Black History Month Feature: Carrie Kent Brown

Liberty County’s history has been based on freedom for all. We have 1 of the 11 stops on the US Civil Rights Trail, we are home to a Geechee interactive cultural museum, and we are also home to the first African American female mayor in Georgia history. Carrie Kent Brown was appointed by Gov. Jimmy Carter to serve as a charter council member of the city of Walthourville and then later became the first African American female mayor in Liberty County.

History

Carrie Kent Brown was born September 23, 1923, to the late Mr. Henry Brown and the late Mrs. Lucille Brown in Walterboro, SC. She grew up and attended school in Bryan County. She met and married the late Mr. George W. Kent and had 10 children.

In 1974, when Lyndol Anderson became the first mayor of Walthourville & the first female mayor in all of Georgia, Carrie Kent Brown sat on her all-female city council. By 1978, she became one of the first African American female elected mayors in the entire United States. She served for 24 years using her strength, determination and tenacity to help her succeed. She refused to believe that her difficult circumstances would keep her down.

As mayor, Kent did her best to improve her community and herself. She even drove to Atlanta to see how she could do things better for her town. She was a dedicated public servant and mother and was devoted to her church. Kent was an ordained evangelist of the Aisle of Hope Holiness Church Unto the Lord.

Carrie Kent Brown

On June 17, 2009, Ms. Carrie Kent Brown had passed. She was 86, leaving behind 6 remaining children, 44 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren and 10 great-great-grandchildren. Today her landmark sits at Walthourville City Hall in honor of the role she played in Walthourville being, “organized by women, supported by men.” Carrie was a mother, friend-mentor and political motivator to many.

Here in Liberty County, we have so much history to celebrate! For a list of our historic sites, check out our Things to Do.