The Greene County Democrat

Category: Celebrity

  • Newswire : Black Church and Black Press unite to empower Black America

    Rev. Boise Kimber, President of the National Baptist Convention and Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr, NNPA CEO

    Nashville, TN — July 25, 2025: In a historic announcement, a coalition of leading Black faith organizations and the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) unveiled a strategic partnership and plan to confront systemic disparities impacting African American communities nationwide.

    Dr. Boise Kimber, President of the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.; Bishop J. Drew Sheard, Pre- siding Bishop of the Church of God in Christ (COGIC); Dr. Samuel Tolbert, President of the National Baptist Convention of America; and Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr., veteran civil rights leader and President of the NNPA, are leading this collaboration between the Black church and Black Media.
    “There is strength in unity. There is power in our collective voice. There is hope in our actions,” said Dr. Boise Kimber.

    For generations, African American communities have endured deep-rooted inequities in healthcare, education, criminal justice, economic opportunity, and access to capital. These challenges are not new. The coalition intends to put an end to fragmented responses and speak with one clear, concise and consolidated voice.
    The Black Church and Black Media, two institutions that have long anchored and uplifted Black America, are now coming together with renewed focus and purpose.
    This partnership is grounded in shared values, spiritual conviction, cultural empowerment, and an unwavering commitment to truth, justice, and progress.
    The coalition will focus on five core initiatives:

    Shaping a unified national narrative that challenges harmful stereotypes and amplifies stories of Black resilience, excellence, and innovation
    Mobilizing faith-based and media networks to address community disparities through solutions-focused advocacy and outreach
    Holding corporate America accountable by demanding responsible reinvestment in Black communities through sustainable partnerships, economic equity, and community-led development
    Empowering the next generation by reclaiming our narratives and creating new pathways for education, leadership, and entrepreneurship
    Holding elected officials accountable by spotlighting those whose policies do not align with the interests of the Black community. To earn our votes, they must heed our voices.

    “This is more than a symbolic gesture; it is a strategic and spiritual alignment.” When the Black Church and Black Media speak as one, we can ignite a movement. When we organize as one, we can shift the narrative. When we act as one, we cannot be ignored or denied,” the coalition stated.
    The coalition invites all stakeholders, faith leaders, media professionals, community organizers, educators, business leaders, and concerned citizens to join this movement for unity, justice, and progress.


    Trump claimed that the country’s jobs reports “are being produced by a Biden appointee” and ordered his administration to terminate her.

    “We need accurate Jobs Numbers,” Trump wrote. “She will be replaced with someone much more competent and qualified. Important numbers like this must be fair and accurate; they can’t be manipulated for political purposes.”

    He intensified his attack in a later post, writing: “In my opinion, today’s Jobs Nu

  • Newswire : Bill Cosby pays tribute to Malcolm-Jamal Warner

     Bill Cosby and Malcom-Jamal Warner on the Cosby Show

    By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent

     

    In a wide-ranging and reflective appearance on the Black Press of America’s Let It Be Known, Bill Cosby—long regarded as television’s most iconic father figure—shared his thoughts on the death of Malcolm-Jamal Warner, the actor who portrayed Theo Huxtable on The Cosby Show.
     Warner, 54, reportedly drowned, and his passing has struck a deep chord with generations who grew up watching the groundbreaking series. Speaking with his trademark blend of intellect, personal memory, and cultural clarity, Cosby honored Warner’s legacy while revisiting the impact of The Cosby Show, a series that helped reshape how Black family life was portrayed on television.

