The Liberty County branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) hosted its annual Freedom Fund Awards Banquet Oct. 13 at the John D. Mclver Auditorium in Midway. The purpose of the celebratory event was to engage Liberty County and its communities with the branch as it continues the advancement of civil rights for all.

The ceremony was also to recognize a few in the community who show that they share the cause by their extraordinary actions.

“There are individuals in our communities who are doing commendable work,” said Graylan Quarterman, Liberty County’s NAACP president. “I have no doubt these works are being done with neither the intention for selfish gain nor the need for public recognition. These individuals have taken hold of the vision of the NAACP and have successfully achieved goals that have led to the benefit, betterment and perhaps advancement of others and the community. It is vitally important as a community to pay homage where it is due.”

The evening’s keynote speaker was the Rev. Dr. Raphael D. Warnock, a nationally known figure who was selected by former President Barack Obama to deliver the closing prayer at the 2013 Inaugural Prayer Service and senior pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta.

The 2017 honorees were: Anthony Johnson, who was given the E.B. Cooper Educational Leadership Award for demonstrating exemplary educational leadership and service in Liberty County; Pastor Herman Scott, who was given the WC Shipman Trailblazer Award for his commendable humanitarian contributions to the Liberty County community; Brenda Withers, who was given the award named after her father Ralph W. Quarterman for civic service and for demonstrating great concern and support for civil injustices within the local community of Liberty County and for being the chair of the Political Action Committee; Karen Jones-Jemison, who was given the Mattie M. Hicks Amazing Woman Award for contributing to the progress and positive growth of the Liberty County Community as NAACP Community Coordination chair; and Barbara White and Artis Morrison were both given the President’s Awards.

 “The two President’s Awards are given to individuals that have been most responsive to the mission and vision for the last 12 months,” Quarterman said. “Ms. Barbara White is honored for demonstrating great concern and support while working as the NAACP Health chair and Mr. Artis Morrison for demonstrating great concern and support, while working as the NAACP second vice president.”

Liberty County’s NAACP chapter is also committed to investing in youth. Money raised from the Freedom Fund Awards Banquet will provide the funding of scholarships for deserving high school graduates for leadership training.

“We find within our normal community, people are eager to invest in our youth exclusively to their athletic abilities,” Quarterman said. “The NAACP goes deeper by investing in the minds our youth. This is done through the ACT-SO program, which is an academic of the minds and skills program.”.

NAACP member the Rev. Ron Harper said the scholarships are a way of showing students that the community cares about their future and is willing to help them succeed.

“Without education, it’s hard to be in a leadership role. The scholarship will remind them to come back and be the leaders in this area or anywhere around the world,” Harper said.

The Liberty County NAACP chapter is one of over 80 NAACP active units in the state of Georgia. Second Vice President Morrison, who has been a member of the NAACP for over 20 years, said he believes communication has been one of the most significant developments in the progress that has been made over the years.

“The communication is better in the chapter and in the community,” he said. “You have to keep the issues at hand. We address those issues that come before us, and I learned a lot when I was working in the Legal Redress because we saw things that were being done. As our (chapter) president would say, ‘To the least of ours, many people who would not speak out who needed someone to speak for them and be their advocate.’ That would be my key, to be an advocate to those who can’t speak for themselves.”

Quarterman said the NAACP continues to focus on discrimination, especially where it may hinder economic opportunities for minorities, as well as voter registration. The chapter is also a point of contact for complaints of discrimination, he said.

“Furthermore, NAACP will continue to strive to build unity among a diverse group and society to energize, equip and empower others to become civil rights leaders,” Quarterman said. “NAACP will continue to address issues of police brutality, hate crimes, confederate monuments/flags being displayed in public places and racial and discriminatory policies.

“Also, the Liberty County Branch NAACP is gearing up for a push for MWBE inclusion in all contacts that’s funded with tax payers dollars. We will stand firm, steadfast and immovable. We must and will hold fast to the mission and vision of the association, which is, “To ensure the political, education, social and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate racial hatred and racial discrimination.’”

