OUR HISTORY

The Newtown community came into existence after the Tornado of 1936 destroyed much of Gainesville. These four room houses built during a massive disaster recovery effort were transformed into a village where women cared for their families with love and laughter in the midst of extreme economic hardships.

The Newtown Florist Club was formally established in 1950. Founded by Mrs. Ruby Wilkins, Mrs. Faye Bush, and other women and men in the community.

The Club was established by women in the community who were neighbors and enjoyed being together. This community social club started as a way for women to come together monthly to fellowship with one another. They would put in monthly dues, talk about church, talk about families in the neighborhood whose loved ones passed away and how they could help. One of the ways they helped was by serving as flower girls for deceased members of the community. Club members would also tend to the sick, help each other during  difficult times, watch each other's children and plant gardens in their backyards. Many of their husbands worked as poultry workers,  in nearby factories or wherever they could find work.

During one of the most critical periods in our nation’s history a small group of women took on the challenge of fighting against unfair treatment and housing, unequal allocation of municipal resources, discrimination based on race in public education, economic inequality, police violence, voting rights, and environmental injustice.

In the late 1990’s Club members became aware that many of our loved ones were dying from various forms of throat, lung and/or colon cancers. This awareness began our fight for environmental justice.

Through the years the Club's mission has evolved into a Community Advocacy group that promotes youth development, organizes and functions to reform social, environmental, and economic justice through a variety of projects and programs.

Decades later the Newtown Florist Club carries on!