"Welcome to the Dyer Family Farm"
The Dyer family lived an abundant life on the family farm on Robinson Tract Road. This farm was plentiful with livestock and plant life. The family raised chickens, dairy cows, and hogs. The family tended an extensive garden and fruit trees that grew produce for the family. Family farming traditions emerged on this land, like slaughtering hogs and canning. Most importantly, this land catalyzed cherished family memories like riding hogs and enjoying Malinda Dyer’s delightful home cooking.
Photos of the Dyer family land (courtesy of the Dyer family)
Soldier Saluting
The Dyer family demonstrated deep involvement in military service, exemplifying a collective dedication to their country. This includes, but is not limited to, Moses, Fountain, and Maggie serving in the Army, and Henry Lee and Jethro serving in the Marines. Their service spans many years and stretches across various locations, such as Texas, Alabama, and Iwo Jima. According to family representatives, many saw the armed forces as their only path out of Pulaski. This statement reflects a broader truth that “the armed services have been an important engine of opportunity for African American men.” Today, Black men and women make a marked contribution to the military and civilian service.
Calfee Training School Diploma
Mary Dyer Rollins was born on February 13, 1920, in Pulaski, Virginia, to parents John Henry Dyer and Malinda Austin Dyer. Mary had eight siblings: four brothers, Fountain, John, Moses, and James; and two sisters, Pearl, Annie, and Ocie. Mary and her siblings grew up on Robinson Tract Road on her family’s plentiful farm. As the diploma depicts, Mary completed secondary instruction at Calfee Training School and graduated on June 12, 1939. Mary then married Stanley Theodore Rollins, and the couple had five children: three daughters, Cynthia Gladden, Maggie Nicols, and Mary Carolyn Jones, and two sons, Stanley Rollins Jr. and John Rollins.
Mary Dyer's Calfee Training School Diploma, 1939 (courtesy of the Dyer family)
Named Participant List
The named plaintiff list from the 1947 lawsuit reads "John S. Dyer, and infant, by Henry Dyer his father and next friend."
Corbin et al. v. County School Board of Pulaski County, VA. et al. Plaintiff List (courtesy of the District Court of the United States for the Western District of Virginia Roanoke Division)
Bus Seat
According to the family, Malinda Dyer had her own Rosa Parks-esque story in Pulaski, where she refused to give up her seat. “Pulaski used to have a bus service. Granny sat in the front of the bus, like Rosa Parks. They wanted her to move, but she wouldn’t.” African American women played a pivotal role in resisting segregation on public transport. These women relied on the bus system, and the bus system depended on their patronage.
Actions by women like Claudette Colvin and Rosa Parks sparked a thirteen-month boycott of the Montgomery, Alabama, bus system. This boycott strained the bus system and put pressure on desegregation policies in the US. Small acts of defiance by women like Malinda demonstrate the power of everyday courage in igniting transformative change.
STS-1 Launch
Amos Lee Andrew Hogan Jr. was the son of Ocie Dyer Hogan and Amos Lee Andrew Hogan Sr. While living and working in Florida, Amos was involved in the shuttle project, in some capacity, for NASA’s 1981 STS-1 Launch. This was the first space shuttle, which took astronauts John W. Young and Robert L. Crippen on a successful mission orbiting Earth.
Launch of the STS-1, 1981 (courtesy of NASA)
School Bus
Mary Dyer Rollins drove buses for Pulaski County Public Schools for over two decades, becoming a beloved and respected figure in the community. Her route covered the “Brook Martin-Robinson Track section of the county.” In 1976, the county honored her for safe driving. Her role was more than just a job; it was a responsibility that she upheld, making her a trusted presence in the community.
John Schaffer Dyer
John Schaffer Dyer was born May 21, 1931, to parents John Henry Dyer and Malinda Austin Dyer. John attended Christiansburg Industrial Institute. John is the only Dyer child cited in the 1949 lawsuit, alongside his father, Henry. Tragically, at just seventeen, John suddenly passed away in a car accident. In 1951, Christiansburg Institute created a trophy, the “John S Dyer Award,” in memory of the student, awarding it to Edward S Perry. Without John’s and his parents’ bravery, the family would not have established a precedent for breaking barriers in the future.