For more information about Liberty County’s NAACP branch, visit http://hinesville.naacp-ga.org/

The Liberty County branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) hosted its annual Freedom Fund Awards Banquet Oct. 13 at the John D. Mclver Auditorium in Midway. The purpose of the celebratory event was to engage Liberty County and its communities with the branch as it continues the advancement of civil rights for all.

The ceremony was also to recognize a few in the community who show that they share the cause by their extraordinary actions.

“There are individuals in our communities who are doing commendable work,” said Graylan Quarterman, Liberty County’s NAACP president. “I have no doubt these works are being done with neither the intention for selfish gain nor the need for public recognition. These individuals have taken hold of the vision of the NAACP and have successfully achieved goals that have led to the benefit, betterment and perhaps advancement of others and the community. It is vitally important as a community to pay homage where it is due.”

The evening’s keynote speaker was the Rev. Dr. Raphael D. Warnock, a nationally known figure who was selected by former President Barack Obama to deliver the closing prayer at the 2013 Inaugural Prayer Service and senior pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta.

The 2017 honorees were: Anthony Johnson, who was given the E.B. Cooper Educational Leadership Award for demonstrating exemplary educational leadership and service in Liberty County; Pastor Herman Scott, who was given the WC Shipman Trailblazer Award for his commendable humanitarian contributions to the Liberty County community; Brenda Withers, who was given the award named after her father Ralph W. Quarterman for civic service and for demonstrating great concern and support for civil injustices within the local community of Liberty County and for being the chair of the Political Action Committee; Karen Jones-Jemison, who was given the Mattie M. Hicks Amazing Woman Award for contributing to the progress and positive growth of the Liberty County Community as NAACP Community Coordination chair; and Barbara White and Artis Morrison were both given the President’s Awards.

 “The two President’s Awards are given to individuals that have been most responsive to the mission and vision for the last 12 months,” Quarterman said. “Ms. Barbara White is honored for demonstrating great concern and support while working as the NAACP Health chair and Mr. Artis Morrison for demonstrating great concern and support, while working as the NAACP second vice president.”

Liberty County’s NAACP chapter is also committed to investing in youth. Money raised from the Freedom Fund Awards Banquet will provide the funding of scholarships for deserving high school graduates for leadership training.

“We find within our normal community, people are eager to invest in our youth exclusively to their athletic abilities,” Quarterman said. “The NAACP goes deeper by investing in the minds our youth. This is done through the ACT-SO program, which is an academic of the minds and skills program.”.

NAACP member the Rev. Ron Harper said the scholarships are a way of showing students that the community cares about their future and is willing to help them succeed.

“Without education, it’s hard to be in a leadership role. The scholarship will remind them to come back and be the leaders in this area or anywhere around the world,” Harper said.

The Liberty County NAACP chapter is one of over 80 NAACP active units in the state of Georgia. Second Vice President Morrison, who has been a member of the NAACP for over 20 years, said he believes communication has been one of the most significant developments in the progress that has been made over the years.

“The communication is better in the chapter and in the community,” he said. “You have to keep the issues at hand. We address those issues that come before us, and I learned a lot when I was working in the Legal Redress because we saw things that were being done. As our (chapter) president would say, ‘To the least of ours, many people who would not speak out who needed someone to speak for them and be their advocate.’ That would be my key, to be an advocate to those who can’t speak for themselves.”

Quarterman said the NAACP continues to focus on discrimination, especially where it may hinder economic opportunities for minorities, as well as voter registration. The chapter is also a point of contact for complaints of discrimination, he said.

“Furthermore, NAACP will continue to strive to build unity among a diverse group and society to energize, equip and empower others to become civil rights leaders,” Quarterman said. “NAACP will continue to address issues of police brutality, hate crimes, confederate monuments/flags being displayed in public places and racial and discriminatory policies.

“Also, the Liberty County Branch NAACP is gearing up for a push for MWBE inclusion in all contacts that’s funded with tax payers dollars. We will stand firm, steadfast and immovable. We must and will hold fast to the mission and vision of the association, which is, “To ensure the political, education, social and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate racial hatred and racial discrimination.’”

For more information about Liberty County’s NAACP branch, visit http://hinesville.naacp-ga.org/