Jackson Progress-Argus

Special Photo/// Pictured at the NAACP’s Annual Freedom Fund Banquet are Lewis Sims (from left), Bishop B.F. McKibben, Mary Ruth Roberts, Pastor Walter C. James, Bill Jones, Deacon Willie Morgan, Deacon Willie Crowder and the Rev. Charlie Barlow.

The Jackson-Butts County Branch of the NAACP hosted its Annual Freedom Fund Banquet on Saturday, Oct. 15, at the Henderson Banquet Room, on Ga. Highway 36 East in Covington. The theme was “Affirming Dr. M.L. King, Jr. America’s Promise: Where Do We Go From Here?”

The speaker for the Freedom Fund Banquet was the Hon. Floyd L. Griffin, Jr., former mayor of the City of Milledgeville, and a former Georgia state senator. At different times in his life, Griffin has also been a cadet, a Vietnam helicopter pilot, an Army colonel, a football coach, a professor, and a businessman. Throughout his life of change and challenges, Griffin has always been dedicated to service, the NAACP branch said.

In reference to the banquet theme, the speaker challenged the audience with the topic: “The Power of Dream Keepers.” He challenged the listeners to, “dream of new possibilities because there is no expiration date on Dr. King’s dream.”

Several awards were also presented at the banquet.

Jackson City Councilman Lewis Sims received the Community Service Award; Pastor Bishop B.F. McKibben received the Church NAACP Membership 2nd Place Award with 13 members, Gospel of Christ MRF Church; Ms. Mary Ruth Roberts representing Pastor Ricardo Hill received the NAACP Church Membership 3rd Place Award with nine members, St. James Baptist Church; Pastor Walter C. James received the NAACP Church Membership 1st Place Award with 32 members, Zion Baptist Church; Mr. Bill Jones received the James White Leadership Award; Deacon Willie Morgan received the Climmie Ward Award; Deacon Willie Crowder received the NAACP President’s Award, and Frankie Willis received the Humanitarian Award.

Special awards were given to the top three churches in Butts County with the most NAACP members. This was established for the first time in 2011. The churches were asked to designate the fifth Sundays as NAACP membership Sundays and report their membership by Sept. 24. The winners were as mentioned above.

The NAACP President’s Award was presented to the person who was recognized by his peers as “one who never grows weary of doing good for others,” Deacon Willie Crowder. The award was presented by Branch President Rev. Charlie Barlow.

Special guests at the banquet were the NAACP District Coordinator, the Rev. Joel Stokes; NAACP Butts Chairperson of the Youth & Young Adult Committee Ms. Norma Cline; NAACP officers from Newton County, Dr. Gwen Cattledge, Youth Council Advisor, Ms. Cathelene W. Perry, Newton NAACP branch co-founder, Ms. Louise Grier and Lamar County Branch President Ms. Ann Harris; and pastors, the Rev. Tracey Bridges, the Rev. James Varner, the Rev. Sherman Pelt, Jackson City Councilman Theodore Patterson; and Butts County officials, Nancy Washington, tax commissioner, former Butts County Commissioner Rev. Eddie Travis, and Flovilla Mayor Rev. Harvey Norris.

For more information about membership in the Jackson-Butts County branch of the NAACP, contact Membership Chairman Willie Crowder at (678) 209-6386 or (770) 775-4296, Pastor Harry Clark at (770) 775-6274, or the Rev. Barlow at (404) 754-3073.