Historic Saluda Committee’s June Step Back in History Program

The Historic Saluda Committee’s next program in the “Step Back in History” series will be Saturday, June 9, at 10 a.m. at the Saluda Center.

This program will feature a meet and greet with special guest Pearlie Mae Suber Harris. 

Harris was the daughter of a black Baptist minister, moved to Saluda in the 1930s as a very young child when her father, the Rev. Lester Samuel Suber, was called to preach at St. Matthews Baptist Church.

At a very young age, she worked for the wealthy white families who had second homes in Saluda. However, she was paid a fair wage and, at times, was the family bread winner.

The Rev. Suber was always dressed in a white shirt, even when he was plowing the fields and read stories out of the Bible as if it were a wonderful novel.

Harris became an elementary school teacher in Greenville, South Carolina, and finished her master’s degree at Furman University.

After retiring, Harris wanted to find a way to help her community and starting volunteering at the St. Francis Health System in Greenville.

In 2009, she became the first African-American and the first woman to serve as the chair of the board of directors. The Pearlie Harris Cancer for Breast Health in Greenville is named in her honor.

Today, she comes back to Saluda to talk with the elementary school students about life in Saluda prior to the civil rights movement.

She also was featured in the HSC’s oral history film documentary, “Going Home: Saluda’s Music Traditions,” released in 2016.

The HSC invites the public to join the conversation with Harris and hear more about what her life was like growing up in Saluda.

Refreshments will be served. The Saluda Community Land Trust is collaborating with this event. The event is free and open to the public.

The Historic Saluda Committee is an official committee under the jurisdiction of the city of Saluda working to preserve the history of Saluda.

For more information about the Historic Saluda Committee visit www.historicsaluda.org or contact historicsaluda@gmail.com.

– Submitted by Cindy Tuttle