Helena, Arkansas was a wealthy river city with a bustling port and a growing middle and upper class during the early 20th century. Immigrants from around the world settled in this southern town and started various businesses from mercantile stores to restaurants. In addition to a planter aristocracy, which had been present since before the Civil War, there was also a growing African American middle class in the city. The streets of Helena filled each weekend with families coming to town to do their shopping and be entertained in one of the many restaurants, theaters and bars located along streets with names like Cherry, Walnut, Elm and Phillips. Spacious Victorian Era homes dotted the hillsides of Crowley's Ridge and neat two story homes stood side by side along the residential streets. Impressive churches and government buildings dominated the skyline. In addition to these obvious signs of wealth, there was also another fact of life that dominated this beautiful city and that was the ugly face of segregation.  Helena, like so many other southern cities and towns, was officially segregated along racial lines.  Jim Crow laws kept people separated from birth to death, but side by side at the same time.  Magnolia cemetery was the so called "Black Cemetery" and Maple Hill was the "White Cemetery." There was also a Jewish and Catholic Cemetery. Even religion dictated one's burial. Helena had both "white" and "black" schools and churches. That was life in a segregated Helena, but there was money to be made by entrepreneurs willing to work hard and invest. 

Richie Charles Holbrook and his wife, Georgia, represented this entrepreneurship in Helena. Richie C. Holbrook was born on June 8, 1868 at New Orleans. Not much is known about his early life, but it is believed that he moved to Helena some time in the 1890s. R.C. Holbrook married Georgia Steen Arnold on November 28, 1899 in Phillips County, Arkansas. Holbrook was a Methodist minister, but was involved with education, real estate and insurance. Georgia was also a teacher and owned a business. 

In the 1911 City Directory of Helena, the couple are identified as living at 923 Porter Street. R.C. and Georgia list their occupation as teachers. Georgia states that she is employed at Peabody School. Mrs. G.A.S. Holbrook is also the owner of the Star Theatre located at 601-603 Elm Street in Helena. Holbrook Hall is located at 601 1/2 Elm. The Star Theater is advertised as "the only colored theatre in the city; has all the modern improvements; a high class vaudeville and motion picture show; new high-class attractions; popular prices; and only first class attractions booked."

Richie Holbrook and his wife became involved with the Royal Circle of Friends Organization. It was started by Dr. R.A. Williams of Helena in 1909. The RCF, as it was called, was an African American fraternal organization founded to supply insurance. It was also dedicated to the moral, physical, social and economic welfare of its members. The organization also supplied headstones for members featuring a lion sitting atop a triangle with the letters RCF in the points of the triangle. The RCF grew quickly and Williams started a newspaper in 1910 called the "Royal Messenger." The headquarters of the RCF became the Star Theatre. At the Royal Circle's meeting at Newport in 1911, officers were selected. These officers included G.S. Holbrook as supreme secretary and R.C. Holbrook as Inner Guard. Richie Holbrook was also identified as a past president. R.A. Williams was elected president.

On December 7, 1915, the East Arkansas Conference of the A.M.E. Church adjourns at Helena. Appointments were announced, a resolution to establish a reform school for African American children was passed, and a commission organized to go before the legislature and the State Railroad Commission and petition for equal accommodations on the railroads and to ask for fair treatment along the lines for African Americans.  R. C. Holbrook was placed on this commission along with four other ministers.

Although Richie Holbrook  is still living at 923 Poplar in 1917, there is talk of him being made dean at a new college of agriculture and mechanics at Shorter College in May 1917.  Leaders of the African Methodist Episcopal Church met at Shorter College on Sixth and Locust Streets in Little Rock and decided to purchase 120 acres of land in Monroe County for the operation of a school farm under R.C. Holbrook. He was also appointed a member of the Southern Sociological Congress.  R.C. Holbrook is listed in the Forrest City District as presiding elder and over the church at Vanndale.  This is the former county seat of Cross County.

In the 1917 Directory of Helena, Dr. R.A. Williams has his office at 601 Elm Street. The "Royal Messenger" is also being printed there. On July 18, 1918, the Arkansas Democrat announced that R.C. Holbrook conducted a scripture reading at Bethel A.M.E. Church. The Daily Arkansas Gazette of Little Rock identified Holbrook as presiding  elder of the Helena District and minister at Carter Chapel. On the 1920 U.S. Census, R.C. Holbrook is identified as a minister in the A.M.E. Church. The property at Elm Street is named Holbrook Flats and contains rooms for people to rent.

On January 21, 1922, Richie Holbrook leaves for Rio de Janeiro in Brazil on missionary work. By February 5, 1922, he is residing in Brazil working for the Guianas Annual Conference of the African M.E. Church. On his visa application form, he lists his residence as 225 Franklin in Helena. Holbrook made several trips from the United States to Brazil during this time. On April 14, 1924, he arrived at New York on board the Pan America with the Bishop of the A.M.E. Church William Alfred Fountain.

Richie and Georgia once again make their home in Helena. However, they also live in Little Rock on occasion. On the 1930 U.S. Census, his residence is listed at 316 Franklin Street in Helena. He is identified as a minister and Georgia lists her occupation as home maker. Their house is valued at $5,000.

Sadly, Georgia passes away on March 25, 1936 at Little Rock. She leaves all her property to her husband except a dollar each to her nieces Cora Kavanaugh and Georgia Wright. She is buried at Haven of Rest Cemetery in Little Rock. Without his devoted wife, Richie only lives a short time. He dies on December 16, 1937 at Helena of pneumonia. In his will, he leaves most of his property and wealth to his good friends, George and Eliza Miller. Holbrook also requests that his debts to his friend and attorney, Scipio A. Jones, be paid as well.

Sources:

Ancestry.com - U.S. Census 1910, 1920, 1930. City Directories 1911 and 1917. Passenger and Immigration Listings. Wills of R.C. and Georgia Holbrook

Daily Arkansas Gazette (Little Rock) 12 Sept. 1911, Tue. Page 2

Pine Bluff Daily Graphic (Pine Bluff) 2 Sept. 1914, Wed. Page 2

Daily Arkansas Gazette (Little Rock) 8 Dec. 1915, Wed. Page 2

Arkansas Democrat (Little Rock) 16 May 1917, Wed. Page 5

Arkansas Democrat (Little Rock) 11 July 1917, Wed. Page 11

Arkansas Democrat (Little Rock) 18 July 1918, Thu. Page 8

Daily Arkansas Gazette (Little Rock) 23 Dec. 1919, Tue. Page 2

Encyclopedia of Arkansas- Royal Circle of Friends- Online Article