Charlie Louisa Elizabeth "Aunt Isa" Holland-Monnie
An Educator and Humanitarian
December 25, 1865-August 1, 1926by B.A. Barbara Jefferson-Bonner
Charlie Louisa Elizabeth "Aunt Isa" Holland-Monnie was an out-standing citizen and scholar of Panola County. (1)She was born December 25, 1865, on Spearman "Major" Holland's Old Slave Plantation. (2)Charlie was one of six children born to the parentage of Charles Holland and Melinda Jones. Her father, along with other African Americans, cleared and harvested the land, in 1842. At the end of the emancipation, Major gave his land to the ex-slaves. The old plantation grounds is now known as the (3)Holland Quarters Community, Carthage, Panola County, Texas, and the area is still being inhabited by descendants of the original slaves.
Aunt Isa received her early training from white teachers. In 1877, at the age of twelve years, she taught her first official beginners class at Mt. Zion School, near Oddfellows Black Cemetery. (4)She taught in all the rural, African American schools in Panola County and in some adjoining counties.
In addition to the fact that she was an outstanding teacher, she was also a leader. (5)She was one of the leaders along with Mr. Joseph Benton and Mr. Mack McCarver who helped organize Carthage Colored High School in the early 1890's. (6)Joseph Benton served as principle at the school until 1897. (7)The school has since changed name and location. (8)Portions of the old school, now known as Turner High School, are being used as a Human Service HUDCO Center and child development center.
Not only was she helpful in organizing a secondary school for African Americans. She also assisted in the organization of the East Texas Summer Normal for Teacher Certification, and also the Teacher's Institute.
She was not only an educator but also a religious leader an organizer. She was an organizer of the Home Mission Society and B.Y.P.U. of the Bethlehem Baptist Church located in Carthage. (9)She held the first position as church secretary, and helped to secure the land on which the present edifice was built.
In addition to being an educator, religious leader and organizer, she was also a well known mid-wife.
In 1897, she married Jim W. "Lula" Monnie, after which she was known as Mrs. C. L. E. Holland-Monnie. After entering into holy matrimony she continued her career as teacher. (10)Her teaching career began in 1877, and ended at her death in 1926. The last two years of her teaching career were in Louisiana. By that time she had been promoted from a third class teaching certificate to a permanent certificate, given by the State Department of Education.
On August 1, 1926, thirty days before entering her forty-eighth year as teacher, she passed away. She was buried near the spot where she first began teaching.
(11)She was a Christian woman, a humanitarian in the truest sense.
(12)Her motto was, "Be thorough in all things that are ascertained by repetition, for all that is great and good is done by patient trying".
She was a pioneer in the teaching profession for African Americans in the Piney Woods of East Texas.
A Texas Historical Marker is needed in memory of Charlie Louisa Elizabeth "Aunt Isa" Holland-Monnie because of her ambitions and skills in the field of teaching African Americans. A Texas Historical Marker will speak for her and show how much we care and appreciate the concern she had when times were difficult. The location for the marker will be on County Road (CR) 221 off Farm-To-Market Road (FM) 959 in front of Zion Apostolic Church, where Elder Henry O. Blanton is Pastor and owner of the land.
(13)Zion Apostolic Church was established the 2nd Sunday in December of 1983. The land and structure were purchased from Rev's Thurman and Romina Johns-Pierce. The only change the Blantons made was to change the name of the church.
Notes
1. See 59-59 Holland, Chas father of Charlie Louisa Elizabeth Holland 1870 PCC - page 5
2. See 253-267 Holland, Charles father of Charlie Louisa Elizabeth Holland 1880 PCC - pg. 19
3. See Holland Quarters, Texas Handbook of Texas in Six Volumes Volume 3 - pages 665 & 666
4. See Teacher Service Record notarized by J.W. Yarbouough, County Supt.
5. See notarized letter
6. See notarized letter
7. See Court Record
8. See Court Record
9. See Bethlehem Baptist Church records
10. See notarized letter from R.E. Carswell, County Supt.
11. See notarized letters to J. Worth Yarborough County Supt., certifying knowledge and credibly of C.L.E. Holland-Monnie
12. See notarized letter from daughter Shelie M. Monnie-Jones
13. See 1840/1998 - Footprints into History - Barbara Bonner, Author Zion Apostolic Church - pages 61 & 62 4 miles W. of Carthage, TX on U.S. Hwy. 79, right on FM 959, right off FM 959 to CR 221.