New Center to Honor Anderson Native Jane Edna Hunter

Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer

A new center, named for Anderson County native Jane Edna Hunter – who is among the most influential leaders of the 20th century – will be housed at the offices of the Anderson County United Way in cooperation with the Urban League of the Upstate.

Born in 1882 to poor tenant farmers in a cabin on Woodburn Plantation (then called Woodburn Farm, today, a replica of her family cabin is part of the historic site’s tour). Hunter was an activist, social worker and the founder of the Phyllis Wheatley Association, which she started to house and help unmarried African American women and girls, newcomers to the North often preyed upon by unscrupulous employers or agencies. It later served as a model for similar organizations nationwide.

Hunter was a champion for racial equality, fighting against racial discrimination and advocating for the empowerment of African-American communities. She was also a pioneer for women’s rights, promoting education and leadership as key paths to overcoming obstacles.

In 1940, Hunter wrote her autobiography, “A Nickel and a Prayer”, describeing her “spiritual quest” from Southern poverty to a prestigious career in the North helping other women safely navigate the Great Migration.

Hunter wrote: “I have told the simple story of one who felt herself called upon to undertake and perform an apparently neglected, but greatly needed task. There have been many inquiries as to the origin of the Phillis Wheatley Association, how it started, its work, its growth, and its future. . . . If the recital of my humble efforts to be of service to Negro girls and women encourages in another a like spirit . . . no more fitting reward can come to me.”

Her legacy paved the way for future generations of social workers, activists, and community leaders, with an unwavering dedication to social justice, racial equality, and the betterment of marginalized communities continues to inspire and resonate today.

The Anderson center will help prepare young men and women in envisioning and preparing for a better future.

Hunter was inducted into the Anderson County Museum Hall of Fame in 2021.