The National Afro-American League was formed on January 25, 1890, by Timothy Thomas Fortune. Preceding the foundation of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the organization dedicated itself to racial solidarity and self-help.
Anson County NC Register of Deeds Record of Incorporation's – October 2, 1908 – The National Afro-American Civic League - Board of Directors were Rembert J. Beverly, Thomas T. Henry, and J. J. Wilson.
Was this organization the forerunner of the local chapter of the NAACP?? This is to certify that we the undersigned do hereby associate ourselves into a corporation under & by virtue of the laws of North Carolina and do hereby severally agree... to and with each other & such others as may be associated with us for the purpose of carrying out the objects of the corporation as hereinafter set forth as follows;
The name of this group shall be, “The National Afro-American Civil League, Inc.” The location of the principle office of said group shall be in Wadesboro, NC with branch offices throughout the United States.
The object for which this corporation is formed is for the purposes of improving the home & school surroundings of the Afro-American citizens which will add to the up-building of the United States especially those States known as the Southern States
There shall be no capital stock of this corporation whereas its purposes are purely benevolent and charitable & all persons who are willing to aid in furthering the objects of the corporation may become members of the same. The Board of Directors are Rembert J. Beverly, Thomas T. Henry & J. J. Wilson which are all residents of Wadesboro, NC.
The period of existence of this corporation is unlimited and the Board of Directors shall have the power and authority by a majority of votes without the consent of other members to make, alter, amend or receive bylaws for the government and regulation of the corporation. In witness we have hereunto set our hands & seals this 2nd day of October of 1908 – Rembert J. Beverly, Thomas T. Henry & J. J. Wilson.
Rembert J. Beverly
Rembert J. Beverly was born October 10, 1864, on the plantation of William B. Little in the Gulledge Township of Anson County, North Carolina. Beverly was a prominent Black farmer and land owner. He completed one term at Biddle (now Johnson C. Smith University) before returning to the Little farm, at which place he worked until he married at age twenty. Beverly worked his way up steadily from there, renting a farm first and then buying a farm once he had saved enough money. By the time of Beverly's death on January 19, 1937, he was ranked among the most successful farmers in Anson County, many stating outright that he owned the county's best farm. He self-reported $30,000 of real estate in 1931 (H.E.C. Bryant, "North Carolina Newspapering," News and Observer (Raleigh), 18 January 1931). He died on January 19, 1937.
Ada Huntly Ford Singleton
Ada Huntley Ford Singleton, daughter of Roy Huntley and Martha Blount was born in Wadesboro on April 20, 1929 and passed away in Wadesboro on May 28, 1998.
Her obituary stated that she was a “champion” of human & civil rights. She worked diligently to get people registered to vote and spearheaded desegregation of Anson County Schools. She was a State and National leader in the NAACP. Singleton was appointed by former Governor Terry Sanford to serve on the NC Human Rights Commission and was the first African American female appointed to the Employment Security Commission. She was listed three times in “Who’s Who of American Women.” On November 28, 1982 she was presented an “Outstanding Community Leadership Plaque” by the Anson Men’s Club. In November of 1985 at a Freedom Fund Banquet in Winston-Salem, Mrs. Singleton was presented the first, “Ada Ford Singleton Youth Service Award” for outstanding work with the youth of the NAACP State Conference. Her son, Reverend Charles Ford and her grandson Charles Ford Junior continue to keep her legacy alive.