WS Chronicle

By Felecia Piggott-Long, Ph.D.

Some people called him the “Mayor of East Winston,” while others called him “The Mayor of East Third Street.” 

Jerry Lee Hanes, Sr. grew up on Third Street and in the Happy Hill Gardens, the oldest, liberated African American community in the state of North Carolina. Regardless of the name he was called, he was revered as a sage and a seer whose artistic vision revealed volumes about his love for the people on The Hill. 

There was standing room only as more than 200 well-wishers gathered at the Ben Piggott Gymnasium to memorialize one of the storytelling artists of the Happy Hill Collective on Thursday, July 1.

“Goodness of God” and “The Better Benediction”  were in the mix for a musical prelude for the service. Christopher Smalls offered the opening prayer, and Kevin Wade and Chris Butler read two New Testament scriptures. Phillipians 4:13 revealed, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Matthew 25:21 reads, “His Lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant; thou has been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many.”

Jerry Hanes, Jr., the son of Jerry Lee Hanes, Sr., was grateful to all of the guests who came out to celebrate this special moment.  “I just want to thank all of you for coming out to give honor to my father. He was a man of great vision and love for his family. He would have been very happy about being surrounded by his art and surrounded by so many people he loved,” said Jerry. Jr.  

“As the hour approached, he told me not to get excited. ‘Just cremate my body and sell my art.’ There is an organization called MUSE Winston-Salem, a museum supporting Winston-Salem history and art, including my father’s collection at the Winston-Salem State University Diggs Gallery.”

Several groups offered tributes to honor Jerry Lee Hanes, Sr. during the memorial program. They included Rising Ebenezer Baptist Church, Anderson Class of 1967, the Happy Hill Neighborhood Association, the arts community in Winston-Salem, American Legion Post 128, and Masonic Lodge Salem 139. 

Rev. Phillip Boyd conducted the eulogy with a very personal touch of knowledge and love. The United States Navy offered recognition on behalf of Hanes’ service. Hanes had been elated to confirm the museum loan agreement for his artwork on the Juneteenth holiday 2024.

Kayyum Allah, the founder of the Happy Hill Art Anthology, grew up with Jerry Hanes, Sr.  He was honored to have Hanes as a part of the art collective. “Brother Jerry was an art innovator. He was creating unique art in a way no one else had ever done,” said Allah.“ He used mathematics, geometry and geometric shapes to create a special motif. If Picasso would have seen Hanes’ art, he would have imitated him. Cubism came from Picasso’s  observations in Africa.”

Jerry Lee Hanes, Sr. and Ben Piggott are both members of the Prince Hall Masonic Lodge 139 as 32nd Degree Masons. Piggott conducted a masonic ritual in honor of Brother Hanes. “I can tell that Brother Jerry Hanes focused on history and culture in his craft. He was very connected to the Society for the Study of Afro-American History for Winston-Salem/Forsyth County, Inc. His artwork tells the story of Winston-Salem and the important characters in it,” said Piggott. “I was always impressed with his portrayal of the ‘Street Preacher’ and ‘Seek and You Shall Find.’  Both of these images stress the importance of learning from your teachers.”

Hanes’ signature work of art stands in his front yard. It is called ‘The Dancer.’ “In my signature piece, I use all of the colors on the spectrum and the strongest shape in the universe – the triangle,” Hanes said in a 2015 interview. “The triangle shows strength, such as the wonder of the pyramids. My professor, James T. Diggs, taught me that the triangle is the strongest shape in the universe. I always use it in my work.” 

A graduate of Anderson High School Class of 1967 and a Vietnam War veteran, Hanes studied at Winston-Salem State University under such international artists as Professor James T.  Diggs, Hayward Oubre, Mitzi Shewmake, and Roland Watts. Hanes chose to serve in the U.S. Navy while Allah chose to serve in the U.S. Army.

Hanes has become well known for his collection of 50 narrative paintings of Winston-Salem called “Winston-Salem Legacy from My Perspective.” Hanes was inspired by the work of Jacob Lawrence’s “The Migration of the Negro Series” (1940-1941). He also admired the work of Charles White, Romare Bearden, Elizabeth Catlett, Marvette Aldrich, Lois Mailou Jones, and other Renaissance women.

Jerry Lee Hanes, Sr. has always honored God for the blessing of his craft. “I am indeed very proud that the Lord gave me the strength to do this. It is not about me. It is God within. That is the power,” said Hanes.