    “I heard about Malcolm’s drowning,” Cosby said. “And then Pam [Warner’s mother] called me about a day after Malcolm drowned… She picked up the phone. I said, ‘Hello.’ And then I heard a sound… it was weak. She didn’t say a word at first. Then she said, ‘Oh, Bill.’ I did not stay on the phone much longer. That was enough.” Cosby described Warner’s mother, Pamela, as a devoted parent who played a central role in guiding her son’s life and career. “She laughs and she jokes, but she doesn’t play,” Cosby said. “She was very hands-on. And her love for Malcolm was unwavering.”
    He also shared that Phylicia Rashad, who played Claire Huxtable, reached out to him following the news of Warner’s death. “There was a call from Claire Huxtable—that is, Phylicia. She made the same call,” Cosby recalled, providing a sense of the emotional toll the loss has taken on the close-knit cast. Cosby explained that the character of Theo was drawn directly from his real-life son, Ennis, and their conversations about education, responsibility, and identity. “Ennis once said, ‘I just want to be regular people,’” Cosby said. “Smoke began to form between both ears.” That real-life experience became one of the most famous on the show— with Cosby’s character telling Warner’s, “That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.”
    The iconic television star praised Warner’s discipline, intellect, and dedication. “Malcolm was very intelligent, very efficient, and he loved life,” Cosby recalled. “He and Ennis became close friends. We developed Theo’s character together, based on real life.” The conversation expanded beyond individual memories to a larger examination of The Cosby Show’s cultural mission.
    Cosby spoke in detail about the importance of platforming Black professionals, Black family structure, and historically Black colleges and universities. “We didn’t buy tickets to get here,” Cosby said, referring to the historical journey of Black Americans. “Our ancestors were brought here to work for free. And for Cliff and Claire Huxtable to come from one floor in the South and become a doctor and a lawyer—this was about dignity, about love, and about excellence.”
    Cosby, who broke barriers in the 1960s with the television show, “I Spy,” also spoke about education as a life-long pursuit—both in and outside the classroom. He recounted his son’s challenges with dyslexia and how those experiences shaped the show’s themes, particularly in episodes focused on learning styles and academic self-confidence. And he credited Warner for bringing those stories to life on screen with care and truth. “He was free,” Cosby said. “And that tape needs to be heard,” referencing a performance Warner gave with the Minnesota Symphony. “He called me after the concert and said, ‘I did exactly what I wanted to do.’” When asked about the possibility of remakes of classic films like Let’s Do It Again or Uptown Saturday Night, Cosby didn’t hesitate.
    “There’s no sense in remaking something just because you liked it,” he said. “Talk about your own life. You’d be surprised how interesting your own life is.” Cosby closed the interview not with sorrow, but with purpose. “This is not to get angry,” he said. “This is to celebrate a man—54 years old, asphyxiated, swept out to sea. His life, and where he wanted to go, should be remembered.”
    He added, “It’s difficult to work against heaven.” Cosby also acknowledged civil rights legends like Dick Gregory and Rachel Robinson and spoke about why he has always stood with the Black Press. “Dick Gregory told me, always remember the Black Press,” Cosby said. “Take out ads, do the interviews, support them. And I have.”
    In one of the most striking moments of the interview, Cosby shared a lesson from his grandmother—an uneducated woman in formal terms, but, as Cosby made clear, a profound thinker. “She asked me, is the glass half full or half empty?” Cosby recalled. “I told her that’s what we were discussing in class. And she said, ‘Well, it depends on if you’re pouring or drinking.’ That’s the kind of wisdom we come from.” He ended the conversation with a charge to everyone: to reflect, to create, and above all, to tell their own stories.
    “All you have to do is celebrate,” he insisted. “And do the correct thing.”

  • Sarah Duncan Brewer announces candidacy for Eutaw City Council, District IV


    EUTAW, AL – Longtime community member and dedicated public servant, Sarah Duncan Brewer, has officially announced her candidacy for the Eutaw City Council, representing District IV. With a distinguished record of service within Greene County and a deep commitment to civic engagement, Brewer is eager to bring her extensive experience and proactive vision to the city’s leadership.
    For the past two decades, Mrs. Brewer has been a cornerstone of the Greene County Board of Education. Her career there began as secretary for the Superintendent, a role that provided her with foundational insights into the administrative workings of local institutions. She later transitioned to the critical position of HR Coordinator/Payroll Clerk for the Board of Education, where she has been responsible for managing essential financial operations. This 26-year tenure has honed her skills in organization, fiscal responsibility, and public administration.
    Beyond her professional life, Sarah Duncan Brewer is a devoted member of the Second Baptist Church, where her voluntary commitment to service spanning 35 years extends to her role as Financial Secretary. Her active participation in the church community underscores her dedication to the well-being and betterment of Eutaw residents.
    A staunch advocate for civic participation, Mrs. Brewer has been a registered voter since becoming eligible, consistently exercising her right to elect candidates into office for over 40 years. This long-standing engagement with the democratic process has given her a unique perspective on local governance.
    “After observing the current condition of our city and county, I felt it was time for me to step into the ring and see if I could help make a difference in our city,” stated Brewer. Her decision to run stems from a desire to translate her observations into tangible improvements for Eutaw.
    Brewer emphasizes her belief that while many factors contribute to realizing a vision, significant improvements are within reach. “Over the years, I’ve watched how politicians often wait until election time to make improvements,” she reflected. “I thought, why not make these changes all the time? Because it is right to give our citizens quality services.” Her platform is rooted in the principle of consistent, proactive service to the community, not just during campaign cycles.
    Sarah Duncan Brewer is married to Albert Brewer. They are the proud parents of two children, Alvin (Cara) Brewer and Ashley (Jason) Brewer Lincoln, and doting grandparents to three granddaughters, Maya Faith, Nola Grace, and Ava Joy. Her deep roots in the community and commitment to family further underscore her dedication to fostering a thriving environment for all Eutaw residents.
    Brewer invites residents of District IV to engage with her campaign as she looks forward to discussing her vision for a stronger, more vibrant Eutaw.

