Hundreds of Georgetown residents come out to celebrate unveiling of Whispers of My Ancestor, Harriet Tubman and Georgetown’s rich history

By Karen Owens, Publisher

It was an auspicious occasion filled with excitement and anticipation as hundreds of local residents and visitors filled up the main Georgetown Library branch to watch a new sort of history being made while honoring the courageous efforts of Harriett Tubman, founder of the Underground Railroad.

Sculptor Wesley Wofford addresses the audience with his work, Whispers of My Ancestor, behind him.

Yesterday’s event started nearly three years ago when a traveling exhibit entitled Journey to Freedom featuring Tubman and her travels to free hundreds of enslaved people was installed at Rainey Park in the fall of 2023. It sparked an idea that resonated with members of the Friends of the Georgetown Library who were looking for a way to commemorate the re-opening of the library after its major renovation and auditorium addition. According to Bob Willey, past president of the Friends group, they wanted to provide something special for the children’s reading area that would inspire and educate the young people of Georgetown, tapping into the community’s history.

A small group of organizers including Willey met with the acclaimed sculptor Wesley Wofford, creator of the Journey to Freedom sculpture, and discussed ideas to create a piece for the library. The result was a sculpture that would depict Tubman whispering into the ear of a young James A. Bowley, her grandnephew and one of the first people she helped to set free through the Underground Railroad. Bowley would eventually come back to Georgetown as a young adult and made quite a name for himself as an educator, lawyer, legislator and judge.

Thanks to the generosity of donors, more than $60,000 was raised to create this life-size statue of Tubman and young James, set on an ascending staircase with the words “Nurture” and “Inspire” carved into the steps. Wofford expressed his hope that his work highlights the importance of intergenerational guidance and reminded us that we all play a role in lifting up our youth.

Georgetown County Library Board Chair Michelle Greene

“I hope that children are inspired to listen and learn from history and make the world a better place, and I hope that adults are inspired by how important guidance is to make the world better and brighter,” Wofford said.

Several notable participants in the Whispers of My Ancestor project spoke to the audience assembled, including Michelle Greene, chair of the Library board; historian and author Steve Williams,  Rep. Carl Anderson, poet and author Eunice Brown and Georgetown County Clerk Alma White. Senator Ronnie Saab and Georgetown Mayor Jay Doyle were also in attendance. 

What resonated with me was the diversity of people in the audience — from age to ethnicity, from varying economic and educational backgrounds, and from local Georgetonians to newcomers like me. But we all shared a sense of pride and wonder as we listened to the speakers and watched the two individuals who served as models for the sculpture remove the gray cloth to unveil the newly beloved masterpiece for all to see. As Michelle Greene said,  education knows no boundaries. May this beautiful statue serve as a wonderful reminder of that truth for many years to come!