Charles Dodds Flees To Memphis

1909 – Charles Dodds, husband of Julia Majors (Robert’s mother) and a successful Black businessman and farmer flees (1) Hazlehurst, Mississippi in the dead of night, disguised as a woman, to avoid being lynched after a dispute with John and Joseph Marchetti, two Italian Hazlehurst businessmen. Joseph and Charles apparently shared the same mistress. Charles flees to (3) Memphis, settles in an apartment on Handwerker Ct. and changes his name to Charles Spencer.