  • 
This rural county hoped to reopen its hospital. Voting for Trump killed it

    By Staff of Daily Kos
    Martin County, nestled in northeast North Carolina, had 24,500 residents in 2010. By 2020, that number had dropped to 22,000. Like much of rural America, its population is steadily declining.
    Politically, it’s followed a familiar trajectory. President Barack Obama carried the county twice by 5 points. In 2016, President Donald Trump edged out Hillary Clinton, 49.2% to 48.8%. And by 2020, Trump’s margin grew to 52% to President Joe Biden’s 47%. Last year, he won it by 55% to Vice President Kamala Harris’ 45%.
    Now the county faces a very different kind of loss: its only hospital shut down in August 2023 due to financial strain, making the nearest emergency room 22 miles away—a 30-minute drive that, for some, is fatal. It’s even farther for more advanced medical services.
    There were plans to reopen the hospital, but then Trump’s proposed cuts to Medicaid—framed as a crackdown on “fraud and waste”—shattered that possibility.
    According to The New York Times, the impacts are felt acutely by Martin County residents, more than a quarter of whom are older than 65. The nearest hospital is in Greenville 40 minutes away.
    Verna Marie Perry, 66, a former worker in the county’s adult and aging services department, told the Times that she now fields calls from friends in medical crises.
    “Neighbors have called me crying moments after someone close to them died while being transported to the nearest hospital,” she said.
    It’s a tragic reality made worse by the fact that some residents still can’t—or won’t—see the connection between their vote and the disaster now unfolding.
    Cathy Price, 72, a lifelong Williamston resident and former nurse at the shuttered Martin General, told the Times that while she still backs Trump’s efforts to trim Medicaid, “we’re in a life-and-death crisis. People’s lives are on the line because of the hospital not being here.”
    There it is: She voted to hurt other people, not herself. And even now, she clings to the fantasy that all of that “fraud and waste” must be happening somewhere else.
    But the harsh reality is that there’s nothing remotely efficient about a hospital serving just 22,000 people. Rural hospitals aren’t profitable. They can only exist because of subsidies from urban areas—in effect, from liberals.
    And for years, that was the deal: Blue America paid the bills so red America could have hospitals, schools, broadband, and clean water. In return, rural voters have voted to burn the country down.
    Okay, then.
    We feel for the 45% of Martin County voters who backed Harris. They tried to do what was best for their country and their county. As for Price and her fellow Trump voters? We hope that they get exactly what they voted for.

  • Newswire : Juneteenth 2025: Chavis urges America to confront the enduring legacy of the Transatlantic Slave Trade

    Cover of book on the Transatlantic Slave Trade

    New York, NY – As the nation marks Juneteenth—commemorating June 19, 1865, when federal troops enforced the Emancipation Proclamation in Texas—Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. calls for a deeper reckoning with the global and generational impact of the Transatlantic Slave Trade.

    Chavis, a renowned civil rights leader, former executive director of the Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. an accomplished journalist and author and senior national correspondent for Black Press USA.

    The book features a powerful foreword by hip-hop legend Chuck D and is endorsed by NBA Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas.


