Parade Landmarks
Dr. Robert Burt
Burt Cobb School and Rec Center
Foston Funeral Home
Clarksville Fire Department
Wilbur N. Daniel
WNDAACC at APSU
Fifth Ward Missionary Baptist Church
Warfield Masonic Lodge #44
Hooker Funeral Home
Dixon Park
City Councilperson Wanda Smith
County Commissioner Rashidah Leverett
Kathy Adams-Johnson,
Parade Marshall
Parade Route
Cathy Adams-Johnson
Parade Marshall
We are thrilled to announce that Cathy L. Adams-Johnson has been named the Parade Marshal for the Clarksville Juneteenth Parade!
Originally from Jacksonville, Florida, Cathy grew up in a large, loving family as the 7th of 11 children. Her journey led her to serve in the U.S. Army, where she was stationed in Virginia, New Jersey, Germany, Texas, and Korea—where she met her husband, David M. Johnson, during her second tour. In 1992, the Army brought them to Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and after retiring in 1998, Clarksville became their home.
Never one to stay idle, Cathy immersed herself in community service, contributing to organizations such as the Clarksville Black History Month Committee, Fancy Lady Bugs, Women Veterans of America, Buffalo Soldiers, People Helping People, and more.
Join us in celebrating Cathy L. Adams-Johnson as she leads this year’s Clarksville Juneteenth Parade!
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Burt School
Robert Tecumseh Burt was born the son of freed slaves. On March 6, 1906, Dr. Robert T. Burt, then 33, made medical history when he opened the city's first hospital. It was a day that eventually led to the breaking of color barriers in a town where nearly half the population was African American at that time. His was not only the first, but the only hospital in Clarksville for 12 years.
Today, Clarksville honors Burt’s memory in the names of the old Burt High School now Burt Elementary (110 Bailey Street) , and the city’s Burt-Cobb Recreation Center (1011 Franklin Street), as well as in an exhibit at the Customs House Museum and Cultural Center.
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Dr. Robert T. Burt
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Dixon Park is one of the oldest in the city. Originally known as 10th Street Park, it is named for J. Nathaniel 'Nace' Dixon and Nannie Dixon, who owned and operated an African-American funeral home in the early 20th century. Nace was the second Black Clarksville alderman in Clarksville's ninth ward. He was pro-prohibition and worked to eliminate saloons in the city. The Dixons owned property connected to the park. Now, Dixon Park is home to a playground, basketball court, pavilions, amphitheatre, and picnic area.
Dixon Park is located at 117 S. Tenth Street.
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Dixon Park
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Located at 900 Franklin Street
Harry Martin and Daniel Merriweather organized a Sunday School for Blacks on this side of the Cumberland River in 1865 while the wounds of the Civil War were still healing. This Sunday School became the basis for the church, formally established in 1870 as the First Baptist Church, with Rev. A. J. Stokes as its first pastor. Rev. Stokes led his congregation with passion as evidenced by the physical attack from local bar owners that he endured for preaching against drunkenness and alcoholism on October 2nd, 1887. Rev Stokes served as pastor until 1888.
Around 1911 the church was forced to take a new name, Fifth Ward Baptist Church, as a result of an obscure legal technicality.
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Fifth Ward Baptist Church
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Located at 816 Franklin Street
Foston Funeral Home (formerly Dowdy and Foston Funeral Home) was started August of 1938 by Herman W. Foston and C.A. Dowdy. Herman was an established businessman. C.A. Dowdy was from Nashville and he was a funeral director and embalmer. The first location was at the corner of Tenth and Franklin Streets.
In addition to providing funeral service to the community, the business was a source of information for African Americans during a period when many doors were closed to them. Therefore, it took the form of a community service agency: providing food, clothing, locating housing, making personal loans and assisting many local school children.
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Foston Funeral Home
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Located at 723 Franklin Street
Mr. Samuel E. Hooker (1924-2012) began Hooker Funeral Home in 1968 when he purchased the Roberts Ivie & Vance Funeral home where he had worked for 9 years prior to purchasing it. He was a noted embalmer and personable man with honorable character.
Mr. Hooker was an entreprenuer with interest in a number of funeral homes and other businesses. He opened a Night Club and named it the Pet Poodle. This club drew names such as Ike & Tina Revue, James Brown, B.B. King, Jimmy Hendricks and several other popular acts. His entrepreneurship extended to a Community Grocery Store and a Cab Service as well.
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Hooker Funeral Home
Mr. Samuel E. Hooker
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Wilbur N. Daniel African American Cultural Center
(WNDAACC)
Located on the campus of Austin Peay, the Wilbur N. Daniel African American Cultural Center was established in 1991 and named in honor of the first Black graduate from APSU.
Wilbur N. Daniel was born on January 2, 1918 in Louisville, Kentucky to Nathan and Fannie Daniel. In 1949 he accepted the pastorate of the St. John Baptist Church in Clarksville, Tennessee and while there he applied for admittance to Austin Peay State University which up to that time was all white. Rev. Daniel pioneered the way for integration of this university and graduated with honors in 1957 receiving the Master of Arts degree.
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WNDAACC
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Located at 802 Main Street
The Clarksville Fire Department has had it's first Black firefighter as recently as the 19060s.
Clarksville just recently has hired its first and only Black Fire Chief, Chief Freddie Montgomery.
Chief Freddy Montgomery
Clarksville Fire Department
Richard Henry Hampton Sr.
First Black firefighter of the Clarksville Fire Department
First Black Fire Chief of the Clarksville Fire Department
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Warfield Masonic Lodge #44
Located at 900 Main Street
In 1898, the Warfield Lodge #44, F&AM received their charter to become a chapter of the Tennessee Grand Lodge, Prince Hall Affiliated - an African American masonic group dating to the late eighteenth century. On October 3, 1901, they received a piece of property at the intersection of Ninth and Main Streets from N.L. Carney and D.W. Wyman. Today, they are still located on Main Street.
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Dr. Commissioner Rashidah Leverett
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Dr. Commissioner Rashidah Leverett is a 25-year resident of the district.
She has a doctorate in Organizational Leadership and works as a professor of Leadership and Social Justice at Fisk University in Nashville.
Since being elected to the County Commission in 2018, she has served on numerous county government committees.
Leverett brought attention to safety issues affecting the children at Norman Smith Elementary School to cover a dilapidated pool near the playground. She sponsored legislation making Montgomery County the second in Tennessee to adopt Juneteenth as a paid holiday for county employees.
Wanda Smith
Councilwoman Wanda Smith continues a family tradition of activism. She was born and raised in Clarksville, continues the tradition of a family that blazed, a trail of African-American activism and achievement in our community. Smith credits, her mother, Virginia, Martin Hatcher, for teaching her the principles of justice, equality, and community engagement. Her father, Otis, L Martin, Senior, one of the Clarksville police departments first black officers – taught her to be merciful, and treat everyone with kindness and respect. He also taught her about community service.
Councilmember Wanda Smith was nominated to the position of Mayor Pro Tem, which was followed by a unanimous vote by her fellow peers, electing her to the position.
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Parade Route
🅿️ Parking: Park anywhere downtown near the parade route.
⛔ Road Closures: Roads will be blocked off by 10:00 AM.
🚶🏾♀️ Parade Start: We’re rolling out no later than 11:00 AM.
💚 Health & Wellness Village: Find us in the 5th Ward Baptist Church parking lot.
🛍️ Shop with vendors, 💃🏽 dance with the parade, and celebrate Black joy with us!
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