<embed src="http://static.cnhi.zope.net/flashpromo/cullmantimes/NewMedia/RacistGraffiti/soundslider.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="370" height="350" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed>

With anger in his voice, Lamar Jones read aloud the words “Black is Death” painted on the side of his home Wednesday in the cover of darkness.

“Whoever they are, they’re cowards,” Jones said. “If they have something to say, they should say it to my face.”

Until Jones stepped outside to leave for work Thursday morning, he had a life untainted by racism and intimidation.

Now that life is nothing more than a fleeting memory.

“I’ve never experienced nothing like this,” Jones said. “Just to see that is unbelievable. People shouldn’t have to go through this. I should be able to choose where I want to live without having to deal with all this drama.”

Lt. Jimmy Morrow said the Cullman County Sheriff’s Office would investigate the incident.

“Investigators are working on it and following up on some leads,” Morrow said. “There’s no one we can name as a suspect at this time. But when we do find them, we will seek prosecution.”

Jones, along with his wife and daughter, moved to Cullman County from South Dakota in January to be closer to relatives.

“We lived in Cullman and never had any problem, even with the history here,” Jones said.

Jones’ mother Juanita Jackson has lived in Cullman for eight years.

“There’s no way I would have told them Cullman was a bad county,” Jackson said. “I came from Tennessee and I’ve never had that problem here.”

The family moved to their current home in Hanceville two months ago, where they have lived peacefully without incident until two days ago.

“It’s quiet and it’s nice and peaceful out here,” Jones said. “All I want to do is get along with people ... just to help somebody.”

Morrow said an incident like what happened to Jones has not occurred in the area in quite some time.

“This is the first I can think of in some time,” Morrow said. “Actually, that area is typically a quiet community.”

Jones’ work is all about helping others. An activities technician at Woodland Hills Behavioral Health Center in Cullman, Jones spends his days providing various therapeutic activities to those with mental illnesses.

“I’ve been in the medical field since 1993,” Jones said. “That was my calling, to help others and try to make a difference for other folks.”

Since he has worked hard to be friendly and help others, to Jones the derogatory phrase written on his home was particularly surprising and painful.

“It’s upsetting, ridiculous and ignorant,” Jones said.

To Jones’ wife Jodi, the racist graffiti was a waste of time, especially with the many other prevalent problems today.

“There’s so many other things to worry about than the color of a person’s skin,” she said.

With all the work they have put into their home, Jones and his wife had no plans to move anytime soon, and a few racist words will not change their minds.

“With this now I won’t move,” Jones said. “They aren’t going to run me out.”

Jones may not know who defaced his property, but finding the person responsible is not as important to him as spreading the word about racism in the area.

“I just want to make it plain this is wrong,” Jones said. “It’s got to be known.”

Anyone with information about the incident is encouraged to call the Cullman County Sheriff’s Office at 735-2705.