bodies of Addie Mae Collins, 14, Denise McNair, 11, Carole Robertson, 14, and Cynthia Wesley, 14. In 1963, when Addie Mae Collins died, it was still relatively common in the South to harvest bodies from cemeteries and the cemeteries chosen were usually the ones that served the black. As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. An email has been sent to the person who requested the photo informing them that you have fulfilled their request, There is an open photo request for this memorial. Her family says someone is responsible for the disappearance of her remains. When the debris was searched for survivors, the bodies of four young girls were found: Cynthia Wesley, Addie Mae Collins, Denise McNair, and Carole Robertson. (Tom Self/ Birmingham News) ORG XMIT: ALBIN, Original caption: Negros weep after 16th Street church bombing. .css-m6thd4{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;display:block;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;font-family:Gilroy,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-size:1.125rem;line-height:1.2;font-weight:bold;color:#323232;text-transform:capitalize;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-m6thd4:hover{color:link-hover;}}Idaho Murders: What Led Police to Bryan Kohberger, Adnan Syed: A Complete Timeline of His Trial, Appeal and Killing of Hae Min Lee. Janie Gaines and Sarah Cox know from experience that black cadavers tend to disappear. Failed to delete memorial. Addie Mae's sister) The Collins family appears in the 1997 Spike Lee film 4 Little Girls, a documentary on the bombing and its political significance. Your irresponsible and misguided actions have created in Birmingham and Alabama the atmosphere that has induced continued violence and now murder. A few days before the bombing, Wallace had said the nation needed a few first class funerals to resolve its race issues. A former Ku Klux Klansman, Thomas Blanton Jr., 62,. Please try again later. Sarah Collins Rudolph was in the bathroom with her sister Addie Mae Collins during Sunday School when a bomb exploded in the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama. Read about what we do with the data we gather in our Privacy Policy. People everywhere died.". Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. At least one man who says he marched with the accused gunman before the shooting was immersed in white supremacist propaganda,an SPLC investigationhas found. The right computer monitor canmake or READ THE REST, We thank our sponsor for making this content possible; it is not written by the editorial staff nor does it necessarily reflect its views. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? ChrisMcNair was an accomplished photographer and one of the first Black members of the Alabama Legislature. Your Scrapbook is currently empty. Denise McNair performed in plays, dance routines and poetry readings to raise money for muscular dystrophy research. Then people began to search through the rubble for victims. The bombing that killed Collins and her friends was a racially motivated hate crime. Addie Mae Collins was born in Birmingham, Alabama, on April 18, 1949. Try again. The Collins family appears in the 1997 Spike Lee film 4 Little Girls, a documentary on the bombing and its political significance. Collins and her fellow victims became symbols of racial violence, styled as martyrs in the struggle for civil rights. 2023 A&E Television Networks, LLC. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. The five girls were gathered in a downstairs washroom at Birmingham's 16th Street Baptist Church on the morning of Sept. 15, 1963, when a timed bomb planted by KKK members went off outside under . Although the town detective talked to everyone who lived on the path between the two houses, no one admitted to having seen Benoit. In 2013, the United States Congress awarded each girl the Congressional Gold Medal. Verify and try again. "Darkness will not last forever. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. Learn more about managing a memorial . In 1997 a documentary film on the bombing called "4 Little Girls" was released. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. The Robertsons made funeral arrangements before learning that the other families were planning a combined service with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, delivering the eulogy. As director of theCivil Rights Memorial Center, also operated by the SPLC, I honor the girls spirits every day by making sure that the world never forgets their names names that should be remembered just like those of other unarmed Black people who have been killed recently, includingGeorge Floyd,Breonna Taylor,Tony McDade,Sean Reed,Yassin Mohamed,Ahmaud Arbery,Rayshard Brooksand too many more. