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Molino Museum Exhibit Features Midwife Bama Holley
February 23, 2018
The Molino Mid-County Historical Society is presenting an exhibit for Black History Month that features Missouria “Bama” Holley, a well loved and locally well known midwife. She delivered numerous babies in the Molino and North Escambia area from the 1920’s to the 1950’s.
Very little information has been found about Bama, mostly memories and stories which have been passed down through the generations.
Bama was born three days before Christmas 1877 in Alabama to parents that were likely slaves. She moved to Barth sometime shortly after the turn of the century. She married Aaron and continued to live with her three daughters in Barth. Census records from 1920 show her to be a 31-year old midwife, and her husband Aaron a 29-year old carpenter. In 1920 her daughters, considered to be Aaron’s stepdaughters, were listed as Janie M. Turner, 11, Elizabeth Turner, 5 and Mary Turner, 19. It is not known if the children were adopted or Bama’s children by a previous marriage.
By 1930, daughter Janie M. Turner had married to a Straughn in Molino. Janie died in 1943.
Bama was central figure in Barth, Molino, Cantonment and surrounding areas in North Escambia. She helped bring hundreds of children, both black and white, into the world, including the late Lillan Fillingim King. The museum housing the Bama Holley exhibit bears King’s name.
Bama died February 13, 1970, after a brief illness and is buried in Barth in the White Lily Baptist Church Cemetery.
The Bama Holley exhibit will be on display through February at the Lillian F. King Museum in the Molino Community Center, 6450 Highway 95A North. Museum hours are: 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. and is open every day except Wednesday, Sunday and holidays. For more information, call (850) 587-2011. Admission is free.
Pictured (top row) Jeanette Ward Parker, midwife Bama Holley holding baby Charles Ward, Almedia Ward, (middle row) Jean Parker, Ida Parker, Jessie Ward, Jr. (bottom row) Doug Parker, Jacob O. Parker, Jr., Bessie Ward and Annie Ward in an undated photograph. Pictured below: The Bama Holley exhibit in the Lillian F. King Museum in the Molino Community Center. Pictured bottom: Bama Holley’s obituary. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Comments
16 Responses to “Molino Museum Exhibit Features Midwife Bama Holley”
From information from readers of this site we are able to piece more insight into Miss Bama. She apparently delivered children from the 20’s to the 60’s. Any memories would be appreciated by writing in a book by the museum exhibit. If anyone knows of any living relatives….her granddaughter or others please share with museum staff. One of Bama’s daughters, Elizabeth (Lizzie) & her husband, J.B. Matthews, lived in Barth. Does anyone know where they are buried & if they have living children?
Mrs. Bama also delivered my sister and i
in 1966, and 1967.
I would like to give my blessing for Miss Bama help bring me into this world. She lived across the railroad tract from our home. Miss Bama made the best chocolate cake ever. I remember if me are my sibling get ill my mother( Ruby) would direct us to her house.very grateful. thanks to all. Ray
Mrs Bama brought me in the world I been trying to find out something about her
Almedia Ward was my father’s aunt.
Laura Catherine Parker, and Almedia were sisters.
Edwin Howard White is the son of Laura Catherine Parker
Edwin Howard White married Velma Day my moma
When moma was a girl she lived with Aunt Almedia
I remember moma talking about Aunt Bama that’s what she called her.
I love that you put this story out there.
you may contact me if you like if your interested in any information I may have.
Jacob Oscar Parker was my great uncle he was Laura Catherine’s brother and Uncle Jake married Jeannete Ward
Thanks, William, for the follow-up. With her husband being younger, I think she chose to be “31 and holding!”
Baja delivered my father,Joseph Shelby in 1930. She signed his birth certificate as Missouri Bama Holly.
The museum is a great place to spend a few hours studying and remembering history and the past.
A great human interest story from North Escambia. The times were very different then
when people helped people and neighbors alike.
WOW, Thanks for sharing. These people are my kin folks. My Grandpa, Pete Parker is/was Jacob (Jake) Parkers brother. Jake Parker was married to Jeanette Ward Parker. Jean Parker, Ida Parker, Doug Parker, Jacob O. Parker, Jr.,of course our there children. All of my life I have called them them my Uncle or Aunt. Aunt Jenette lives in Pensacola, Aunt Ida is deceased, Uncle Doug is in Pensacola and Uncle (Joe) Jacob lives in Barth!
I have to figure out a way to share this with them of Face Book!
Denny — I noticed that too when writing the article, but that’s what the information from the museum display and historical society says. I don’t know, but just offering theory…as a child I remember have some old female relatives that did not know their exact age. They never drove a car or registered to vote and had no birth certificate. And over the years with the passage time they forgot their ages and exact birth years. Or maybe she was “31 and holding” like a lot of people today.
I found the 1920 Census record…it says 31. Here’s an image:
http://www.northescambia.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/bamacensus.jpg
In the 1930 Census, she claimed to be 37:
http://www.northescambia.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/bamacensus1930.jpg
In a quick search, I was unable to locate her or her husband in the 1940 Census.
Great story. Would love to know more!
Thanks for posting this info.
If she was born in 1877, the 1920 Census would have listed her as 43. Is her birthrate or Census age incorrect?
I love this. I have got to get a copy of this group photo. My Granny and all of her babies of which Ms Bama brought into this world. I also remember Ms Lizzy and
Mr. JB. She made the best cookies.
Very nice story, how simple the world was and how great the people where. Thank you Mrs. Holley for all you did.
Respectfully.
That little museum is a great place to visit.
How wonderful that this exhibit has been created! I never met Bama but I knew her daughter Lizzy (Elizabeth) and Lizzy’s husband, J.B. My family lived walking distance from their home and visited them often.