Current Community Member: Eness Little
Eness Marie Little was born on July 28, 1955 to the late Lewis “Bubba” Reese and the late Henrietta Freeman Reese. She began school during segregation, attending the all-black East End Elementary School in Seneca S.C. from 1st through 6th grade. By the time she had moved to junior high, schools had integrated, and she attended Clemson Junior High School for 7th and 8th grade then on to Daniel High School until she graduated.
During her 10th grade year, Mrs. Little found a love for cheerleading and tried out for the team which, until this point, had been all white students. Her willingness to pave the way and her success during try outs meant she became the first black cheerleader at Daniel High School, opening the doors for other young black women to participate. Mrs. Little went on to cheer the rest of her high school years at Daniel.
Historical Community Member: Horace Littlejohn
Horace Littlejohn and his wife Gertrude owned and operated Littlejohn’s Grill on Old Greenville Highway in Clemson from the 1940s to the late 1960s. During this time, segregation was law, so Littlejohn’s Grill provided meals and lodging for African American performers traveling the Chitlin’ Circuit. During this time, many future greats of jazz and blues performed at the Littlejohn’s Grill, attracting crowds of 1500 people. In fact, these crowds began to blur the strict segregation rules of the time with white patrons in the balcony and black patrons on the main floor. These patrons were treated to performances by Ruth Brown, Ray Charles, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Elmore James, Little Richard, Fats Domino, Muddy Waters, Big Joe Turner, Piano Red, Mac Arnold. Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, Jackie Wilson, Sam Cooke, Red Foxx, and, perhaps most notably, James Brown.
After Littlejohn’s death in 1968, the Grill fell into decline, eventually closing its doors, and the buildings were torn down in the early 1990s. Today, the Littlejohn Community Center, run by Horace’s granddaughter Adraine, sits on the property where the Grill once stood. This legacy also inspired what has become the Greater Clemson Music Festival, which takes place at a variety of locations in and around Clemson during the month of April
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