Educator Lucy Laney’s descendants work to keep her legacy alive in Macon

The name Lucy Craft Laney is associated with education in Middle Georgia, but for her family, who still live in Macon, there is more to her story that they want people to know.

Two of Laney’s great, great, great nephews are carrying on the Laney family legacy through education and creating opportunities to support students.

Lucy Laney, a native of Macon, founded the first school for African American kids in Augusta, Georgia.

A documentary titled “Love Them First,” about an underperforming school named after Lucy Laney in Minnesota that was turned around, will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Professional Learning Center (SOAR Academy) on Riverside Drive. The screening is open to the public.

Walking into Hosea Laney’s classroom at Weaver Middle School where he teaches math, there is a picture of his great, great, great aunt displayed on the smart board. He was teaching his students about her as part of Black History Month.

Hosea appears to be very comfortable in the classroom, despite this not being his first career choice. He said not studying education is the only disagreement he ever had with his father, Louis Laney Jr.

“He wanted me to be an education major. I said, ‘No, I’m going in the business field’. And he said, ‘Well, maybe you’d be a minor in education,’” Hosea said. “He was really pushing education, I think because of the history and the legacy” of our family.

Instead, Hosea graduated from Fort Valley State University with a business administration degree in marketing and accounting. He said he worked for Geico, then played arena football in South Carolina. But a volunteer job with elementary school kids changed his mind about education.

“As I was reading to the kids, I felt something inside of me like, ‘You know what, this isn’t too bad.’ I came back home to Georgia from South Carolina, Charleston. I started substitute teaching.”

Hosea earned his teaching certificate under Georgia’s Teacher Alternative Preparation Program for teachers with non-traditional degrees. The program is a classroom-based teacher preparation option for individuals who meet the basic qualifications to teach but have not completed a teacher preparation program.

Hosea is proud to carry on the education legacy while his cousin, Michael Gray, has the role of family historian.

Standing in front of Washington Avenue Presbyterian Church, Gray proudly talks about Lucy Craft Laney and her father, David Laney, who was the first minister of the church.

“David Laney was the first person to ring the bells during the Emancipation Proclamation after the signing to announce to the city of Macon, the slaves, that they were all free right here at this location,” said Gray.

Gray said he started researching his family history about 15 years ago. One of the stories that he learned was the meaning of Lucy’s middle name, Craft.

“The Craft name was basically given to her by her father, David Laney, because of some slaves that escaped from this area. I think there’s a book about it called The Great Escape,” said Gray.

Gray is referring to the famous escape of William and Ellen Craft in 1848 from Macon. They published a book in 1860 titled, Running a Thousand Miles for Freedom; Or, The Escape of William and Ellen Craft from Slavery.

Schools continue to strive for excellence

Michael Gray and Hosea Laney are happy that the schools named after their aunt continue to strive for excellence. The Lucy Craft Laney elementary school featured in “Love Them First” is in North Minneapolis, where the educator traveled to seek funding to support the school she started for black children in Augusta.

Laney said her drive to go to Minnesota on a one-way ticket to find funding to start her school was dedication.

“I’m like, ‘Wow, that’s faith because you go on a one-way trip with no return. You have that much faith in your vision,’” said Hosea.

Gray said it is not surprising that schools feel connected to her vision.

“I think they’re able to look at her outstanding, outstanding accomplishments. I think they’re able to look at what she achieved during that era. And even in this era that would be considered outstanding and amazing.” he said.

Gray and Laney want to bring more recognition to the legacy of the Laney family in Georgia. Gray said the Laney family is now working to try and create a banquet to honor Lucy Laney and create scholarships.

Hosea Laney said, “We’re trying to start a scholarship fund in Lucy Laney’s name to basically give it out here in Macon and to start one in Augusta.”

Gray said they have formed a board and a planning committee.

“We’re planning on having an annual banquet with dancing, music, jazz, and you know, basically introduce people to Lucy Laney and (for) those who are familiar with her, just reintroduce them to Lucy Laney and David Laney as well,“ said Gray.

The screening of the documentary “Love Them First” in Macon is part of a collaborative reporting project on youth violence called “Peacing Together.” The Telegraph along with the Center for Collaborative Journalism, GPB Macon and 13-WMAZ have been reporting for the past year on why youth violence happens, how it affects people, what interventions are proven to break the cycle, and what more can be done.

If you go

What: The film “Love Them First”

When: 6 p.m. Thursday

Where: Professional Learning Center, 2011 Riverside Drive, Macon.

The event is free and open to the public.

This story was originally published February 26, 2020 at 12:49 PM.