Our History

In 1866, Rev C. Heyward, a traveling preacher from St. Matthews, SC, started the Bethel AME Church on the now St. James Cemetery site on Highway 15 South. This is where the first St. George Colored School began.

In later years, the church and school were relocated to Highway 78 East in the town of St. George. The children were taught in a small building on the old Bethel Church grounds; the school was called the Greenleaf School during this period. 

In 1908 the town of St. George negotiated to have the old St. George High School building relocated to the Ann Street site to facilitate the Negro students at the St. George Colored School. The building became worn and unsafe; it was then demolished. 

In 1922, the St. George Colored School hired Rev. A.D. Williams as principal, and his dream was to have a Rosenwald school building at the St. George Colored School. In 1926, his vision was realized. When the school received its accreditation, it was required to have an official name. Student Margaret Jones named the school Williams Memorial High in memory of the principal who dared to dream. The school was opened from 1926 to 1954. It has since been utilized as a venue for many other community, educational, political, and social activities. The last activity held at the St. George Rosenwald School was Project DEEP in 1970.