    A Legacy That Still Shapes Lives:

    Environmental Racism: Dr. Chavis coined the term “environmental racism” in the early 1980s. His 1986 study, Toxic Waste and Race, revealed how hazardous waste sites disproportionately impact communities of color—leading to widespread health disparities and environmental injustice.
    Mass Incarceration, Inequality, and Systemic Racism: “The chains of slavery may have been broken,” Chuck D writes, “but the shackles of systemic racism are still very much intact.” The book links modern injustices—from police brutality to education gaps—directly to slavery’s legacy.
    Global Repercussions: The transatlantic slave trade left marks not only on American soil but around the globe, influencing foreign policy, economic disparity, and racial inequality from the U.S. to the Caribbean and beyond.
    Modern-Day Consequences: From gentrification and poverty to voter suppression and underfunded schools, Black communities continue to face barriers rooted in this centuries-old system of oppression.

    “Too many still refuse to connect the dots between slavery and today’s racial injustices,” said Dr. Chavis. “This book is a wake-up call—a demand for awareness and a call to action.”
    A Must-Read for a Nation in Reflection:

    The Transatlantic Slave Trade: Overcoming the 500-Year Legacy is a timely, urgent, and unapologetic look at how the horrors of the past continue to shape present-day realities. It honors the resilience of Black people while demanding America finally reckon with truth and justice.

    The book is available from Amazon.com, Barnes and Nobel and your local book store.

  • Here comes the 50th: Black Belt Folk Roots Festival plans 50th community celebration

    By: Carol P. Zippert
    Festival Coordinator
     
        In  1975, the organizers of the first Black Belt Folk Roots Festival in Greene County, Jane and Hubert Sapp, perhaps did not envision that their phenomenal cultural celebration would endure to approach its 50th year.  However, it has come to past through the leadership of the Society of Folk Arts & Culture, the year 2025 will mark the 50th production of the festival scheduled for August 23-24.
        The festival was organized to pay tribute to those persons recognized as bearers of the folkway, traditions and culture of the West Alabama Region, exemplified through their creations in craft, music, storytelling and foodways.  As the elders move on, there are fewer old fashioned quilts and baskets, but the young folk come with their own brand of “handmade.” They bring a variety of jewelry and other adornments; home made soaps in exotic scents but with useful purposes. They bring art works depicting their views of the world, or just living in a day. They offer decorative items to cheer a body and a home. But the young crafters come and claim the festival in their own ways –  Here comes the 50th.
        The festival’s music stage continues.  Saturday’s blues recounts struggles, hardship and pain. Sunday’s gospel lifts the spirit in the joy of making it over. The grateful music is accented by the colorful crafts that adorn the grounds as well.
        Hopefully the 2025 Black Belt Folk Roots Festival will again feature the Kid’s Tent with hands-on art workshops. The Kid’s Tent is a special adventure for children at the festival.  They don’t have to do “grown folk stuff.” They have their own piece of the celebration.  Various art supplies are provided for the children to work at their own creations, which they can keep.  The Kid’s Tent also offers pottery making, face painting and games – Here comes the 50th.
         The Black Belt Folk Roots Festival is not a festival without the traditional foods. One could wonder, does the food make the people important or the people make the food important. However, the people and food are inseparable at the festival.  There are sufficient folk to crowd all the booths – seeking soul food dinners, Polish sausage and bear burgers, fried chicken or fish, deep fried skins and cracklin, tea cakes, pies, popcorn, snow cones and sometimes homemade ice cream and so much more – Here comes the 50th.
           There are costs in producing the festival and we are grateful there are contributors who value the festival.  The Alabama Tourism Department, Alabama Power Foundation, the Black Belt Community Foundation, grants from Legislators, other non-profits and local merchants support the production of the festival – Here comes the 50th.
        The participating artists receive travel honoraria and they always accept what we are able to provide. There are technicians and ground workers to support as well; tents, tables and chairs to rent.  One local couple brings their shop fans to keep us cool under the big tent. The festival belongs to everyone.  City and county governments render invaluable in-kind services including making restrooms in the courthouse accessible to festival goers; assisting with traffic, parking, vendors set-up and general safety.  The festival features another important health safety measure, vaccinations and testing are available on the grounds, provided by Rural Alabama Prevention Center, directed by Mrs. Loretta Wilson – Here comes the 50th.
        This festival is unique in that there is no admission charge, simply because it is a community celebration. It would be like charging your family a fee to come home for Thanksgiving. The festival brings people together because they need and desire to be together – Here comes the 50th.
        The 2025 annual Black Belt Folk Roots Festival is scheduled for Saturday, August 23 and Sunday, August 24, on the Rev. Thomas Gilmore Square (the old courthouse square, downtown Eutaw, AL). We look forward to seeing you at our community celebration – Here comes the 50th.


