January 19, 2021
Brief history
Al-Uzza Temple #169 formerly referred to as Aluzza Temple #169 was chartered on August 23, 1946. The following members were identified as officers when the charter was issued, W. B. Hunt, Illustrious Potentate, M. Mayfield, Chief Rabban and Jim Hunt, Assistant Rabban. Raymond Jackson was Imperial Potentate at the time of the charter issuance and his signature is affixed to the charter. Grand Junction, TN was listed as the oasis or location for the temple.
Various meeting locations for Al-Uzza has included Grand Junction, Bolivar, and Somerville. Somerville is the present oasis for which Al-Uzza is located. Housed in a very modern structure. Membership has typically come from Hardeman county, Fayette county, Tipton county, Shelby county, Haywood county and north Mississippi. The original chartered members were from Hardeman and Fayette counties.
To date, twenty – six nobles have assumed the role of Illustrious Potentate for Al-Uzza Temple #169. W. B. Hunt was the first Illustrious Potentate, 1946-1950. Hunt was a well-respected educator from Hardeman county and served as supervisor of education in the Hardeman county school system.
Succeeding Hunt in order of succession was Harry T. Coleman, 1950-1958. Harry Coleman was a Fayette county educator/administrator and served as Deputy of the Desert of Tennessee for many years. He also served as chair of the credentials committee for the Imperial Council. He was widely known and respected.
Succeeding Coleman as Illustrious Potentate was Major A. Jarrett, 1958-1959. Jarrett was an educator from Whiteville (Hardeman county). He served as principal of Allen-White high school from 1950-1970.
Following Jarrett was Frank Tucker, 1959 -1963. Tucker had ties to Shelby county and north Mississippi. During his tenure as Illustrious Potentate the temple held its meetings at True American Lodge in Somerville.
Succeeding Tucker was William Vasser, 1964-1969. Vasser was an educator from Fayette county serving as principal of Fayette-Ware high school. He also worked as an extension agent in Shelby county. He also served as Deputy of the Oasis for Somerville. It was during his tenure as Potentate that the land was purchased where the present building is located.
Succeeding Vasser was Evelyn C. Robertson Jr., 1970-1973. Robertson a native of Whiteville (Hardeman county), former educator/administrator, served as superintendent of Western Mental Health Institute and Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Mental Health for the state of TN. Robertson served as Deputy of Oasis of Somerville for 39 years. Having been designated as Deputy Emeritus in 2019.
Succeeding Robertson was David Woods, 1974-1975. Woods from Hardeman county (Bolivar), worked in manufacturing and was a farmer.
Succeeding Woods was Willie E. Person, 1976-1977. Person a native of Fayette county was an educator.
Succeeding Person was Samuel Bufford, 1978-1979. Bufford a Whiteville native (Hardeman county) was an educator.
Succeeding Bufford was Arthur Harris, a resident of Bolivar (Hardeman county) 1980-1981. Harris was an educator and served many years as promotional director/fund-raising chair for various events to support the temple financially.
Succeeding Harris was Ellis Mitchell, 1982-1984. Mitchell, a native of Hardeman county (Toone). Mitchell is a retired U. S. Postal employee and entrepreneur.
Succeeding Mitchell was Johnnie W. Lake. Lake a Hardeman county native (Bolivar). Lake was an educator/administrator.
Succeeding Lake was Arthur Herrod, 1987- 1988. Herrod a native of Mississippi, a methodist minister and entrepreneur. He strongly promoted membership from Mississippi.
Succeeding Herrod was Frank Gibson, 1989-1990. A native of Grand Junction (Hardeman county) Gibson was employed in the manufacturing industry.
Succeeding Gibson was Major Wilburn, 1990-1992. Wilburn, a native of Hardeman county (Bolivar) was an educator/administrator, serving as director of federal programs for the Hardeman county Board of Education. He also works in the funeral home industry.
Succeeding Wilburn was Rufus Albritton, 1993-1998. Albritton, a native of Tipton county (Mason) was an educator/administrator having worked in the Tipton county school system. He also championed the efforts as Potentate to complete the funding efforts to pay off the temple indebetness. This modern building is a model facility in the Desert of Tennessee. He also serves as Advisor to Al-Uzza Court.