John Schaffer Dyer (coutesy of the Dyer family)
Antique Stove
Malinda Dyer, the mother and heart of the family, was known for her love of cooking. Her granddaughters, Maggie and Cynthia, fondly remember her aptitude for cooking. Her old-fashioned stove, likely from the 1920s or 1930s, stood out most. They remember her rich desserts like coconut cake and extra-large cookies. Malinda is remembered for spreading her love through cooking for her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
"Few Misbehave on School Bus of 'Dragon Lady'"
Despite her small stature, Mary Rollins’ commanding presence earned her the affectionate nickname of “Dragon Lady.” Mary ensured that her passengers behaved on her bus, saying, in a newspaper interview, that “you’ve just got to be firm.” This discipline extended to her children and grandchildren, who rode on her bus to school and were held to the same high standards as every other passenger. “My grandchildren think I’m rough on them,” she explained. If they misbehaved, they might be tasked with washing the school bus.
Newspaper Article n.d. (courtesy of the Dyer Family)
Beyond enforcing the bus rules, Mary cared deeply for the students she transported. She took pride in safely getting her students to and from school every day. In 1976, the county honored her for safe driving.
Knife
John Henry Dyer was born on April 24, 1890, in Carroll County, Virginia, to parents John Dyer and Annie Phillips Dyer. For most of his life, John Henry was a hardworking dairyman and farmer. However, John Henry had one peculiar habit at the dinner table. According to his granddaughters, Cynthia and Maggie, John Henry liked to carefully balance each one of his peas on the edge of a knife and enjoy them that way rather than with a fork or spoon.
Girl Riding Pig
Cynthia Gladden and Magdalene “Maggie” Nichols were involved in all aspects of life on the family farm. As young girls, the pair would “ride hogs” around the farm for fun. The sisters took piggyback riding to a whole new level, holding tight onto their hogs as they shuffled through the open field.
Dyer Family
Jill Williams
Created on July 3, 2025
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Transcript
"Welcome to the Dyer Family Farm"
The Dyer family lived an abundant life on the family farm on Robinson Tract Road. This farm was plentiful with livestock and plant life. The family raised chickens, dairy cows, and hogs. The family tended an extensive garden and fruit trees that grew produce for the family. Family farming traditions emerged on this land, like slaughtering hogs and canning. Most importantly, this land catalyzed cherished family memories like riding hogs and enjoying Malinda Dyer’s delightful home cooking.
Photos of the Dyer family land (courtesy of the Dyer family)
Soldier Saluting
The Dyer family demonstrated deep involvement in military service, exemplifying a collective dedication to their country. This includes, but is not limited to, Moses, Fountain, and Maggie serving in the Army, and Henry Lee and Jethro serving in the Marines. Their service spans many years and stretches across various locations, such as Texas, Alabama, and Iwo Jima. According to family representatives, many saw the armed forces as their only path out of Pulaski. This statement reflects a broader truth that “the armed services have been an important engine of opportunity for African American men.” Today, Black men and women make a marked contribution to the military and civilian service.
Calfee Training School Diploma
Mary Dyer Rollins was born on February 13, 1920, in Pulaski, Virginia, to parents John Henry Dyer and Malinda Austin Dyer. Mary had eight siblings: four brothers, Fountain, John, Moses, and James; and two sisters, Pearl, Annie, and Ocie. Mary and her siblings grew up on Robinson Tract Road on her family’s plentiful farm. As the diploma depicts, Mary completed secondary instruction at Calfee Training School and graduated on June 12, 1939. Mary then married Stanley Theodore Rollins, and the couple had five children: three daughters, Cynthia Gladden, Maggie Nicols, and Mary Carolyn Jones, and two sons, Stanley Rollins Jr. and John Rollins.
Mary Dyer's Calfee Training School Diploma, 1939 (courtesy of the Dyer family)
Named Participant List
The named plaintiff list from the 1947 lawsuit reads "John S. Dyer, and infant, by Henry Dyer his father and next friend."
