From King's Speeches to Hollywood Dreams: The Unsung Heroine

of Charleston's Legacy

Charleston isn’t just famous for its cobblestone streets and historical landmarks; it’s also home to some of the most captivating stories and personalities. One fine day, thanks to my LinkedIn musings about the Lowcountry Influentials, I stumbled upon Anice Carr – a Charleston native whose life story reads like an exhilarating novel.

Picture this: a young Anice, at the tender age of 14, not just hearing about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., but actually being in the same room with him. That's right, she didn't just catch his speeches on TV or radio – she was there in person, soaking in the words of one of history's greatest figures. Talk about being in the right place at the right time!

Anice's life is like a passport stamped with experiences. After trotting around the globe and immersing herself in cultural exchange programs, she emerged as a proud Howard University alumna.

Then came a plot twist: after a 15-year stint as an internal auditor and assistant national bank examiner in the high-stakes world of Washington, D.C., Anice decided she needed a change. And what's a better place to find sunshine and adventure than Los Angeles? There, she dived into the film and television industry, brushed shoulders at HBO, and even found a friend in “Pop Gordy” – the father of Motown Records founder Berry Gordy. She wasn't just in Hollywood; she was part of it.

But home is where the heart is. Returning to Charleston in 1994 to care for her mother, Anice didn't slow down. She became a driving force behind local arts festivals like Spoleto Festival U.S.A., and even played a key role in expanding the North Charleston Cultural Arts Department.

She became a member of the board of the Avery Institute for Afro-American History & Culture and played a vital role in the Gullah Consortium of the National Park Service, contributing to the Gullah-Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor.

During our chat, I asked Anice about her personal hero. Without skipping a beat, she spoke of her mother, Wilhelmenia Geddis – a woman who was not just a force of nature but a visionary leader. In 1963, Wilhelmenia started Dreamland Nursery, the first licensed African-American daycare in Charleston. From a humble beginning with five neighborhood kids, the daycare grew into a haven for a hundred children, complete with wholesome meals, field trips, and even dance and piano lessons. Talk about a superwoman!

Wilhelmenia Geddis wasn't just a single mother of four; she was a pillar of the Charleston community and a respected businesswoman. She carved her niche in the Charleston business scene with the help of local business luminaries like Mr. Henry Berlin and Mr. Morris Kalinsky.

Meeting Anice and learning her family's rich history was not just a privilege but a revelation of Charleston's multifaceted legacy.

And that’s why Anice Carr is a Lowcountry Influential.