‘Perry’ – deserving honor for Gifford historian

Jonnie Mae Perry, executive director of the Gifford Historical Museum & Cultural Center, was recently honored with the “Spirit of Community Award” by the Florida Commission on the Status of Women at its annual luncheon held in Orlando.

Perry is only the third recipient of the award from our area since its 1999 inception, following in the footsteps of the late Alma Lee Loy in 2018 and Susan Chenault in 2019.

The accolade recognizes Perry’s achievement in obtaining a $493,000 grant last year from the Florida Department of State’s African-American Cultural and Historical Grant program.

The grant will go toward expanding the museum, where newspaper clippings, posters, school yearbook photos and paintings highlight the stories of the countless Gifford pioneers who began settling here in the 1880s.

For Perry, keeping alive such stories of the generations who preached, tilled the soil, ran businesses, and dedicated their passions to improve and thrive in the small town is not only a privilege, but a “sense of duty.”

“History represents our past and future. If we don’t preserve history, we have no idea what was,” says Perry.

“We owe it to ourselves to stay strong and connected. That’s the respect I give to my enslaved ancestors … fifth generation of the enslaved.”

A graduate of Vero Beach High School, Perry received a Bachelor of Science in business administration from Morris Brown College, and had a 39-year career working for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and several corporations before returning here in 2011.

She has been active with a number of local nonprofits, including the Indian River County Historical Society, Laura Riding Jackson Foundation, Samuel and Audrey Hunter Memorial Foundation, and Treasure Coast Community Health. She is immediate past president of the American Association of University Women’s Vero Beach branch, and for the past three years served as AAUW of Florida’s state chair for Diversity and Inclusion.

The Gifford Historical Museum & Cultural Center, located off 45th Street, sits alongside the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park and Trail, across from Gifford Middle School.

The 1,150-square-foot, wood-framed building is a piece of history itself, previously operating as the Historic Macedonia Church, a place where members prayed and sang on Sundays. Originally built by Black railroad laborers in Sebastian in 1908, the church was relocated to Gifford in 1994 to serve as a Black historical museum for the county, according to the Indian River County Historical Society.

However, says Perry, “the church sat idle for 20 years.”

Under the direction of the Progressive Civic League of Gifford, the previously vibrant church hall was restored and officially reopened as a museum on Feb. 24, 2018.

Inside are photos of leaders who improved education, living conditions and activities for the youth in the community, many of whom are well known throughout Indian River County, with some still heavily involved in civics.

Perry says she didn’t always plan on being a historian. Her interest in genealogy peaked in the 1990’s when the Gifford native retraced her family’s history back to slavery.

Later, a friend reached out to her for a favor.

“I was asked by Mr. Godfrey Gipson to create a museum and Black history library in the historic church. He said that’s what the vision was for the community,” says Perry.

“Well, I was asked so it became a labor of love and passion. So, God had a plan for my life, and I just continued to be guided and grow.”

Today, Perry is laser-focused on transforming the center into a community staple.

The grant allowed Perry to secure contracts with Rhodes & Brito Architects, based in Orlando, and Lordes Cultural Resources, an international consulting firm. No architectural plans have yet been drawn up for the extension, which is still in the development stage.

Her goal is to expand the museum into a 15,000-square-foot building, to enable a new exhibit hall, a library, traveling cafe, banquet hall and an arts studio. She is arranging a visionary workshop with community stakeholders later this year.

“This will be a legacy not just for the people of Gifford, but the entire county,” Perry says.

Perry hopes her recognition will inspire and motivate young girls in Gifford to get involved in the community.

“Young people should know about the history of Gifford. It will give them a sense of pride.

Gifford was once a thriving Black community. It has a rich history,” she explains.

“If we don’t preserve history and tell the stories, it will be lost and unknown. That will be a tragedy.”

Photos by Joshua Kodis