Hopkins school 1935 Freed black people in Hopkins felt a strong desire to have a designated structure for organized church worship. They also recognized that learning to read and write was a precious treasure, especially because before emancipation it was against the law to teach a slave to read.

The challenge was balancing the times children were needed on the farm and the times children could go to school. Consequently, the school year was shortened to accommodate farming, particularly at harvest time. Early families faced problems of limited funds for school buildings and paying teachers. There was a determination because more classrooms began to appear in churches and other "recycled" buildings. Parents sacrificed to see that their children took advantage of what education there was. The school term lasted no more than five months in the early years.

In 1885, the first school in the Hopkins' area for children of recently freed men and women was housed in what was once a fodder barn on Ephraim Neal's (1844- c. 1905) land. It was located alongside Cabin Branch Creek for a practical reason: there was no indoor plumbing at the time. The school board denied funds for needed roof repairs, and the school was temporarily relocated to Jerusalem Church yard, where a new Hopkins School was eventually built on the church grounds. Sam Gregory is listed as being the first teacher.

Location of first school Ephraim Neal's land as drawn by John Barber Jr. in 2008 The Hopkins School was in better condition than the dilapidated school structure at Pinewood. A pot- belly stove provided minimal heat, and one teacher taught children seated three to a bench in a very small and dimly lighted area.

Early teachers were paid with farm produce, a few pennies, and contributions from churches and missionary organizations. There were allegations of early African- American teachers being ill- prepared. Perhaps the argument should have been the lacking rested in poor structures and zero or limited books and materials. Handed- down recounts about education included children completing farm chores prior to school, taking a lunch of a cold biscuit or a sweet potato, and returning home to plow or perform other chores.

Pinewood School in 1935 It was never discussed where Minnie Holley (born 1880), who later became Jesse Neal's (1870- 1943) wife, attended school. She revealed she only had a fourth grade education because she had to work on the farm. The marvel is that Momma Neal religiously read her paper and Bible nightly and as personally witnessed, she never missed a word.

In 1891, Ephraim Neal (1844- c. 1905) had three sons in school. Jesse (1870- 1893), Weston (1871- ?), and Green Berry (1874- ?) pursued higher education at Benedict College and became teachers. Jesse's tuition, as a minister, was $6.50 monthly. The sons subsidized their tuition cost by working in the school's print or carpentry shop. Jesse served as driver for philanthropist Mrs. Bathsheba Benedict whenever she visited from up North.

When visiting Hopkins today, there always seems to be a gentle breeze. Earlier, there was a stirring in that air. The need to have children benefit from improved education seemed to be blowing as a wind of change…