The History of the Fuller Story

On Saturday, August 12, 2017, a protest rally in Charlottesville, VA over the proposed removal of two Confederate monuments erupted into violence. Of the counter-protestors, one person died and 19 were injured. On Monday, August 14, 2017, a group of concerned residents and city leaders in Franklin assembled on the town’s square in the rain to hold a prayer meeting.

Not long after, “A Fuller Story” was born as two black men (Rev. Hewitt Sawyers and Rev. Chris Williamson) and two white men (Rev. Kevin Riggs and Historian Eric A. Jacobson) decided to work together along with our city’s mayor and administrators in an effort to build unity in Franklin. Our goal was to provide proactive solutions on the national controversy surrounding Confederate monuments. We decided that our efforts would focus on what could be put up as opposed to what could be taken down. We also believed strongly that local churches in our community should lead the way in this initiative.

After a year of meetings and much brainstorming, the Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted unanimously to place five historic markers in the town square that call attention to the suffering, but also the advancements, of African Americans in Franklin, as well as across the nation, before, during, and after the Civil War. Those markers were unveiled on Thursday, October 17, 2019.

Also approved was a full-scale statue of a United States Colored Troops (USCT) soldier to stand on the square in a place of equal nobility across from the Confederate monument. Tennessee native Joe F. Howard has been selected to sculpt the USCT soldier that will soon stand in the town square, not far from the steps of the historic courthouse.  Between 1863 and 1865 over 300 Williamson County men, most of whom were escaped slaves, became USCTs.  Many were processed through the same courthouse that stands today, part of which was used by Federal forces as a provost office.  On Tuesday, November 24, 2020, with thanks to God and all those who walked with us over the last three years, the City of Franklin Board of Mayor and Aldermen approved the design, placement, and installation of the USCT statue.

To make plans to join events celebrating this project October 21, 22, and 23.