Jason Futch
reporter2.riverbendnews@gmail.com
When you delve into Suwannee County’s past, you'll discover a wealth of fascinating information. A former Governor of Florida called Suwannee County home, a songwriter from Kentucky penned a famous song about the Suwannee River, and one of the most notorious murder trials took place in Live Oak during the 1950s. These are just a few examples of the county's rich history.
However, one story that author Pat Hines believes deserves special attention is that of Christmas Hemming. In 2021, Hines published the book “Christmas in the South: A Proud Southern Heritage” to help bring awareness to Hemming’s remarkable life.
“Christmas Hemming was my great-great-great- grandfather,” Hines
explained. “He was born on Christmas Day, lived to be 111 years old, and was the first Black man to own land in Suwannee County.” She noted that this was a remarkable accomplishment for a man who was born into slavery.
Hines grew up in Suwannee County, and witnessed the transformations the area underwent during the era of segregation. She was one of the last students to attend Douglass High School before integration occurred in 1970. In the 1980s, Hines became the first Black EMT medic to serve the county.
After retiring from her position with the Florida Department of Corrections at Hamilton Correctional Institute in 2014, Hines dedicated herself to uncovering Hemming’s history.
“When I was a child, we were told oral stories of our family history,” Hines recalled. “As I grew older, I became more interested in learning about the man who came to Suwannee County and accomplished things that were extraordinary for his time.”
Her research began with obtaining the deed to Hemming’s property, which led her to discover that he purchased it in 1885. Hines highlighted the challenges faced by people of color during that period, mentioning that public lynchings were still occurring in Suwannee County. “He must have been different from others, and I wanted to find out what set him apart,” she stated.
Hines delved deeper into Hemming’s background, tracing his origins to Jacksonville and St. Augustine, where he had been raised as a slave child under the DuPont family. She also learned that he was owned by the Hemming family of Jacksonville, a prominent family during that era. Notably, Hemming Plaza was named after the family that enslaved him, although it was later renamed James Weldon Johnson Park.
Through her research, Hines discovered that John Hemming and his family brought Christmas to Suwannee County, where he ultimately settled after the Civil War. In 1885, Christmas purchased 640 acres of land in the county, establishing a life for himself. Today, his property is recognized as a Florida Century Old Pioneer Farm, notable for being the only one on the list owned by a Black man in Florida.
Seven generations later, Hines continues to share Christmas’s story across the state and has received requests to present it to various audiences near and far. “I have been invited to share my story with the Episcopal Archbishop in Canada,” said Hines.
She also mentioned that archaeologists are interested in the property where Hemming lived, as numerous artifacts have been discovered there, including an old rail trestle, nails, Indian head pennies, and other items of interest. Some of the items found on the property have been put up for display at the Suwannee County Museum.
Hines hopes to release a sequel to “Christmas in the South,” titled “Who is Christmas Hemming?” She is currently seeking a publisher to help disseminate this important story. In the meantime, Hines continues to tour the region, sharing her knowledge with the local community.
To purchase a copy of Hines’s book, “Christmas in the South: A Proud Southern Heritage,” visit her Amazon page at https://www.amazon.com/Christmas- South-Proud-Southern-Heritage/dp/B0943PGKDJ.