Little River PO is Dedicated to Civil Rights Activist Jesse J. McCrary, Jr.

L to R:  US Representative Frederica S. Wilson, Jessica (McCrary) Campbell, and Mrs. Margaret McCrary pose between the portrait and plaque of  Jesse J. McCrary, Jr. Photo:  Briggett Glinton 

Jo Ann Feindt, Area Vice President, Southern Area Operations, addresses crowd, including (seated L to R) Dr. Mack King Carter of Carter Ministries, US Representative Frederica S. Wilson, Mrs. Margaret McCrary, and Jessica (McCrary) Campbell.  Mrs. McCrary is the widow and Jessica Campbell is the daughter of Jesse J. McCrary, Jr.  Photo:  Debra J. Fetterly

Crowd stands at attention for City of Miami Honor Guard and singing of the national anthem.  Photo:  Debra J. Fetterly

Approximately 150 people gathered on the front lawn of the Little River Post Office to pay tribute to Civil Rights activist Jesse J. McCrary, Jr.  Photo:  Debra J. Fetterly

Music students from the Jesse J. McCrary, Jr. Elementary School sang a song in honor of the school's namesake.  Photo:  Debra J. Fetterly

Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson and Area Vice President, Southeast Area Operations Jo Ann Feindt honored late civil rights activist, state politics trailblazer, and South Florida community leader Jesse J. McCrary, Jr. at the Little River Post Office in Miami.  The McCrary family and friends, community and postal officials, and the media gathered on the front lawn for a dedication ceremony. 

McCrary was an American lawyer in Florida. A civil rights activist, he entered state politics and served as Secretary of State of Florida, becoming the first African American member of the Florida Cabinet since the end of Reconstruction.  In 1967, McCrary became Florida's first assistant Attorney General. He returned to private practice in 1979 and was active in the community in the 1980s and 1990s. 

At the ceremony, then Miami Officer-In-Charge Steve Hardin shared emcee duties with Wilson who, along with Feindt, praised McCrary for his many contributions to the community.

“He would say that each of us was given a bag of rules and a set of tools,” said U.S. Rep. Frederica S. Wilson.  “And it is up to each of us to decide whether to be a stepping stone or a stumbling block.”

Clearly Jesse J. McCrary, Jr. was a very special person not only to his family, but to the community,” said Feindt.  “His destiny was public service.  Although his qualifications would have opened the door to opportunities at many large firms, he preferred to address some of the everyday issues that impacted African Americans and the community.”

Program highlights included a performance by Jesse J. McCrary, Jr. Elementary School music students.  Postal supervisor Tayloria McPhee-Johnson sang the national anthem and a musical selection. Manager, Customer Service Operations Ernesto Cintado and Manager, Customer Service Lori Moore assisted with the unveiling of the plaque inscribed “Jesse J. McCrary, Jr.”

An increasingly common form of legislation is the naming of Post Offices for former members of Congress or other figures of local or national renown.  For operational reasons, Post Offices retain their geographical designations in the USPS addressing system, and there is no change in the way renamed Post Offices are identified in the official listing of Post Offices. The tangible effect of naming a Post Office is the installation of a dedicatory plaque in the lobby.