THOMASVILLE — Local descendants of American slaves will celebrate May 20, the day Thomas County was made aware that slaves were to be set free with a picnic and fellowship.

President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, yet two years passed until the slaves in Thomas County were greeted with the news.

In recognition of the day, the Senior Retired Men Club will hold an old-time picnic at noon May 24 — four days after the anniversary in order for more people to be able to participate — at its center located at 628 Fletcher Street.

“This is our foundation. This is our heritage,” said club president Tommie E. Gabriel. “We were brought here from Africa. We weren’t brought to Ellis Island. We were taken to the closest auction house. We want the world to know what progress we have made since 1865.”

Although they were free, many men and women stayed and worked on the land where they were held in slavery because they had nowhere to go and no possessions to their name.

“We were supposed to get 40 acres and a mule,” Gabriel said. “We still haven’t got either. It took a long time to get on our feet. When we were set free, we had nothing.”

When the word reached Thomas County that all slaves were freed, it was a day of rejoicing that has continued each year. Some plantation owners gave their workers a holiday each May 20, complete with pig roasts, baseball games church meetings and fellowship. After the United States entered World War II, many of these traditions fell by the wayside because most of the old- timers had moved away

and people couldn’t get off work when they needed to. Many of the young men went into the military service. Therefore, over the years May 20 celebrations became a day most African Americans in the area had forgotten about. For the last 19 years, the Retired Men’s Club has ensured it is not forgotten.

Gabriel began the club for male retirees in January of 1984. His goal was to remain active and productive following his retirement in 1977. The objectives of the group include fellowship, friendship, brotherly love and visiting community churches.

During the early stages of the organization, the members moved from place to place to meet before acquiring and renovating the Fletcher Street building.

The picnic is scheduled for inside the facility. Rev. Emory Virgil, pastor of Providence Missionary Church, will serve as guest speaker. Along with a complete lunch, there will be music and entertainment. The entire event, including the meal, is free and open to the public.

“This means the world to us,” Gabriel concluded. “We want to forever let the young folks know where we came from was not a bed of roses. They need to be faithful, don’t sponge off others and work for what you get.”