I received a phone message on Sunday evening (July 13th) about a previously unnamed road to be named in honor of Mrs. Ruby Woods Carter on Monday, July 14, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. I naturally became very interested and concerned about its location and strategic importance. My sentiments spring from her vital and historical contributions to the citizens of Dillon, as an educator and mentor, who has touched and impacted many lives during her long and illustrious tenure. Perhaps I am a little biased and overprotective when the name or legacy of Ruby Carter is mentioned. Howbeit, to many like me who was inspired, encouraged, and challenged to excel to the fullest of our potential and opportunity by her at a very crucial and formative stage of our lives. We not only hold her in high esteem, but regard her as arguably the most revered educator and symbol of our alma mater and of an age that we cherish in our hearts and memories. She embodies our history and has done so much for so many to help determine our destiny. We are truly indebted to her for being a formative influence, a wind that the sails of our ambitions were able to capture; a force that helped to propel us through the waters and on to our various shores. We are very thankful for the considerate thought that someone had to honor her in a public, conspicuous, and lasting way. Such honor and recognition is certainly due to someone of her caliber, who is one of the last iconic and prominent figures we, African-Americans, have who is still dwelling amongst us. However, as commendable and considerate as it was, it regrettably fell short of affording someone that has been such an integral and essential influence in the African-American community for well over fifty years, the honor and recognition she rightfully deserves. A very short and uninhabited road is an injustice and somewhat of an insult to be ascribed to Mrs. Ruby Carter, whose career, citizenship, and impact were so long, profound, and influential. Certainly, she is worthy of more honor, more recognition, and more of a public and conspicuous reminder that gives credence to her legacy, than this very insignificant road that happens to run parallel to the carport end of her home. What I am somewhat disturbed about is the likelihood that this meager and token recognition will remove her from being a candidate of consideration for future honor on a much higher and notable level. With the exceptions of Mr. Daniels Drive and Mr. Paul J. Glen Road respectively, it has been sixty years or longer when something of significance was named in the honor of a local African-American namely Gordon Elementary and Gordon High Schools here in Dillon. Seeing that we help to comprise an almost equal amount of the population; the numbers, the times, and fair play demands that the next significant place like a school, library, auditorium or etc. be named in honor of an African-American. Who would be more worthy of such an honor than Mrs. Ruby Woods Carter? Thank you for the little road, but it’s just not enough.
