The Fieldcrest Community is on the rise again

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On Saturday, hundreds of Fieldcrest residents held a social drop-in on the campus of the Phillis Wheatley Community Center.

There were fun and games and plenty of food and drinks.

This social drop-in has become a tradition dating back many years.

The Fieldcrest Homes Apartments are in historic Nicholtown.

Fieldcrest Homes was the area's first public housing development. Built by the Greenville Housing Authority in the 1950s, these apartments offered various sizes, from 2 to 5 bedrooms, along with amenities such as refrigerators, stoves, bathrooms, closets, and heating.

When Jesse Jackson's family moved to Fieldcrest Homes in 1953, he described it as a significant step, feeling "as if we had joined the middle class". 

The middle class doesn’t describe Fieldcrest today. However, it’s coming out of a slump in recent times.

Surely, a blossoming sense of community pride has emerged, creating a revitalization in recent years with renewed commitment to community development and positive initiatives.

It's situated conveniently close to downtown Greenville and offers a range of housing options, from older renovated homes to newer constructions. 

Old and young were out in numbers, strutting their stuff and having fun.

The Yeargins came early in goodly numbers. One lady wearing 47-D with Big MaMa on her white T-shirt and a bright smile offered me a Mountain Dew and brought me up to speed about the Yeargins.

Cynthia Yeargins started by saying that her mother fed all the children in the ‘hood at her house, even though most of them were not her children.  “She was generous like that,” she said

Cynthia added with a laugh that the Yeargins are one of the largest families in Greenville. I checked my phone and found two Yeargins in my contacts. One was Cynthia’s cousin, and the other had the first name of her deceased mother, the famous Big MaMa.

During only the first two hours of a six-hour gathering, a small sampling of participants is available. Already, the Yeargins were dominant.

Some families fit comfortably under the shadow of one tent. But the Yeargins had to have three tents, and they were eager to share their shade with me, a hot and sweaty staff writer/photographer.

One guy was in charge of frying the fish. Boy, was he putting his soul into it.

Another man was hawking “Field Crest” T-shirts, but he was not pushy or demanding. There is always a welcome place for pardonable pride in events like this.

Bikers were curious to see what so many people were doing, so they barged in, circled around, and promptly departed without stopping.

There were friendly ladies.

And adults with children in tow.

Tent masters with warm smiles.

The smiles are contagious and welcoming.

You’ve got to love the “Fieldcrest 2025 reunion” T-shirt.

There’s nothing quite like a juke master with a long black beard.

Also happily present were the Foggies, Thompsons, Heywards, Ashmores, and many others.

One lady was proud to announce that she was the first one to arrive.  And this is her first year, even though she has lived in the community for several years. She said she had to come and see what the event was all about.  She was visibly excited.

WhatsUpNews.online would love to hear your Fieldcrest story.  Call us at 864-569-9900.