    For more information contact: Carol Zippert at zippert.carol79@gmail.com or 205-372-0525.

     

     

     

  • Newswire : A legend of Black Politics in Harlem and beyond, Congressman Charlie Rangel dies at 94

    Congressman Charlie Rangel unveiling portrait

    By Lauren Burke, NNPA Congressional Correspondent


    Charlie Rangel, the long-term Congressman and a heavyweight in New York politics as a member of Harlem’s ”Gang of Four”, has died at 94. His colorful and charismatic personality, bowties, and raspy voice made him a character on Capitol Hill who was impossible to forget. Rangel was simultaneously larger than life but also approachable and engaging.
    Rangel was the last living member of the “Gang of Four” made up of powerful African American leaders in New York: David Dinkins (1927-2020), Basil Paterson (1946-2014), and Percy Sutton (1920-2009). The four dealmakers were powerbrokers at a time when political decisions were made in smoke-filled rooms over poker games. In 2010, President Obama suggested that Rangel resign from Congress “with dignity” after he was targeted by an ethics investigation that would eventually mean he had to give up the Chairmanship of the Ways & Means Committee. “This guy from Lenox Avenue is retiring with dignity,” Rangel would later tell reporters as he departed Congress on his terms and at the time of his choosing.
    Rangel ignored Obama and remained in Congress for another six years with an aura that made many forget about the ethics investigation. Before serving Congress, Rangel did about every job in politics that existed. In 1961, Rangel was appointed by Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy to be an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of New York. Rangel was also a legal counsel for the New York Housing and Redevelopment Board. Charlie Rangel was born in Harlem in 1930. He would go on to represent one of the most storied parts of Manhattan for 46 years in the U.S. Congress. Along with the late John Conyers, Rangel was also a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus.
    “We all have a large stake in preserving our democracy, but I maintain that those without power in our society, the Black, the Brown, the poor of all colors, have the largest stake not because we have the most to lose, but because we have worked the hardest, and given the most, for what we have achieved,” Rangel once said.  Rangel was the first African American to serve as Chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee. As chair and as a member of the Committee, Rangel played a central role in shaping U.S. tax legislation. He advocated for progressive tax reform, closing corporate loopholes, and increasing tax equity.  Rangel was also a strong supporter of Social Security and Medicare and defended and expanded programs aimed at reducing poverty and supporting working-class families. The legendary Harlem Congressman also championed federal investment in affordable housing and urban infrastructure, especially for Harlem and other underserved communities.
    In a noteworthy policy move, Rangel also pushed to reinstate the military draft during the Iraq War—not to promote it, but to spark debate on the fairness of who bears the burden of war. Rangel earned a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star for his service in the Army during Korea. Rangel served as a member of the New York State Assembly from 1967 to 1971 and went on to defeat another New York political legend — Adam Clayton Powell Jr. in a primary, before winning in the general election in 1970. Rangel retired from Congress in 2016 at 86 years old. At a time when many are discussing the age of members of Congress and the many who have died in office over the past two years.
    Rangel was an exception who departed on his terms.  Rangel’s seat in Congress would go to Dominican-born Adriano Espaillat. The moment represented a shift in Harlem’s demographics and the power of the Latino community in the Bronx. Rangel’s wife Alma Carter passed away last year. The two met in the 1950’s at the famous Savoy Ballroom in Harlem. They married in 1964 and have two children.

  • Greene County celebrates 20th Year of Black Belt Community Foundation

    L to R: Community Associates Geraldine Walton, Mollie Rowe, Nancy Cole, BBCF President Felecia Lucky, BBCF Founder Carol P. Zippert, BBCF Community Associates Miriam Leftwich, Darlene Robinson and Johnni Strode-Morning.

    On Friday, April 25, 2025, the Black Belt Community Foundation (BBCF) Greene County Associates held its 20th year celebration lifting community engagements supported by BBCF. Its theme: The Roaring 20’s depicted an era of fashion and a period of extraordinary community work in Greene County.

