What a community pillar looks like: “Thank God for His continuous mercy and grace over my life,” Rev Argustus “AG” Harper, Sr.

By Christopher Young,
Contributing Writer,

First things first: First, you come through the daughter, then you come through two granddaughters, and only then do you meet the patriarch of the family, Reverend Argustus Harper affectionately known as daddy, granddaddy, and “AG.” It was just like that the evening of June 20, 2024, when The Mississippi Link newspaper was invited into the home of Reverend Argustus Harper. A simple question was asked a week prior to this interview. “Who knows the most about the history of the St. Thomas community?” Reverend Harper was the very first name uttered.
Born on February 3, 1931, his 93 years is a testimony of love and service to the St. Thomas community. His parents, Jessie and Mary, had ten children consisting of seven boys and three girls. Reverend Harper and Shirley Burns are the last living siblings with Shirley living next door. A close cousin, Barbara Ann Smith lives in Chicago, Illinois.
His school aged years began in Hinds County Public Schools. He matriculated to Southern Christian Institute (SCI) in Edwards, MS to complete his final two years of high school. SCI merged with Tougaloo College the following year where his school records are stored.
During his years of high school at SCI, he met the love of his life, Edna Earl Smith. They married in 1955 and remained in that marriage for fifty years, one month, and twenty-five days until her death in 2005.
The Harpers have two children, Margaret Perry and Argustus “Gus” Harper Jr.; three granddaughters from Margaret, Chera, LaWanda, and Brandy; and one grandson from Argustus Jr. named Geoffrey. In sitting with Reverend Harper, Margaret, Chera, and LaWanda, it is easy to become emotional. The love and closeness that is visible in this family is so powerful, yet so ordinary for them.
When Reverend Harper was asked about the message that he passes on to his grandchildren in these times, he indicated it is the same as he had for his children, “Nothing is more important than a tight knit family, remember where you came from and the family tradition, and watch out for one another.”
LaWanda, the middle granddaughter was asked the question, “what is the best thing about Reverend Harper?” Without hesitation, she said, “His heart. It beats for God first, it beats for his family, and it beats for others.”

Reverend Harper grew up farming corn, cotton and hay. In 1965, he took a job at Vickers/Eaton starting as janitor. He later advanced to developing critical aerospace machinery parts before retiring. Being the entrepreneur he is, and for the love of his life, Edna, he built Harper’s Beauty Salon investing in her natural talent for styling and caring for client’s hair. That investment created a legacy while the daughter, Margaret, and all three granddaughters are engaged in keeping the legacy going with old, new and impressive hairstyles.
Years later, he saw the need in the community for a laundromat. And so it was, a laundromat was added on to the existing hair salon. Both businesses are still thriving today and are among the first Black-owned businesses in the Bolton, Clinton area. When asked about the impact of his businesses, he replied, “We try to help others. People come here for help. Sometimes my wife would work until nine o’clock and later. We tried to be the heartbeat of the community by taking care of one another.”
In 1968, at the age of thirty-seven, he was called into the ministry which led to him enrolling in Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, MS. In 1969, he became an ordained Minister of the Gospel under the leadership of Reverend H.T. Frazier, senior pastor of St. Thomas Missionary Baptist Church in Bolton, MS. Reverend Darryl L. Magee is the current senior pastor of St. Thomas where Reverend Harper is still on the list of ministers. He was active for thirty-three years of his fifty-five years in the ministry.
Reverend Harper’s ministry led him to pastor churches including St. Thomas Missionary Baptist Church (MBC), Hopewell MBC in Raymond, MS, Strawbridge Baptist Church in Utica, MS, Mt. Olive MBC in Bolton, MS, and El Bethel Baptist Church in Bolton, MS.
He was and is a presence in his family, spiritually shepherding numerous congregations for decades, farming, developing, and responding to the needs of the community. The Mississippi Link asked the son of the deceased St. Thomas Missionary Baptist Church senior pastor who ordained Reverend Harper to comment. Mississippi State Senator Hillman T. Frazier responded, “He was the rock of the community, a dedicated family man, and servant. He always had time to mentor the young people in the church and the community.” How about that, from one giant about another, ‘the rock of the community.’
We also reached out to the current senior pastor of St. Thomas MBC, Reverend Darryl L. Magee, who shared, “Reverend Harper is our senior associate pastor. He was in the pulpit about a year ago and is often invited to preach at other churches. He never misses Sunday School, and he teaches a men’s class. He is steadfast; he has helped me with his wisdom and leadership. We still call him pastor. It is proper because I look at him as being the father-figure of our church since Reverend H.T. Frazier passed. He is a great man.”
Near the end of the interview, Reverend Harper was asked who it was that had the most significant influence on the man that he would become. He immediately responded, “Sarah Davis, my grandmother on my mother’s side.” Later he added, “Serving the Lord is a challenge. I always took the minimum salary for ordinary preachers. I’m a father and I have tried to be a father to the community.” His favorite Bible verse, “Do not cast me away when I am old; do not forsake me when my strength is gone.” (Psalm 71:9 New International Version (NIV)