By Edith Anderson, Special to the Courier.
January 1 is always an exciting day in Liberty County as the community celebrates its Emancipation Proclamation Observance Day. During COVID-19, the services were held virtually, but the celebration has returned to in-person. The celebration was held at Mt Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Hinesville, where Pastor Christie Conyers serves as senior pastor.
It has been 161 years since the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation, and every year people gather to remember. They come from the four corners of Liberty County for this grand celebration. This year’s program was packed with an extra air of excitement because history was being made; this was the first time a keynote speaker currently works in the White House. Among those in attendance were members of the clergy, elected and appointed officials, and family, friends, and college classmates of the speaker who came from far and near.
The speaker for the 2024 celebration was Dalmyra (Myra) Price Caesar (retired Army major), a native of Blakely. No stranger to Liberty County, Caesar and her husband, Army Lt. Col. Kevin Caesar, have been stationed at Fort Stewart twice.
Caesar holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Georgia Southern University and a Master of Arts in Human Resource Management and Development from Webster University. She is currently enrolled at Tulane Law School pursuing a degree in Labor and Employment Law.
After graduating from Georgia Southern University, Caesar joined the U.S. Army and served 20 years with honor and distinction. Presently, she serves as Special Assistant President and director of White House Personnel at the White House. Before her current position, she served as director of human resources for the Biden-Harris campaign team.
Caesar was given a special Liberty County welcome from state Rep. Al Williams, Liberty County Board of Commissioners Chairman Donald Lovette and Hinesville Mayor Karl Riles. Each of these elected officials gave greetings and a brief history of how rich Liberty County is and the many accomplishments some of her residents have achieved. Chairman Lovette presented her with a proclamation from the Liberty County Board of Commissioners.
Stabilizing Our Democracy Through Voter Education, Registration, and Participation was the 2024 theme. “Our theme this year challenges us to stand up for democracy by educating the electorate, registering new voters, and raising the participation level of voters in each election,” said Rev. Dr. Hermon Scott, president of the Liberty County Emancipation Proclamation Observance Day Committee. “The events of recent years have reminded us of just how fragile our democracy is. While we readily accept the fact that the Constitution was not necessarily written with today’s diversity in mind, it was written with enough elasticity to include today’s diverse citizenry.”
A member of Toastmasters of America, Caesar didn’t disappoint the awaiting congregation with her mesmerizing message. She prefaced her message by saying that her speech was her words and she was not speaking on behalf of President Biden or Vice President Harris, but it was her own message inspired by the words from the theme Scripture, Proverbs 31:8-9 (New Living Translation) which state: “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed. Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice.”
“My speech aligns with this year’s theme: Stabilizing Democracy Through Voter Education, Participation, and Registration,” she said.
Caesar kept the congregation’s attention as she spoke about her humble childhood beginnings in a little town named Blakely, which is not too far from the Georgia-Alabama line.
“One morning I asked my mom to ride with me to Montgomery, Alabama. I was on a mission to go to the National Memorial for Peace and Justice. When I got there, and as my mom and I were walking around, I noticed one of the hanging pillars had my hometown on it. There were a number of lynchings in my hometown. When I saw that, it really resonated with me because my childhood would lead you to know that we experienced a lot of racism in our hometown like I am sure you did in your hometown,” Caesar said.
“I was sharing with my mom that when I was growing up, we would ride to the town square. A lot of towns have town squares and in some of these squares, slaves were sold or lynched. My hometown was just that. I remember growing up and riding to the town square with my mom and seeing the Ku Klux Klan passing out pamphlets. That’s the hometown I grew up in.
“I looked back when I started to write this speech. I looked back to the moment when everyone in our hometown was considered to be a have or a have-not; I was a have-not. I don’t have much now, but I was a have-not completely back then,” Caesar stated.
Caesar reminded the audience that we must be careful what we say to people.
“We have to be careful with the words we say to our youth,” Caesar said. “We must speak positive words and not negative words because words can have a powerful effect on people and can hold them back and keep them from fully becoming all that they can be. But my mom was always present and sharing encouraging words (despite other negative words I experienced). We need to hear encouraging words. My mom’s ‘fearfully and wonderfully made’ words caused me to push forward to help others.”
Because of her mom’s encouraging words, which gave her confidence, at a young age, she wrote a letter to the City Council in Blakely because they wanted to close the swimming pool where she, her friends, and family gathered. That was the place where they met and exchanged ideas and plans for the future. Because she spoke up by writing a letter, the City Council opted not to close the pool.
“That’s important because when we learn to speak up and forget what people have said, we can speak up for others (even those who may have mistreated us or said negative words) and move forward and get justice for those who need it,” Caesar said.
