George Lee Love, 39, was a World War II veteran and laborer who lived in Sallis, Attala County, Mississippi.

Rogers Hamilton was an 18-year old farm laborer who supported his mother, Beatrice Hamilton, siblings, nephews, nieces, and cousins following his father's 1955 death. Hamilton had plans to marry right before his death.

Jessie James Shelby was a 24-year-old farm laborer from the outskirts of Yazoo, Mississippi. He supported his mother and five siblings following his father’s 1942 death.

Roy Cyril Brooks was a 44-year-old father of three. He lived with his wife, Mary, and worked at the Swift Fertilizer Plant in Harvey, Louisiana, where he was a long-time and active member of his union.

John Earl Reese was born in Rusk County, Texas on Oct. 9, 1939. He lived with his grandmother and worked to earn money for their household when he was not in school.

Ladislado Uresti was a 47-year-old night watchman and maintenance worker who lived in San Antonio, Texas. He and his wife, Lorenza, had 15 children.

Maceo Snipes was a 37-year-old farmer in Taylor County, Georgia. He was a World War II veteran who received an Asiatic Pacific Service Medal.

Clarence Horatious Pickett was a 48-year-old minister and advertising salesman for the Columbus World. He lived with his sister, Lillie Banks, in Columbus, Georgia.

Willie Joe Sanford was a 24-year-old resident of Cochran, Bleckley County, Georgia. He worked at a sawmill.

Frank Manning was a farmworker who lived in Chadbourn, North Carolina. His death certificate refers to him as Frank Manners and some newspapers reported that his name was James Roberson and that he used Frank Manning as an alias. There are no verifiable records indicating Manning’s age.

Wilmer Smith was a 39-year-old native of East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana. He lived in Detroit, Michigan and worked for the Dodge Factory.

Jesse Thornton, a farmer in his late 20s or early 30s, lived in Luverne, Alabama with his wife, Nellie, and nephew, Bennie.