The land that became Grier Heights was owned by Sam Billings. His life is an amazing example of faith, perseverance, ingenuity, and generosity. He was born enslaved but used his gifts to become a successful farmer who purchased 50 acres of land in 1892 in an area that at the time was just outside the city of Charlotte. The area known as the village of Billingsville developed into a thriving Black community. Although uneducated himself, Sam Billings donated two acres for Billingsville School. A person of deep faith, he was one of the founders of Weeping Willow AME Zion Church. The first video posted below features several Grier Heights residents reflecting on the life of Sam Billings.
The namesake of Grier Heights was Arthur Grier. During the first half of the twentieth century, he started as a farm laborer on a local plantation and became a successful businessman. He was the first Black person to develop a subdivision in Charlotte. In the years immediately following World War II, Arthur Grier financed the building of houses for Black veterans. He helped them to access home purchase assistance through the GI Bill. This was a significant accomplishment, because the vast majority of Black veterans were unjustly denied their rightful benefits. In addition to being a successful businessman and community leader, Arthur Grier was a person of deep faith who donated the land for Grier Heights Presbyterian Church. The second video posted below features local residents reflecting on the life of Arthur Grier.
Both Sam Billings and Arthur Grier developed their gifts and made major contributions to their communities in the context of the oppressive system of Jim Crow legal segregation. They are examples of the resilience of Black people and Black communities in the face of ongoing racism. I am grateful for our relationships in Charlotte and for learning about some of that city’s local Black history. I encourage you to explore the Black history of your local community, because it is local American history.