Our Heritage & Story

Our incredible journey begins with our patriarch, Littleton Kinder. Born a slave in 1853, Littleton defied all odds to purchase this very farm in 1890 from A.L. Bowen. He paid for the land through sheer perseverance—selling turpentine tapped from pine trees, harvesting crops, and hiring himself out to work across South Georgia and North Florida.

Alongside his wife, Millie Burke Kinder, they grew cotton, corn, sugar cane, and peanuts. They sustained their family with a large garden, raising chickens, cows, hogs, goats, guineas, and turkeys. They built a legacy from the ground up until Littleton's passing in 1937.

As the civil rights era approached in the early 1950s, the family faced terrifying adversity. The last of the male children were forced to flee the farm under death threats from local white farmers. Yet, the land was never abandoned. Charlie Kinder and his aunt's husband stood their ground, continuing to farm and raise livestock. Charlie farmed the land until his death in 1997.

To ensure the property never leaves the bloodline, the heirs of Littleton Kinder, alongside his last surviving daughter, Martha Kinder Payne (who celebrated her 97th birthday in 2005), made a historic decision.

They deeded their interest in the property to the L. and M. Kinder Farm Corp. The corporation is strictly structured so that shares can only be owned by direct heirs of Littleton and Millie Burke Kinder. Today, there are over 30 heirs holding stock, protecting the land for eternity.

On Friday, October 7, 2005, the family's resilience was formally recognized at the Georgia State Fair in Perry. Andrew J. Kinder, CEO of the L. and M. Kinder Farm, proudly accepted the state's official certification of the property as a Georgia Centennial Farm.

"Morning Lord Almighty!! And all wise God our heavenly Father!! 'tis once more and again that a few of your handpicked servants are gathered together to call upon your holy name.

We bow at your footstool, Master, to thank you for our spared lives.
We thank you that we were able to get up this morning clothed in your right mind..
Its once mo and again dat dis here yo faithful servant -
Down on bended keens--a trying to give you some thank you
Thank you for last night lying down
Thank you for your early morning wake up call
When you touch me with yo finger of love.
The blood still running warm in my veins-
Had the activity of my limbs and the use of my tongue.

I look over and saw the smiling face of the women U done gave me for wife
And she was doing well- Thank you Sir
Children are well-I thank you Lord
Thank you that last night was not my death call
Thank you that early this here morning-
You took time to come by my house
Thank you Sir.

With yo finger of everlasting love- you touched us-em one by one and woke us up rat on time-
blood running warm in our veins- clothed in our right minds-- For that I thank you Sir-
Look in the ice box-there was some grits- bit of bacon meat- on the old stove was hot coffee and a bit of sugar to sweeten it up a bit. Thank you sir.

After filling our bodies -thank you for leading us to your House of Prayer with out minds stayed on you and your word.
Thank you for the cloths on our backs-shoes on our feet-and strength to come out to your house of prayer one mo time.
Thank you. Sir.

For Master, since we met here, many have been snatched our of the land of the living and hurled into eternity. But through your goodness and mercy we have been spared to assemble ourselves here once more to call upon a Captain who has never lost a battle.

Oh, throw round us your strong arms of protection. Bind us together in love and union. Build us up where we are torn down and strengthen us where we are weak.

Oh, Lord!! Oh, Lord! Take the lead of our minds; place them on heaven and heavenly divine things.
Oh, God, our Captain and King! Search our hearts and if you find anything there contrary to your divine will just move it from us, as far as the East is from the West.

Now Lord, you know out hearts, you know our heart's desire.
You know our down setting and you know our up rising. Lord, you know all about us because you made us. Lord!! Lord!! One more favor I ask of you.
Remember the man that is to stand in the gateway and proclaim your Holy Word. Oh, stand by him. Strengthen him were he is weak and build him up where he is torn down.

Oh, let him down into the deep treasures and your storehouse of love and your word.
And now, Lord, when this humble servant is done down here in this low land of sorrow; done sitting down and getting u; done being called everything but a child of God; Thank you Sir.

Oh, when I am done, and done, and this old world can afford me a home no longer, right soon in the morning, Lord, right soon in the morning, meet me down at the River of Jordan, bid me come in..."