Lumbee Legend - Rhoda Strong

Rhoda Strong was a Lumbee woman from Robeson County, North Carolina, born in 1849. Though historical records about her individual life are limited, she became a legendary figure within the Lumbee community through her strength, courage, and unwavering support of her husband, Henry Berry Lowry.

 

Henry Berry Lowry, a central figure in Lumbee history, led a resistance group during and after the Civil War, fighting against the injustices faced by his people. On December 7, 1865, at just 16 years old, Rhoda married him in a ceremony performed by Reverend Hector J. McLean. What should have been a joyful occasion quickly turned tense when members of the Home Guard arrived to arrest her new husband.

 

According to local legend, Rhoda played a direct role in multiple escapes as it is said that she once went to the jail wearing a long, flowing dress, where she distracted a guard by pretending to flirt with him. Seizing the moment, she pulled an iron bar hidden beneath her clothing, struck the guard, took his keys, and freed her husband. Whether embellished or entirely true, this story reflects how the community remembers her bravery and determination.

 

While Henry was engaged in armed resistance, Rhoda likely carried the heavy responsibilities common to many Lumbee women of the time—managing the household, working the farm, and raising their three children. Her life, however, was far from ordinary. As the wife of a wanted man, she was constantly at risk. The Home Guard often targeted the families of the Lowry Gang, and Rhoda herself was kidnapped in an effort to force her husband’s surrender.

Henry’s response was defiant. Rather than give in, he reportedly warned that “the bloodiest times will be here that ever was before—the life of every man will be in jeopardy.” Given the Lowry Gang’s reputation, this threat caused widespread fear and panic within the white neighborhoods. In response, and in an effort to prevent further violence, the Home Guard released Rhoda.

Rhoda became widely known as the “Queen of Scuffletown,” a nickname that endures today. It reflected not only her reputable beauty but also her strong presence and influence within the community. Contemporary descriptions often emphasized her appearance, with one observer noting she was “remarkably pretty; her face oval, of a very light color; large dark, mournful looking eyes, with long lashes; well shaped mouth with small even teeth; well-rounded chin, nose slightly retrousee with profusion of straight jet black hair, combined to make her a very pleasant object to gaze at.” Yet her legacy goes far beyond such descriptions.

 

She is remembered for her courage and loyalty, standing firmly by her husband and protecting him and his secrets under immense pressure. Rhoda defended his actions, understanding the deep injustices faced by Native and African-descended people in the post-Civil War South.

 

Though their marriage lasted only about six years before Henry’s mysterious disappearance in 1872, Rhoda never revealed what became of him. Her silence only strengthened her legacy.

Today, Rhoda Strong Lowrie is remembered as a powerful symbol of resilience, faithfulness, and resistance—a woman whose quiet strength helped shape one of the most important stories in Lumbee history.