Ophelia Luther took her first breath on August 30, 1906 in Mobile, AL from the union of Henry and Jessie Hansberry.  She was proudly named after her father’s mother. Ophelia grew up with her only sibling Artemus Hansberry and was the oldest.  Ophelia came from a rich heritage in which the Hansberry men owned big farms and raised crops to feed people in the town in which they lived. They never picked cotton and were blessed to be entrepreneurs owning barbershops, shoe stores (cobblers) and they were also merchant marines.

 Raised as a devout Christian, Ophelia dreamed of becoming a missionary.  She learned to trust in God at an early age. She was the great granddaughter of Reverend Arthemus Hansberry, Pastor and Builder of the ‘foot-washing’ Baptist church called, “The Most Heart of Love” in Mobile. She was the first baby to be baptized in the church. She practiced Christianity in all of her dealings with family and community.  Ever since the age of 8 she yearned for serenity. This desire for peace in God’s love sparked her passion for gardening.  She enjoyed her schooling and graduated from Emerson Industrial Institute, a Christian school in 1928.  During her schooling she was always an “A student.”  

 Love seemed to conquer all when she married her childhood sweetheart Preston Bowers in October of 1928. The union was blessed with several lovely children.  Her role as a wife and mother was to care for her husband and her children.  Unfortunately her husband died in an auto accident. A year later her brother died in his early thirties. These incidents caused her to feel all alone. However, despite her sadness she took pride in trusting in God to guide her steps.  She had fond memories of the “south”, but her faith and prayers led her to seek a new beginning.  In 1941, she packed up her belongings, her lovely children and moved to the ‘Motor City’.  It was very different from the south.  She knew no one.   Once again she took pride in trusting in God to help her find love again.  He answered her prayer and she married Herman Luther Sr.. Out of their union they were blessed with more lovely children. She took pride in teaching all her children to have faith in God and to walk in honesty and integrity.

Over the last 105 years, Ophelia saw wars, depression, recession, space exploration, computers, biotechnology, and genetic engineering, as well as political and social revolutions.  She was even proud to witness the first African American President of the United States of America. Amidst it all she remained a humble servant of God.  Wherever there was a need for kindness and forgiveness, she demonstrated it.   Through her 105 years she has been treated as a wise sage who would offer caring advice and comfort to those who sought her help. God was always on her side and she exemplified a virtuous woman.

God called her home on November 19, 2011.  Even though she is physically not present her spirit, wisdom, faith and love continues to resonate throughout her family.

In 1931, Artemus (Buster) Hansberry had just turned 22 years old, he was a newlywed having married Aline Collins Romain Hansberry, at the time she was 17 years old.  They resided where they both were born in Mobile, Alabama at 413 Temus Lane.  Out of this union came two sons Henry Hansberry and Julius Hansberry. The reason that 1931 is mentioned is because this is the year that Artemus and his sister, Ophelia (whom at the time was 25 years old) sued the City of Mobile and settled out of court for a certain amount of money. This settlement was in reference to the City of Mobile and State of Alabama wrongfully taking our family’s farm around the year 1915. The reason that I mention this story is because this happened in 1931 in the Deep South and they had to have been very brave to carry through on this lawsuit with the threat of being harmed by the extreme white racist society that existed during these times.

Artemus was born in 1909 to the parents of Henry Hansberry and Jesse Johnson Hansberry, the Hansberry family at that time was one of wealthiest black families in the Mobile area. Artemus was well educated and went on to work at the Alabama State Docks where they loaded and unloaded Cargo Ships. We were told by Grandma Aline and Aunt Ophelia that he was a very respectable, proud man that prided himself on honesty and respect. His word was his bond and these characterizations are still today instilled and are carried on in the men of this family to this very day. He was best friends with Preston, Aunt Ophelia’s first husband, whom passed away at an early age. Regretfully, Artemus also left this earth at an early age while at work in 1942 trying to save another man’s life from drowning.  He was 32 years old. I personally never knew my grandfather, but I met an older gentleman by the name of Mr. Fourteens whom lived in our neighborhood that knew him.

Mr. Fourteens told me that Buster was a fine friendly fellow that was always nice and would help anyone. He also said that if you crossed him the wrong way he didn’t have a problem with putting up a good fight if he had too and he wasn’t afraid to stand up for the community if needed. All of us should be grateful and absolutely proud to be ancestors of Artemus (Buster) Hansberry.  

We salute you Mr. Artemus Hansberry for if it wasn’t for you and your sister Ophelia Hansberry, none of us would be here today to celebrate our family and its great heritage. WE THANK YOU. WE LOVE YOU