She challenged the congregation to let go of what may be holding them back so they could step forward and speak on behalf of those who need their help.
“We can’t afford to bring anything from our childhood into 2024 that would cause us not to step forward and help those who need us. When you are held back, it is hard to step forward; it’s difficult for you to speak up for anybody who needs your help,” she said. “But I am asking you to let go of what is holding you back so you can step forward and speak for those who need it.”
Caesar also told the audience about a trip she and her mom made to Alabama to take her daughter (Imani) on a college tour to visit some HBCUs.
“On the way to Tuscaloosa, one of the places I wanted to stop and visit was Selma,” she said. “The first thing we noticed when we rode through Montgomery was how far it was from Montgomery to Selma. It is about an hour’s drive by car. But during the Civil Rights Movement, the people walked from Selma to Montogomery. Along the way, I noticed some markers but didn’t have a clue what they were until we got to Selma.
“When we got to Selma and got out of the car, I instantly felt emotional. My daughter and I walked up the Edmund Pettus Bridge. As I looked out and turned around to immediately go back down, again, emotions came over me. I can just imagine what it felt like to be a civil rights worker - to move forward to speak for people they didn’t know and speak for people in that moment. Despite insults and taunts, it didn’t matter. What mattered at that moment was speaking up for those who couldn’t speak for themselves and ensuring democracy for everyone who followed.
“Despite the beatings, they took the trip so we could have the right to vote. It was important for them to take the steps because it was important for them to speak up for those who could not speak up for themselves. Now, we must do our part.
“In 2024, we must leave some things behind so we move forward in power. We are going to need everybody on the journey. No soldier left behind; we need everybody.
“Every day when I walk on the White House campus, I’m reminded that a lot of the people on the campus were not used to Black people being there. But President Biden made a commitment to ensuring his White House looks like America, and this little girl from Blakely, Georgia, is walking on the White House campus. This is not about me, but this is what you can do when you can forget the things people say to you that try to keep you back. I’m in the White House today, never would have thought it, even though I wrote it, but still didn’t know how I was going to do it. I didn’t see it when I was in Liberty County, Blakely, or when I was anywhere else. I never saw the role. But I’m on that journey now.
“I am thankful for all of you who have supported me. Lieutenant Colonel Daisy Jones used to be my mentor when I was in the military. It’s because of everyone who has touched me that I can bring you greetings from President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris who are walking the walk, and to tell you to not be discouraged by what you hear,” Caesar said. “While you are preparing to speak for other people, forget the things behind you and don’t play into the negativity and disinformation that you hear. Make your own decisions by doing your own research.
Price closed her dynamic message with the following: “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate; our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. I know I never thought that. We are powerful. It is our lights, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant; gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God and should act like it every day. You should walk in the halls of wherever you work with your head held high; hand out reach ready to touch and capture your dreams. Please keep that in mind because nothing is enlightening about shrinking so that everybody else feels great around you. You were meant to shine. You are a light. You shine your light each and every day; no matter who is around. Shine your light. Are you ready Liberty County? Are you ready Liberty County? Tell the person next to you that you are ready to take this journey. Let’s get to work. Let’s get to work.”
This year, the 2024 Emancipation Proclamation Observance Day program booklet was dedicated in honor of the late Deacon John Barnard, Mrs. Edna Mae Miller, and Mrs. Gloria Robinson. These community servants served their community with dignity and faithfulness. Additionally, a special page in the booklet listed members of the community who are age 90 and above; this year the booklet also featured members who are 100 and above (Mrs. Willie Mae Hubbard-Wright - 105; Rev. Ollie Howard – 102; and Mrs. Mamie Clay - 102).
Seven outstanding residents of Liberty County were recognized for their exemplary service to the community. Elder Daisy Jones of Live Oak Church in Hinesville, and Larry Murray Jr. of Fellowship of Love in Allenhurst received the Emancipation’s Willie J. McIver Humanitarian Award. Liberty County High School seniors Madison Crowell and Ibrahim Davis-Mc-Clure and Bradwell Institute senior Kamryn Johnson received the Youth Award. Davis-Mc-Clure is a member of Baconton Missionary Baptist Church, and Johnson is a member of Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church. Rev. Frank Jones, pastor of Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church in Walthourville, received the President’s Award.
Leah Quarterman, a 2023 Liberty County Emancipation Proclamation Rev. Ollie Howard Scholarship Award recipient, read the Emancipation Proclamation. The Annual Emancipation Scholarship Award is named in honor of Rev. Ollie Howard because each year she presents the Emancipation Committee with a jar of change and a check to assist with the scholarships.
Oraetta Henderson led the congregation in the Negro National Anthem, “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing,” the MLK Male Choir rendered special music and the song service, and ushers
