Wilcox County
Soap & Cultural Arts Historian
Wilcox County born and
raised, Betty Anderson grew up surrounded by heritage arts that were created
out of necessity. From making their own soap and clothing, to furniture and
quilts – Betty was ingrained with the heart and soul of an artist, but didn’t
know it. In addition, Betty’s father was a successful entrepreneur, who ran the
longest open business by an African American in the Black Belt – The Camden
Shoe Shoppe.
After over
twenty years of a professional career in New York City,
and living through being trapped in the subway under the World
Trade Center
on 9/11, Betty moved home to Wilcox
County. Drawing from her
childhood memories and learning, Betty began to make traditional lye soap. In
addition, she made it her mission to honor her father’s hard work and memory by
creating the Camden Shoe Shoppe Museum – which showcases her father’s historic
tools, family quilts, Wilcox County Civil Rights educational materials, a large
collection of quilts, and more.
In addition to her many creative ventures, Betty
does historic lye soap demonstrations and educational programs and gives guided
tours of her museum.