Corbin et al. v. County School Board of Pulaski County, VA. et al. Plaintiff List (courtesy of the District Court of the United States for the Western District of Virginia Roanoke Division)
Bus Seat
According to the family, Malinda Dyer had her own Rosa Parks-esque story in Pulaski, where she refused to give up her seat. “Pulaski used to have a bus service. Granny sat in the front of the bus, like Rosa Parks. They wanted her to move, but she wouldn’t.” African American women played a pivotal role in resisting segregation on public transport. These women relied on the bus system, and the bus system depended on their patronage.
Actions by women like Claudette Colvin and Rosa Parks sparked a thirteen-month boycott of the Montgomery, Alabama, bus system. This boycott strained the bus system and put pressure on desegregation policies in the US. Small acts of defiance by women like Malinda demonstrate the power of everyday courage in igniting transformative change.
STS-1 Launch
Amos Lee Andrew Hogan Jr. was the son of Ocie Dyer Hogan and Amos Lee Andrew Hogan Sr. While living and working in Florida, Amos was involved in the shuttle project, in some capacity, for NASA’s 1981 STS-1 Launch. This was the first space shuttle, which took astronauts John W. Young and Robert L. Crippen on a successful mission orbiting Earth.
Launch of the STS-1, 1981 (courtesy of NASA)
School Bus
Mary Dyer Rollins drove buses for Pulaski County Public Schools for over two decades, becoming a beloved and respected figure in the community. Her route covered the “Brook Martin-Robinson Track section of the county.” In 1976, the county honored her for safe driving. Her role was more than just a job; it was a responsibility that she upheld, making her a trusted presence in the community.
John Schaffer Dyer
John Schaffer Dyer was born May 21, 1931, to parents John Henry Dyer and Malinda Austin Dyer. John attended Christiansburg Industrial Institute. John is the only Dyer child cited in the 1949 lawsuit, alongside his father, Henry. Tragically, at just seventeen, John suddenly passed away in a car accident. In 1951, Christiansburg Institute created a trophy, the “John S Dyer Award,” in memory of the student, awarding it to Edward S Perry. Without John’s and his parents’ bravery, the family would not have established a precedent for breaking barriers in the future.
John Schaffer Dyer (coutesy of the Dyer family)
Antique Stove
Malinda Dyer, the mother and heart of the family, was known for her love of cooking. Her granddaughters, Maggie and Cynthia, fondly remember her aptitude for cooking. Her old-fashioned stove, likely from the 1920s or 1930s, stood out most. They remember her rich desserts like coconut cake and extra-large cookies. Malinda is remembered for spreading her love through cooking for her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
"Few Misbehave on School Bus of 'Dragon Lady'"
Despite her small stature, Mary Rollins’ commanding presence earned her the affectionate nickname of “Dragon Lady.” Mary ensured that her passengers behaved on her bus, saying, in a newspaper interview, that “you’ve just got to be firm.” This discipline extended to her children and grandchildren, who rode on her bus to school and were held to the same high standards as every other passenger. “My grandchildren think I’m rough on them,” she explained. If they misbehaved, they might be tasked with washing the school bus.
Newspaper Article n.d. (courtesy of the Dyer Family)
Beyond enforcing the bus rules, Mary cared deeply for the students she transported. She took pride in safely getting her students to and from school every day. In 1976, the county honored her for safe driving.
Knife
John Henry Dyer was born on April 24, 1890, in Carroll County, Virginia, to parents John Dyer and Annie Phillips Dyer. For most of his life, John Henry was a hardworking dairyman and farmer. However, John Henry had one peculiar habit at the dinner table. According to his granddaughters, Cynthia and Maggie, John Henry liked to carefully balance each one of his peas on the edge of a knife and enjoy them that way rather than with a fork or spoon.
Girl Riding Pig
Cynthia Gladden and Magdalene “Maggie” Nichols were involved in all aspects of life on the family farm. As young girls, the pair would “ride hogs” around the farm for fun. The sisters took piggyback riding to a whole new level, holding tight onto their hogs as they shuffled through the open field.