the hearing of the Mary Lee Byerly home for colored children case, which was scheduled for Saturday morning, was not a regular hearing, but more of a discussion of the ways and means of correcting the troubles into which the administration of the home has fallen.
During the course of the discussion various parties who are and have been intimately connected with the home were called on to make statements with regard to the way in which the home has been handled during the past several months. it was brought out that the superintendent was going forward with an excellent heart turned toward the unfortunate colored children of the county, but was using very poor judgment with regard to the numbers which she tried to accommodate.
It was shown that only the two women, Mary Lee Byerly and her sister, were taking care of more than 30 children, the number having increased rapidly during the past few months. the sister was tending to the children and taking care of the home while Mary Byerly was out searching for ways and means of caring for her little charges.
Dr. Wills and Dr. T.C. Tinsley, both prominent colored physicians, made statements to the court regarding the sentiment of the colored population toward the home and gave their views on the administration of the home as it has been during its growth. It was pointed out that there has been some good little bit of dissension among the board of directors. The two representatives of it, Dr. Wills being the chairman of the board, pointed out that much of the trouble was caused the ulterior motives of various members of the board. Much of the recent friction was also ascribed to the fact that the superintendent refused to take all individual recommendations of members of the board, feeling that they were not for the best interest of the home.
The investigation which is now in progress has been brought on through the refusal of the state welfare department to renew the license for the home when it was applied for. The local department is now working to see if some provision cannot be made for the continuation of the work.
Several of the reports which were to have been made Saturday were not ready and the regular hearing was continued until Wednesday afternoon at 3:30, when it will be held in the superior court room rather than in the juvenile court room, as Saturday’s attendance pointed toward the need for more room.
During the course of the morning’s talks the death of several of the children of the home lately was gone into, but was very little discussed. During the past five wees six children are said to have died there. The diet at the home has necessarily been very irregular through the uncertain means which the superintendent had for feeding 30 hungry mouths. The colored representatives who attended the meeting were all in hearty sympathy with the ho me, but felt that with the present backing which it was receiving form the community it was impossible for it to continue its work according to the rules set down by the state welfare department. Wednesday will be given over to considering just what steps will be best for the proper care of the children.
If some provision is not made for the continuation of the work of the home, it will be necessary for the local welfare department to find places for the children, which will be no easy job. The big heart of the superintendent of the home, which caused her to take in more children than she had any visible means of caring for, has thusly placed the department in a very critical position, it is declared.
From page 2 of the Durham Morning Herald, Sunday, July 13, 1924
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