Black history museum founder resigns

Johnnie Warner, founder of the Columbus Black History Museum, is no longer the organization’s executive director.

Warner stepped down from the position last week due to a lack of financial support, and is now working at the Kia plant in West Point. He has been replaced by David Gillarm, grand historian for the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Georgia, who became the museum’s director effective Dec. 6.

Warner, a 56-year-old retired veteran, had been running the museum, located at 315 8th St., as a volunteer. He said his wife suffers from rheumatoid arthritis and lost her job recently. So he had to find full-time employment to keep the family afloat.

Warner also believes some local black leaders have been reluctant to support the museum because of his focus on controversial issues such as slavery and lynchings, and that has hindered the nonprofit financially.

“I’m not making enough to support my family and the museum. That’s the main issue,” he said Monday. “And then the second issue is the museum needs to go to another level. I feel, if I’m out of the way, it can go to that next level.”

Gillarm, 35, said he has big shoes to fill walking in Warner’s footsteps.

“It was definitely an honor that he would choose me to carry on his legacy,” Gillarm said. “My vision is to basically enhance everything he started and to highlight the local history - those people like John Sconiers, William Spencer, Horace King, Ma Rainey, Dr. Richard Cobb, and other local blacks that many people don’t know about.”

Gillarm said the museum is currently in discussions with the Owlettes, an organization that oversees the Spencer House, about possibly moving the museum into the home, once the residence of Columbus’ first superintendent of black schools.

 “Johnnie had started this and they wanted to make sure the house was renovated enough to actually move the museum inside of it,” he said. “It would bring more focus on the Spencer House and Mr. Spencer’s legacy.”

Gillarm said he also hopes to do more programs involving the military. For February, the museum is planning a program to highlight the Buffalo Soldiers.

Warner is an army veteran originally from Cleveland. He retired from the military 20 years ago, and started the museum in 2004.

Warner said the museum currently has about 75 members, 50 percent of whom are white. He said he charged businesses about $250 for an annual membership. He tried to recruit black churches through the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance, offering a discounted price of $35 per year. But the churches didn’t respond.

“The museum doesn’t have membership from not one black church in the city,” he said. “And I have been open since 2004.”

Warner said the churches and some black leaders also have not supported the jubilee that the museum holds every year, as well as an annual event to commemorate the ratification of the 13th Amendment.

He said some business people currently supporting the museum include Brad Turner, formerly of W. C. Bradley Co.;  Paul Voorhees, owner of Ranger Joe’s; and Bill Buck, of Buck Ice & Coal. Politicians who have been supportive over the years include Mayor Teresa Tomlinson, State Rep. Calvin Smyre, State Sen. Ed Harbison, Marshal Greg Countryman, School Board Member Athavia Senior and U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop, he said.

Warner also had been teaching black history classes to some homeschool children. He said one local pastor, the Rev. Roderick Green, of First African Baptist Church, has a family membership.

Gillarm, who has been working with Warner since 2012,  said he will still highlight controversial aspects of history that some people are uncomfortable with, but try to also show how the community has pulled together in times of racial strife.

He said a regular individual membership at the museum costs $35, and $50 for unlimited access to materials and help with research projects.

The museum will remain open 2 to 6 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday, until the New Year, Gillarm said. In January, he plans to change the hours to Tuesday through Friday, from 2 to 6 p.m., and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Gillarm said he is a disabled veteran and will also be running the museum as a volunteer.

Warner said he will miss running the museum, but he believes it will be in good hands under Gillarm’s leadership. He plans to remain involved as a member and advisor.

“Black history, that is my heart,” he said. “But sometimes a man has got to do what a man’s got to do. ...I’m an old soldier, and so I’m flexible.”

This story was originally published December 14, 2015 at 5:32 PM with the headline "Black history museum founder resigns."