BAMBERG — Two retired educators, who have meant so much to Bamberg County, talked about their lives and teaching careers during a special Black History program sponsored by the Arts Council of Bamberg County.

Emma Ruth Dowling and Wilhemenia Juanita Abel were the guest speakers for the program, which was held at the Hooten-Black House in Bamberg.

Wilhemenia Abel, a Claflin University Hall of Famer, said her main objectives in life have been “living right and treating people kindly.”

Abel began her teaching career in 1928 at Oak Grove School on Hunter’s Chapel Road near Bamberg. She recalled living with the Harlen Bradham family so that she could teach near Union Church, where the school was located on the churchyard. She recounted earlier days when life was much different than it is today.

“I worked on a farm. I can remember when we were offered $1 when we picked 100 pounds of cotton and $2 for 200 pounds and so on,” she said, adding that she could never work hard enough to earn that $1.

The oldest of eight children, Abel has outlived all of her siblings except her brothers John Westley of Walterboro and Martin Abel of Bamberg. Although she spends weekdays at an assisted living facility in Bamberg, Abel is active at Bethel United Methodist church, where she is a lay speaker and the oldest member.

Emma Dowling, who has been retired from teaching for 30 years, talked about her experiences with segregation and how difficult it was for her to understand why she and other blacks could not be accepted as equal to whites.

Although Dowling, 86, has contributed much to the county of Bamberg as a volunteer and civic leader, there was a time when those opportunities seemed unattainable, thanks to racial disparities.

“It just didn’t make sense to me that I couldn’t walk into the front door of Clyde’s (a former Bamberg restaurant) like a normal person and buy a hamburger. What was wrong with me that I had to go to the back door?” she said.

Dowling said she struggled with the racism, adding that there was a time when she hated Bamberg and white people.

“Now I love everyone; I don’t hate anyone. First of all, even if I did, no one would know it. It does no good to hate,” she said.

Over the years, Dowling said, she is glad she could put aside her feelings about the past and work with and appreciate everyone.

“I have all kinds of friends now,” she said.

A World War II veteran, Dowling has served in key leadership roles at Mt. Carmel United Methodist Church in Bamberg, where she continues to teach an adult Sunday School class. She continues to be involved in several service organizations including the Bamberg County Chapter of the American Red Cross, the Bamberg County Hospital and Nursing Center Auxiliary and the Arts Council of Bamberg County.

During the program, Lee Early presented a monetary donation to the Arts Council on behalf of her husband, Circuit Judge Jack Early, and herself in the names of Dowling and Abel to recognize the two women for their service to the community.

Those attending got an opportunity to view an art exhibition that included the work of Denmark artist Christy West and Bamberg artists Phyllis Herring and Cheryl Maynard-Ryan. A traveling African-American exhibit from the South Carolina Heritage Corridor was also on display. In addition, Helene Carter entertained the audience with a poetic monologue in honor of Abel and Dowling.

The art exhibits are still on display at the Hooten-Black House and can be viewed from noon until 2 p.m. on Wednesdays, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursdays and from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays.

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