By Maya Quinn, editor

Community members gathered for the Breast Cancer and Domestic Violence Awareness program held at the Leona Tyree Community Center, releasing memorial balloons.

Eutaw Housing Authority (EHA) and Tuskegee University hosted a Breast Cancer and Domestic Violence Awareness program at the Leona Tyree Community Center. The program honored local survivors and remembered the fallen. The program challenged attendees to turn awareness into action by providing education and featuring speakers who shared personal testimonies. 

The Leona Tyree Community Center is named after the only woman to have housed her family there. After Tyree passed away from a battle with ovarian and stomach cancer, the building was transformed into a community center dedicated to her. Her daughter, Faye Tyree, and her granddaughter, Linda Davis, attended the event. 

Mollie Gaines, chairperson of the EHA Board, delivered the welcome. Gaines informed attendees that EHA wanted to bring awareness to early detection of breast cancer and the spectrum of domestic violence. “You don’t have to get hit in the head to be abused,” Gaines stated as she explained the prevalence of verbal abuse and isolation in domestic violence. 

Mayor Cockrell offered greetings that encouraged community members to reach out to pre-existing organizations or form awareness committees in their own neighborhoods. “We cannot change lives by sitting on the sidelines,” he stated. Cockrell also reminded everyone of the importance of treating domestic violence victims with dignity and respect. 

After greetings, Tuskegee University Family and Consumer Science Extension Agent Tamika King provided information about community resources. King has already provided Greene, Sumter, and Marengo County with educational learning activities on agriculture, family, and consumer sciences. She also offers other resources and connections to turn a community’s vision into a reality. “If your work with me, I can work with you,” she stated. 

Retired LPN Pinnia Hines also educated attendees on self-check breast exams and early detection. Hines came bearing knowledge from 41 years of nursing and strongly encouraged monthly self-checks for men and women. She urged individuals to report any abnormalities, including but not limited to soreness, redness, lumps of any size, and inverted nipples. “It’s always good to be proactive,” she stated. She modeled a self-check exam on a medical model by using her first three fingers to press around the breast, outward to inward. 

Linda Davis, partially raised by Leona Tyree from ages 3-15, testified about her recent battle with breast cancer. Her journey began in March 2025 when she went in for a routine mammogram. Doctors told her to return in September 2025 and referred her to her primary doctor. Upon review, her primary care doctor referred her to a surgeon for a biopsy of her breast tissue. The results revealed cancerous cells, and she was subsequently diagnosed with breast cancer. 

“Cancer was a death sentence,” she stated while recalling a brief depression at the beginning of her battle with the disease. Her only reprieve and peace came from relying on her faith. “I thank God every day for giving me everything I needed. He made it easy.”

Davis also stressed the importance of having a support system. She leaned on her family, community, and the kindness of strangers. She ended her testimony by revealing that she is now cancer-free and urged everyone to have a relationship with Jesus.  

The event concluded with a memorial service led by Debbie Duncan. Attendees were invited to release pink and purple balloons outside the community center. The event concluded with refreshments and gifts for attending survivors.