Succeeding Albritton was John Harris, 1999-2000. Harris a native of Fayette county (Somerville). Harris was employed in the manufacturing industry.
Succeeding Harris was Edward Norphlet, 2001-2002. Norphlet is a native of north Mississippi.
Succeeding Norphlet was Ricardo Bullock, 2003-2004. Bullock was a native of Mississippi and Shelby county (Memphis). Bullock’s untimely death occurred while he was serving as Illustrious Potentate.
Succeeding Bullock was Rufus Albritton, 2004-2009. Albritton’s role has been described above.
Succeeding Albritton was Jimmy Lee Robertson, 2010-2012. A native of Hardeman county (Whiteville). A retired State of TN employee, having worked at Western Mental Health Institute and Nat T. Winston Developmental Center. He is also a licensed barber.
Succeeding Robertson was Tony Pierce, 2013-2014. Pierce, a native of Fayette county. He is a pastor and works in the manufacturing industry. He is the current Deputy of the Oasis of Somerville assuming this role in 2019.
Succeeding Pierce was Kenneth Bernard, 2015-2016. Bernard, a native of Tipton county (Mason). He is employed in the manufacturing industry and is a licensed funeral director.
Succeeding Bernard was Ray S. Walton, 2016-2018. Walton is a retired state employee (TDOT) and currently works for the Fayette board of education.
Succeeding Walton was Marlon A. Hill, 2019-2020. Hill is a native of Fayette county (Somerville). He is an educator/administrator and entrepreneur.
Succeeding Hill is James Willie Arradondo, 2021- . Arradondo is retired military, Honorary Past Imperial Potentate, Imperial Deputy, Military & Veterans Affairs Department of the Imperial Council. He is the spouse of the 48th Imperial Commandress, Jackie Brown Arradondo.
Reference was made above about the liquidation of the debt to pay-off the Al-Uzza building. A plaque dated January 2006 recognizes the following for their special efforts: Rufus Albritton, Ricardo Bullock, Samuel Bufford, Johnny Lake, Ellis Mitchell, Leve Rivers, Evelyn C. Robertson Jr., Jimmy L. Robertson, Major Wilburn, Frankie Wilburn, Hugholene E. Robertson, Delphus Hicks, John Harris and John Dodd. Not identified on the plaque but were know supporters financially for the building were Katie Lake and Reola Key.
In July of 2008, a mortgage burning celebration was held at the temple to recognize this marvelous feat. The Deputy of the Desert of Tennessee and other west Tennessee temples joined us for this celebration. Al-Uzza is one of only three temples in the Desert of Tennessee that own their own building.
In February of 1999, Al-Uzza Temple #169 was issued a plaque of life membership in the NAACP.
Al-Uzza, even though small in comparison to some temples throughout the domain, participates in all required activities and mandates of the Imperial Council: diabetes initiative, etc., and on several occasions Al-Uzza has hosted Tennessee shrine gala days. Excellent representation from the temple attends the annual sessions of the Imperial Council. The deep south collaborative also has members from Al-Uzza temple as part of its membership.
it is also notable that current recorder, Noble Major Wilburn has been recognized on more than one occasion as recorder of the year by the Imperial Recorder.
Al-Uzza sponsors a canned food drive each Christmas for distribution to needy families within the area that we represent. It also supports other charitable needs within our area. Civic and social affairs is recognized by this temple as a cornerstone of its responsibility. We also participate annually in the Christmas parade in Somerville and the annual Martin Luther King Day parade in Bolivar.
The female auxiliary of Al-Uzza Temple is Al-Uzza Court #63. It was organized in the early 1950’s at Grand Junction, TN. It was chartered on August 21, 1953. The oasis was later changed to the Oasis of Somerville. The temple and the court work very harmoniously to carry out the mandates of the Imperial Council, the Desert of Tennessee and local initiatives. Balls and other social events are sponsored and supported jointly.
Submitted by:
Evelyn C. Robertson Jr. PP
Deputy Emeritus