Renowned scholar C. Eric Lincoln (1924-2000) grew up in Athens, Limestone County. During his career, Lincoln authored, co-authored, or edited 20 books and more than 150 articles about the African American experience. In addition to his scholarly works, Lincoln published a novel, The Avenue, Clayton City (1988), based in part on his experiences growing up in racially segregated Athens. Charles Eric Lincoln was born on June 23, 1924. By the time he was four, his mother, Bradonia Lincoln, had married Ernest Blye and moved to Pittsburgh, and his father had moved to Nashville, Tennessee.