Charlie Ware (Baker County, Georgia) facts for kids
Charles Ware (born May 4, 1914 – died March 10, 1999) was an African-American man from Baker County, Georgia. His shooting by a local sheriff was a very important event that helped change how Black Americans were treated in that area.
Contents
Early Life of Charles Ware
Charles Ware was born in Baker County, Georgia. His parents were Zeddie Ware and Willie Mae (Kegler) Jenkins. Charles's father passed away when he was young. In 1920, Charles lived with his mother and three siblings on his grandparents' farm in Milford. Later, in 1940, he lived in Micanopy, Florida, and worked at a lumber company.
The Shooting on July 4, 1961
On July 4, 1961, Charles Ware was at a barbecue in Baker County. This barbecue was held at Ichauway Plantation, which was owned by Robert W. Woodruff, a leader at Coca-Cola. During the event, a disagreement happened between Charles Ware and a white overseer of the plantation, involving a woman. The overseer then complained to his friend, L. Warren Johnson, who was the white sheriff of Baker County.
That night, Sheriff Johnson went to Charles Ware's home. He arrested Charles and put him in handcuffs. The sheriff then claimed over his radio that Charles was attacking him with a knife. After this false claim, Sheriff Johnson shot the handcuffed Charles Ware four times. Charles was hit three times in the neck but thankfully survived.
After the Shooting
After the shooting, a grand jury in Baker County accused Charles Ware of a serious crime. However, Charles's lawyer, C. B. King, filed a lawsuit in federal court. This lawsuit claimed that the sheriff's story was not true and that he had shot Charles without any reason. In 1963, an all-white jury decided that the sheriff was not guilty.
Later, the Black community in the area organized a successful boycott. They stopped shopping at a grocery store owned by one of the jurors, which eventually forced the store to close.
When Charles Ware's criminal case went to trial in July 1963, he was found guilty by the jury. However, the jury suggested a light sentence for him. By this time, Donald L. Hallowell had also joined Charles's legal team. During the trial, his lawyers strongly argued that African-Americans were unfairly kept from serving on juries in Baker County.
Later Life and Death
Charles Ware later moved to Albany, Georgia. He passed away at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital when he was 84 years old, after having several strokes. He was survived by his wife, Louise, two daughters, and 13 sons.
See also
