Illinois and Mississippi, 2005-2007
(click on thumbnail images to view enlarged photos)
All photos were taken by Devery S. Anderson. Any reproduction is prohibited without permission.
Argo, Illinois,
where Emmett Till's mother and grandparents settled in 1924. Emmett was
raised here until he was nine years old. February 2007
Photographs of Corn Products,
International, in Argo, Illinois. Most men in Argo worked here,
including Emmett Till's father, stepfather, and grandfather. February
2007
Argo Temple Church of God—founded in 1926 in the home of Alma Spearman,
Emmett Till's grandmother; later moved to this location. The original
church building was raised and this one built on the same location in
1970. Emmett attended the Argo Temple with his family until his death.
February 2007
This vacant lot on 64th Street in Argo, is where two homes
once stood—the home that Emmett Till was raised in, as well as the home
that Wheeler and Hallie Parker lived in. Wheeler Parker, Jr., is the
cousin of Emmett Till; the two were very close. Both homes burned some
time ago. February 2007
Emmett Till attended Argo School, located across the street from Emmett
Till's Argo home. The name has since been changed to Wharton School.
February 2007
Emmett Till and his mother moved to the upstairs apartment of this house
at 6427 S. St. Lawrence Street in 1951, and lived here until his death.
The house was owned by Alma Spearman, Emmett's grandmother. February
2007
Emmett Till Road and S. St. Lawrence Street, where Emmett Till's family
lived across from each other in Chicago's south side. February 2007
Emmett Till attended this school in Chicago from 1951–55. At the time,
it was called James McCosh Elementary School, but in 2005, it was
changed to the Emmett Till Math and Science Academy. February 2007
When Emmett Till went to Mississippi on August 20, 1955, he stayed at
Moses Wright's home in East Money, Mississippi. This home sits where
Moses Wright's home sat. The barns in the back
were standing in 1955 and remain on the property today. October 2007
Bryant Grocery and Meat Market, February 2005
Bryant Store, deteriorating further, February 2007
When J. W. Milam and Roy Bryant were arrested on kidnapping charges,
they were held in separate cells at the Leflore County Courthouse in
Greenwood, Mississippi. While there, the National Guard was called out
to patrol the area when rumors were reported that blacks from Chicago
were coming to town to take the victims. February 2007
This is the spot on the
Tallahatchie River, called Pecan Point,
where Emmett Till's body was found on August 31, 1955. October 2007
When Emmett Till's body was retrieved from the Tallahatchie River, it
was taken to the Century Burial Association in Greenwood, Mississippi.
Here, the body was photographed by the police department and examined by
a pathologist. Although the funeral home has been rebuilt, it is still
in business in Greenwood.
February 2007
Moses Wright's church, the East Money Church of God in Christ, East
Money, Mississippi. He was pastor of this church when Emmett Till came
to visit. February 2007
Side view of Moses Wright's Church, East Money, Mississippi.
February 2007
Current sign at Moses Wright's church, East Money, Mississippi.
February 2007
Cemetery, East Money Church of God in Christ, where Emmett Till was
nearly buried on August 31, 1955, the day his body was retrieved from
the Tallahatchie River.
February 2007
Before Emmett Till’s body was
shipped to Chicago, it was embalmed in this building, located in
Tutwiler, Mississippi. At the time it was the Avent Funeral Home,
managed by Chick Nelson. October 2007
When Emmett Till's body was sent back to Chicago, it was taken to the A.
A. Rayner and Son's Mortuary. The funeral home is still in business, but
is located on 71st Street (named Emmett Till Road in 1991). The location
that Emmett Till was taken to was on Cottage Grove. February 2007
After preparations and a Friday night viewing at Rayner's and Sons,
Emmett Till's body was moved to Roberts Temple Church of God on State
Street in Chicago. The funeral was held here on Saturday, September 3,
1955, and remained on display until Tuesday, September 6. Thousands
passed by the casket. This is the original building, although it was
been remodeled. February 2007
Thousands of people filed past Emmett Till's casket while on display in
Chicago. This is the casket, as it appears today. Emmett Till was buried
for nearly fifty years before being exhumed for an autopsy in June 2005.
His remains were placed in a new casket and reburied; the original
remains in storage. Till's remains were covered with glass, and the
glass remains intact, although discolored and rusty. February 2007
On September 6, 1955, Emmett Till was buried at Burr Oak Cemetery in
Alsip, Illinois. February 2007
Tallahatchie Courthouse in Sumner, Mississippi, scene
of the Milam-Bryant Murder trial, February 2005
This
is the courtroom where the Milam-Bryant murder trial took place.
Although it has been remodeled, the railing in front of the spectator
section is the original, and was present at the time of the trial.
October 2007
This is the office of two of Milam and Bryant's
defense attorneys, J. J. Breland and Johnny Whitten. Although both
attorneys are now dead, their office looks exactly as it did 50 years
ago.
Harvey Henderson law office, Sumner, Mississippi. Henderson, still
practicing law, was one of the defense attorneys of J.W. Milam and Roy
Bryant
Emmett Till Memorial Highway sign, Highway 49, Greenwood Mississippi.
Erected June 2005