Learn About the Gullah People 

On Monday, January 13th at 2PM at The Mound House, Martha Bireda (pictured here) will be the guest speaker at The Estero Island Historic Society’s first public meeting of 2025.

Bireda is the Director of the Blanchard House Museum of African American History and Culture of Charlotte County. She will share stories of the Gullah culture of the Sea Islands off Georgia and South Carolina, and of her visits with the Gullah people who live on James and Johns Islands. She will also feature the stories of “basket” names given to babies, Watch Night, favorite Gullah foods, and the health and healing practices still in use today.

Bireda is a fifth generation Floridian and a fourth generation Punta Gordian. She is the great-granddaughter of Queen Evans Andrews, a pioneer who came to Punta Gorda in 1897 from Charleston, South Carolina. Martha is the daughter  of the honored Punta Gorda activist and humanitarian, Bernice Andrews Russell.

Bireda is the author of 15 books related to personal empowerment, racial disparity in school discipline and achievement, historical fiction, travel adventures, and two books for youth. Her latest book, Reflections of a Colored Girl, a memoir ,is the story of her experiences and lessons learned growing up during the Jim Crow era.

Everyone is welcome to attend this one-hour meeting. Admission is free; donations are welcomed.