A community has come together to honor a Pasco County man whose family believes was killed because of his race.
- Documentary being made about man killed in 1957
- Family of Wallace Jordan said he was killed because of his race
- Filming was completed at Stanley Park in Trilby
The family of Wallace Jordan is completing a documentary about his life and how he was killed.
It’s a story his grandson, Frank Burns, wants told.
“This is to honor and commemorate the life of Mr. Wallace Jordan,” Burns said.
Burns said Jordan was killed in Trilby in 1957, at just 38 years old. He was a father of 12.
“The story goes that he whistled at a white lady or looked at a white lady wrong, and the guy he was working with had him killed,” Burns said.
His family and descendants gathered at Stanley Park in Trilby for the final day of filming. That’s where Jordan was allegedly shot and killed on March 7, 1957.
“My father was a nice man, he was a family man and he loved all of us,” said Wilma Jordan Pope, Jordan’s daughter.
Burns hopes his project can get the family some much needed closure after they’ve barely spoken about it for decades.
His efforts were even recognized by Florida Senator Bill Nelson, who wrote him a letter.
“I just want people to be aware. We can still live amongst each other without having all this hatred, bitterness and dissension,” Burns said.