Brunson v. Board

Six years after the Brown v. Board of Education decision, Clarendon County still refused to integrate its schools. Fifteen families worked with the NAACP to sue the Clarendon County Schools Board of Trustees and filed Brunson v. Board of Trustees of School District No. 1 of Clarendon County on April 13, 1960.

First page of the Brunson v. Board of Trustees complaint that was filed in 1960

Brunson v. Board of Trustees of School District No. 1 of Clarendon County
Page from article in the Associated Negro Press titled: Summerton, Basis of 1954 School Decision, Still Not Integrated. It includes information about parents in Summerton filing a lawsuit because the schools were still not integrated six years after Brown.

“Summerton, Basis of 1954 School Decision, Still Not Integrated,” Associated Negro Press

Although Chief Judge Charles Wyche of the Eastern District of South Carolina attempted to dismiss the case, the families continued fighting. With numerous delays, by the time the courts decided in favor of the Brunson plaintiffs, only eight of the plaintiffs were still school age: Charles M. Hilton, Rita McDonald, Mary Oliver, Henry J. Ragin, Lucretia Ragin, Marcia Stukes, Rochelle Stukes, and Idella Tindal. In 1965, five Black students finally integrated Summerton High School: Charles Hilton, Mary Oliver, Lucretia Oliver, Idella Tindal, and Rita McDonald. Rita McDonald graduated in 1966.

Plaintiffs in Brunson v. Board of Trustees of Clarendon County

Students who integrated Summerton High School in 1965 are indicated in bold.

  • McQueen Brunson, Bobby Brunson, Ellis Brunson, and Elizabeth Brunson
  • Leo DeLaine and Tisbia DeLaine
  • Nora Felder and Eloise Felder
  • Francis E. Gibson, Blease C. Gibson Jr., Thomas Gibson, and Evelyn M. Gibson
  • Johnnie Gipson, Joseph Gipson, Francina Gipson, and Calvin Gipson
  • William Hilton, Susan J. Hilton, Bessie I. Hilton, Edward P. Hilton, and Charles M. Hilton
  • John McDonald, Harry G. McDonald, and Rita McDonald
  • Mary J. Oliver, Jeremiah Oliver Jr., and Mary Oliver
  • Levi Pearson, Vinell Pearson, Delaware Pearson, Harold Pearson, and Carrie A. Pearson
  • Minnie Ragin, Cleola Ragin, Robert L. Ragin, Moses Ragin, Henry J. Ragin, Lucretia Ragin, and Willie J. Ragin
  • William Ragin and Glen Ragin
  • Lee Richardson, Jackson D. Richardson, and Johnnie F. Richardson
  • Ladson Stukes, Thelma Stukes, Ethel Mae Stukes, Lionel Stukes, Marion Stukes, Abel Stukes, Rochelle Stukes, and Marcia Stukes
  • Lawrence Tindal and Idella Tindal
  • Lucrisher Richardson and Emanuel L. Richardson
Two years after the Brunson case was filed, this list indicated which students were still in school.
Courtesy of William D. Workman, Jr. Papers, South Carolina Political Collections
Listen To Their Stories Audio Header

Interview with C.C. Williams

C.C. Williams discusses life in Clarendon County in the 1950s and 1960s, including the Brunson petition. View Transcript…
View More
Listen To Their Stories Audio Header

Interview with Leola Ragin Parks

Leola Parks discusses her experience as one of the first African American students to attend Summerton High School. View Transcript…
View More