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. On September 15, 1963, a bomb explodes during Sunday morning services in the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, killing four young girls: Addie Mae Collins (14), Cynthia Wesley (14), Carole Robertson (14) and Carol Denise McNair (11). In the rubble of the 16th Street Baptist Church were the bodies of Addie Mae Collins, 14, Denise McNair, 11, Carole Robertson, 14, and Cynthia Wesley, 14. Maxine and Chris McNair hold a picture of their daughter, Denise, the day after she was killed in the bombing. If you notice a problem with the translation, please send a message to [emailprotected] and include a link to the page and details about the problem. The murders touched off nationwide . Her mother and her older sister Madge also made up read more, The famous picture of Marilyn Monroe, laughing as her skirt is blown up by the blast from a subway vent, is shot on September 15, 1954 during the filming of The Seven Year Itch. Cynthia Wesley was raised by a single mother but stayed with her adoptive parents so she could attend a better school, where she excelled in math, reading and band. Although most Americans do not know her name, Addie Mae is a national icon of sorts. Another two suspects were charged and convicted in 2001 and 2002, a fourth suspect died before charges were brought. She was a member of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church in Birmingham which was, due to the spacious basement auditorium, the center for meetings of the civil rights movement. The song "Birmingham Sunday," recorded by Joan Baez memorialized the victims of the bombing. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. Oops, we were unable to send the email. In the moments just before the murders, the girls chatted nervously and straightened their fancy white dresses in preparation for Youth Day. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Failed to remove flower. Flowers added to the memorial appear on the bottom of the memorial or here on the Flowers tab. LEGAL INNOVATION | Tu Agente Digitalizador; LEGAL3 | Gestin Definitiva de Despachos; LEGAL GOV | Gestin Avanzada Sector Pblico In 1963, many civil rights activists, including King,blamed Alabama Gov. Pictured here are Johnny Robinson (left), 16, and Virgil Ware, 13. God still has a way of wringing good out of evil, he told the mourners. In the months leading up to the church bombing, the Civil Rights Movement had made strides in the city of Birmingham. The day after the bombing, a white lawyer named Charles Morgan gave a speech in Birmingham. Addie Mae Collins, Denise McNair, and Cynthia Wesley were then interred during joint funeral attended by over 8,000 mourners. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/6433252/addie-mae-collins. If you notice a problem with the translation, please send a message to [emailprotected] and include a link to the page and details about the problem. At 10:22, it exploded. cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. A system error has occurred. Original caption: Bystanders react to the destruction in the immediate aftermath of the bombing of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Ala., Sunday, Sept. 15, 1963. This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. Addie Mae Collins was one of the four little girls murdered in the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing back in 1963. Addie Mae Collins was one of the four Black girls, murdered in a racially motivated terrorist attack perpetrated by members. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. Photo by Bettmann/Getty Images. Gov. To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. Seated left to right: Caroles sister, Dianne, and parents, Alvin Robertson Sr. and Alpha Robertson. Sarah Collins, Addie Mae's sister, lost her right eye. The scene infuriated her husband, Joe DiMaggio, who felt it was exhibitionist, and the couple divorced read more, Thirteen-year-old Melissa Benoit disappears in her hometown of Kingston, Massachusetts, on her way home from a friends house. She also participated in Saturday dance lessons and the science club. "Such heinous acts have added to the already heavy burden of fighting for the right of people to govern themselves," the statement read. Failed to delete memorial. Taft was born into a politically active family; his father had served as President Ulysses S. Grants secretary of war. the 41st bombing in the city in the past 16 years, Virgil Ware, riding on the handlebars of a bicycle, outrage" and "grief" at the Birmingham church bombing, Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. Ministers homes, a black-owned hotel, and other churches had been wrecked. In addition to the four fatalities, more than 20 people were injured. She was a member of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church in Birmingham which was, due to the spacious basement auditorium, the center for meetings of the civil rights movement. ). Addie Mae Collins. One of the chapters in this book is all about the cadaver trade and how black Americans have historically made up a disproportionate percentage of those cadavers. Two other suspects were tried and convicted in this case since this book's 1989 publication: Thomas Blanton in 2001 and Bobby Frank Cherry in 2002. Photo by AP Images. "Wow. Theyre just little niggers and if theres four less niggers tonight, then I say, Good for whoever planted the bomb!. For a few minutes, there was only screaming and chaos. There was an error deleting this problem. The notion that they were wearing fancy dresses highlights the idea that the service was important and something they dressed up for. Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. The NAACP questioned the speed of the investigation and whether all resources available were being utilized. To use this feature, use a newer browser. On September 15, 2008, the venerable Wall Street brokerage firm Lehman Brothers seeks Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, becoming the largest victim of the subprime mortgage crisis that would devastate financial markets and contribute to the biggest economic downturn since the read more, Frankie Valli (born Francis Casteluccio) had been hard at work trying to become a star for the better part of a decade before the Four Seasons achieved their breakthrough. The murders touched off nationwide outrage. NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. Steve Chiotakis (Chee-uh-TAKE-iss) reports from member station W-B-H-M. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Today marks the 55th anniversary of the tragedy. Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. Astrological Sign: Aries. The murders touched off nationwide outrage. We have set your language to (Tom Self/ Birmingham News), Original caption: Destruction is seen in the immediate aftermath of the bombing of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Ala., Sunday, Sept. 15, 1963. She befriended Condoleezza Rice, a fellow elementary school student who later became U.S. secretary of state. In a few minutes, the worship service would begin. Include gps location with grave photos where possible. Three Ku Klux Klan members were later . The Wales Window for Alabama, Unveiling Ceremony, Thomson House, Cardiff, Wales, Thursday 4th February 1965. . Cherrys trial was delayed after judges ruled he was mentally incompetent to stand trial. All photos uploaded successfully, click on the Done button to see the photos in the gallery. She attended Hill Elementary School and was an enthusiastic softball player and budding artist. Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). Another two suspects were charged and convicted in 2001 and 2002, a fourth suspect died before charges were brought. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. She attended Ullman High School where she excelled in math, reading, and band. When the debris was searched for survivors, the bodies of the four young girls were found: ; Cynthia Wesley, Addie Mae Collins, Denise McNair, and Carole Robertson. In the basement ladies lounge of Sixteenth Street Baptist Church, four girls were chatting nervously and straightening their fancy white dresses. Make sure that the file is a photo. Photo by Pictorial Parade/Getty Images. of In promoting diversity and fighting racism, inclusive education programs forged pathways toward building equitable societies. This account has been disabled. September 15, 1963 was remembered as a day of victory for the Klan. Efforts to prosecute the other three men believed responsible for the bombing continued for decades. CIVIL RIGHTS MARTYRSHE DIED SO FREEDOM MIGHT LIVE, Thank you for fulfilling this photo request. When the debris was searched for survivors, the bodies of four young girls were found: ; Cynthia Wesley, Addie Mae Collins, Denise McNair, and Carole Robertson. Unexplainably, no one was charged with the crime. No one can know with certainty who took the body or why, but many are convinced that her body joined the untold thousands of anonymous black cadavers on anatomists' tables. Try again later. Although a subsequent FBI investigation identified three other menBobby Frank Cherry, Herman Cash and Thomas E. Blanton, Jr.as having helped Chambliss commit the crime, it was later revealed that FBI chairman J. Edgar Hoover blocked their prosecution and shut down the investigation without filing charges in 1968. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Cynthia Wesley (6433296)? But more importantly, it made the pain of racism felt among whites who would never experience it themselves. The costly raid convinced the German high command that the Luftwaffe could not achieve air supremacy over Britain, and the next read more, During the Battle of the Somme, the British launch a major offensive against the Germans, employing tanks for the first time in history. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. At about 10:22 AM, as 26 children were entering the basement assembly room for closing prayers, the bomb exploded, blowing a hole in the east side of the church and injuring dozens. Her body was not in the spot where it was presumed to be. Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. Addie Mae Collins, Denise McNair, and Cynthia Wesley were then interred during joint funeral attended by over 8,000 mourners. Browse 63 addie mae collins stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? Later that day, 13-year-old Virgil Ware, riding on the handlebars of a bicycle in Docena, was shot by two young white men. Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). Learn more about merges. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. Addie Mae Collins, Denise McNair, and Cynthia Wesley were interred during joint funeral attended by over 8,000 mourners. When thousands of Black protesters assembled at the crime scene, Wallace sent hundreds of police and state troopers to the area to break up the crowd.