1939

Simpson P. Dean organized The Light of Tyrrell Credit Union of Tyrrell County, NC, which was chartered to serve the African American of the County.

The credit union financed business and building projects, a cooperative sawmill and the construction and remodeling of homes. The union also launched the Light of Tyrrell store and had as many as 300 members. As a result of the union’s financial projects, there were 72 black-owned farms in the county and some blacks has as much as $2,500 in their savings accounts.

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