Marie Barber Adams and Deborah Scott Brooks are cousins; their grandmothers were sisters. The two are also co–authors of the soon–to–be published book, African Americans of Lower Richland County.

In the pictographic book, the South Carolina natives share their own beloved rich heritage of handed down stories and extensive hours of research, much of which was gathered through long miles of driving and visiting persons throughout Lower Richland.

Adams and Brooks provide traces of the migratory trail of African American families starting in Kingville and moving through Gadsden, Congaree/ Weston, Hopkins and Eastover. The authors capture some of the mysteries, heartbreak and accomplishments of featured persons and families. Arcadia Publishing is due to release the book in September.

Marie Barber Adams, a retired Richland County educator, grew up in Hopkins on the same land where the Harriet Barber House now stands and is listed on the National Register of Historic places. She and her three sisters (Mary Kirkland, Carrie White, and Jean Grant) led the restoration project to restore the home and property originally purchased in 1872 by their great–grandparents, Sam and Harriet Barber, who were ex–slaves. Adams is also board chair of South East Rural Community Outreach (SERCO), an organization dedicated to preserving history and enriching communities of the Lower Richland Heritage Corridor.

Brooks returned to Columbia after retiring and simply began a search to gather old family photos and information for a family reunion. By a twist of what she describes as good fortune, Brooks met Dr. Warner Montgomery, president of The Columbia Star, who asked in a challenging manner of her plans for the collection. Brooks subsequently wrote a 12–week series for the Star entitled, “Plowing, Praying, and Paying Dues.” She described that writing experience as initially intimidating since Montgomery, a history and journalism expert, would be her critic; yet, it ultimately served as an inspiration for further work.

Once while working through lunch on the final revisions of African Americans of Lower Richland County, an accompanying granddaughter McKinley asked the co–authors how long they have known each other. Adams and Brooks answered almost in unison, “All of our lives; we grew up attending our ancestors’ church and playing on their farms in Hopkins.” Adams and Brooks nodded at each other in confirmation of the rhetorical question, Who better to tell our own story.