Over the early and late Jim Crow periods, Ft Walton Beach (FWB) African American peoples lived, worked and raised families under the Jim Crow Laws of Florida in the mid-town area of Ft Walton Beach. They engaged in commerce, founded churches, started schools, broke race barrels and were mainly self-employed in construction trades and home services or were employed in the military and tourist economies in the Ft Walton Beach and Destin areas!
Despite the hardships and disadvantages during the Ft Walton Beach Florida Jim Crow Period African Americans managed to develop a strong heritage and cultural identity centered around the four African Churches in Mid-town area and from the mover and shaker leadership and support from eminent Ft Walton Beach Florida African Families that mostly lived on Germany Drive Harbeson Avenue NE), Washington Avenue (McGriff Street NE), Carson Drive and Hollywood Blvd. All contributed to the colorful and remarkable history of The Black Experience in Ft Walton Beach Florida during the Jim Crow and Post Jim Crow Periods!
Eminent African American families lived on the following Ft Walton Beach Florida Mid-town area streets:
Hollywood Blvd
- Sidney Scott , May V. Scott and Emma Scott Family
- Thynorl Yates Family
- Nick Nicolson Family
- Rev Samuel Family
Carson Drive
- Willie James King Sr. and Anna L. King Family
- Joe King Family
- James Robert King Family
- Mary Givens Family
- Betty Petty Family
- Candie Warren Family
Germany Drive (Harbeson Avenue NE)
- Algie L. King and Hattie L, King Family
- Jasper L Lee King Family
- J. T. King Family
- Bennie Mae King (Crawford) Family
- Dallas Yates and Ruth Yates Family
- Bennie (Daddy) Butler and Ethel Lee Butler Family
- Deacon Clarence J Alford and Parrie Lee Perkins Alford Johnson Family
- Nathaniel Horace “Nat” Harris and Victoria Smith Harris Family
- Algie L. Ford Sr. and Bennie Z. Pritchett Ford Family
- Rev William Ford and Minnie Ruth (Bethune) Ford Family
- Jerel Chestnut and Rosie Lee Chestnut Family
- Florence Family
- Livingston Family
Washington Avenue (McGriff Street NE)
- Inez Davis Kent Family
- Gloria Jean (Bell) Tippins And Robert Earl “Bob” Tippins Family
- Colonel Adolphus Burnette and Mary E. Burnette Family
- Charlie Hill and Alberta Hill Family
- Walker Family
- Clemmie James McGriff and Nona Moore McGriff (Woods) Family
Kiwi Place NE
- Buster David Family
- Bubba James Family
- Hermease Bennett and Cassie Bennett Family
Bobolink Street NE
Gipson Place
- Willie H. Bankston and Annie Bankston Family
- Abner Family
- Robert “Bob” Tippens and Gloria Jean Tippens
- Inez Davis Kent Family
Windham Avenue SE
- Archie Wilmer and Lola Mary Wilmer Family
- Rev Eugene Jones and Gladys (McNabb) Jones Family
- Joe (Possum) Davenport And Vida Ree Davenport Family
- Warren Hill Family
- The Chester Pruitt and Lula Oates Pruitt Family
Fourth Street NE
- Gresham Family
Tupelo Avenue SE
North Hills Garden Homes
- Potter Family
- Willie H, Bankston and Annie Bankston Family
- John Cobb Family
- Henry O’Neal Family
- Pee Wee Taylor Family
Sylvania Heights
- Rev Kilpatrick P Melvin Family
- Johnny Lee “Sugg” Florence and Edna Rean Jackson Florence Family
- Willie C. Harmon and Louise Harmon Family
- Erwin Carr and Gussie Yvonne Davis Carr Family
Love Joy Road
- Colonel Adolphus Burnette and Mary E. Burnette Family
- Willie James Byrd Family