Bessie W. Munden Park added to Alabama Register of Landmarks & Heritage on Aug. 25, 2011

Today – Aug. 25 – marks 11 years since the Bessie W. Munden Recreational Park was added to the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage. It was on Aug. 25, 2011 that state officials added the park to the register in recognition of its significance as a historic African American recreational area. This park is located off Highway 221, just north of State Highway 10, near Camden.

The Alabama Historical Association erected a historic marker at the park in 2010 and that marker reads as follows:

“This 22-acre park is named for its founder, Bessie W. Munden, a noted African American educator and civic leader in Wilcox County. (Founded in 1955 and) dedicated on October 25, 1959, Bessie W. Munden Recreational Park is significant as one of Alabama's oldest historically black parks.

“Ms. Munden, born in Marion, Perry County in 1905, graduated from Tuskegee Institute and received her Master of Arts degree from Alabama State College.

“During her tenure as Supervisor, she worked with other local African American educators to establish a recreational park for African Americans during the era of segregation. The park, an important community asset, operated continuously for thirty years before closing in 1989. Restoration of the historic park began in 2004.”

The earliest reference to the park that I could find in old editions of The Wilcox Progressive Era was in the Oct. 10, 1957 edition. In that week’s paper, Munden, who was serving as Chairman of the Recreation Committee, published an announcement saying, “We are pleased to inform you that The Wilcox County Teachers’ Association has purchased 20 acres of land three and one-fourth miles west of Camden on the Rock West road, which is being used as a site for a Recreational Area for Negro boys and girls of Wilcox County as well as a place for recreation and relaxation for adults. We wish to thank all of you who have made a contribution to this worthwhile project. We are urging those of you who have not made a contribution to this project to please do so as soon as possible.”

I also found a couple of interesting items from the summer of 1955 that talked about Munden traveling to New York City to work on her doctorate degree. On July 7, 1955, the newspaper reported that she had gone to New York University to resume study there for the summer term. The Aug. 25, 1955 edition reported that she was “back in her office after spending six weeks of study toward her doctorate degree… She reports that she had a very busy but profitable summer.”

Sources say that Munden began teaching in Wilcox County at Millers Ferry in 1928, and she eventually became the Supervisor of Wilcox County Public Schools. In 1976, she retired from her last position as a teacher and counselor at Camden Academy. She passed away in 1989.

Given that Munden passed away only 33 years ago, many in the reading audience will no doubt still have fond memories of her. Despite my best efforts, I was unable to find any information about where Munden was buried. I searched cemetery records in Wilcox and Perry counties, but came up empty-handed. If anyone in the reading audience has any information about where this unique Wilcox County educator was laid to rest, please let me know.