Grandmother’s Voice Reveals Garden’s Hidden Past | Virginia Beach News

A hidden voicemail sparked a historic breakthrough at the Norfolk Botanical Garden, leading to the confirmation of one of the 220 African American workers who cleared the land in 1938. Barbara Rice, whose grandmother Marie Freeman Davis Boyd was one of them, shared family stories and photos that helped verify Big Mama’s role — a vital, underrecognized contribution to the garden’s foundation. Despite segregation laws that barred these workers from entering the garden until the 1960s, their legacy is now being honored, with Marie’s family planning to celebrate her at the garden’s annual event in September. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/23dcee516ed52afc