John Sunday Jr.

John Sunday Jr. (March 20, 1838 - January 7, 1925) was a carpenter, merchant, mechanic, cotton inspector, and state legislator in Florida. He served with fellow African American Charles Rouse representing Escambia County, Florida in 1874.[1][2] He also served as a councilman in Pensacola.[3]

He served in the 6th Regiment of the Corps d’Afrique in Port Hudson, Louisiana including at the Siege of Port Hudson.[4] He is also documented with the 78th Regiment, United States Colored Infantry (USCI) from 1863 to 1865 achieving the rank of First Sergeant. After the war he worked at the U.S. Navy yard in Pensacola. He was an organizer of the B. F. Stephenson Post of the Grand Army of the Republic and served as its commander for several years. His children included attendees of Fisk University and Meharry Medical College. The University of South Florida library has an engraving of him. [1]

A society was established to save his home and continues to work to advocate for awareness of Pensacola's diverse history and to preserve its cultural resources.[5]

In 2019, Pensacola's mayor declared March 20th John Sunday Day.[6] John Sunday Jr. Plaza is named for him.[7]

See also

References
  1. Florida's Black Politicians by Canter Brown Jr. page 130
  2. House, Florida Legislature (June 1, 1874). "Journal ..." – via Google Books.
  3. Brown (Jr.), Canter (June 1, 1998). Florida's Black Public Officials, 1867-1924. University of Alabama Press. ISBN 9780817309152 – via Google Books.
  4. "Righting the past: War veteran and prominent citizen, John Sunday is dead at 86". Pensacola News Journal.
  5. "John Sunday Society". John Sunday Society.
  6. Carter, Ly'Nita (March 20, 2019). "City of Pensacola commemorates March 20th as". WEAR.
  7. "Public Invited to Celebrate John Sunday, Jr. Plaza Dedication Aug. 25". www.cityofpensacola.com.
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