    BBCF President Felecia Lucky shared in the celebratory occasion, saluting the Associates with the statement “Greene County always goes big.” Greetings were also brought by Eutaw Mayor Latosha Johnson and Greene County Commission Chairperson, Garria Spencer, Associates Coordinator Miriam Leftwich, Nancy Cole, Johnni Strode-Morning and Darlene Robinson. Mollie Rowe served as Mistress of Order.

    A special recognition was presented to Dr. Carol P. Zippert as a founding member of BBCF. She gave a brief overview of the journey of the foundation.

    The Black Belt Community Foundation (BBCF) is celebrating its 20th year of serving 12 counties in the Alabama Black Belt. Each of the 12 counties, including Greene, Sumter, Pickens, Hale, Perry, Marengo, Choctaw, Dallas, Lowndes, Wilcox, Macon and Bullock is hosting a 20th Year celebratory event.

    Through community grants and other financial and technical resources, BBCF assists local groups engaged in transformational work to lift its community through arts and culture, education, health and wellness, childcare, civic engagement, youth leadership, and related projects. Each county has a group of volunteers known as Community Associates who are dedicated to educating the community on the vision and mission of BBCF and assist in raising funds, which earn a percentage match by BBCF, to support local projects. Funds raised by Associates in a particular county support grants to groups in that county.

     

  • Newswire : Sen. Cory Booker and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries lead Democrats in sit-in on the steps of the U.S. Capitol to speak against expected GOP budget cuts

    By Lauren Burke and Stacy M. Brown
    NNPA Newswire Reporters


    Sen. Booker and Leader Jeffries conduct sit-in on steps of U. S. Capitol in Washington, D. C.
    In a show of solidarity against the congressional Republicans and the Trump Administration, dozens of congressional Democratic members of Congress gathered on the steps of the U.S. House of Representatives from sunrise to sunset Sunday, April 27 to speak out against budget cuts.
    “The budget is a moral document,” said New Jersey Senator Cory Booker as he sat wearing a black shirt and pants next to the Democratic leader in the U.S. House, Brooklyn Congressman Hakeem Jeffries. The two started with only Senator Chris Coons of Delaware at 7:30 am on Sunday. As the day moved forward many other members, advocates, and curious onlookers joined them in support of their effort to bring attention to what may be a historic budget in terms of cuts to social programs.
    Throughout the day, lawmakers took turns sharing personal stories and reading testimonies from constituents whose lives have been transformed by government assistance. But since Trump took office for his second term in January, his focus has been on cutting the federal government and the jobs and programs associated that assist millions of Americans. “I was on the steps of the Capitol with Leader Jeffries, Sen. Booker, and many others to make the case for what’s at stake with Trump’s budget. Medicaid, food assistance, and social security. It’s all on the line. A moral moment” wrote Senator Amy Klobuchar, who may lead the Democrats as the next Leader of the Party in the U.S. Senate after the criticism of the leadership of Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and the retirement announcement of Senator Dick Durbin on April 23.
    Jeffries warned that the proposed cuts would devastate seniors, families, and vulnerable communities. “Republicans are crashing the economy in real-time,” he said. “Now, they want to jam a reckless budget down the throats of the American people that will end Medicaid as we know it, destroy Social Security, and rip food from the mouths of children, seniors, and veterans. As Democrats, we’re going to continue to stand on the side of the American people and we will not rest until we bury this reckless Republican budget in the ground.”
    Throughout the day, figures such as American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten, civil rights attorney Maya Wiley, Rev. William Barber II, and others joined the sit-in. Senators Chris Coons, Raphael Warnock, Angela Alsobrooks, Lisa Blunt Rochester, and Representatives Emanuel Cleaver, Sarah McBride, Mark Takano, Tom Suozzi, Sydney Kamlager-Dove, Steven Horsford, Suhas Subramanyam, Emily Randall, Sarah Elfreth, and Delegate Stacey Plaskett also participated.
    Wiley shared personal stories of Americans who would suffer under the proposed cuts. “The cuts, when we’re talking about cuts, people bleed and we should put names behind them,” Wiley said. “You know, Sarah in South Dakota had a son who had seizures one to five times a day and had to quit her job to try to save her son. It is Medicaid that helps pay for her health care to do that. Or Jasmine in Alabama, in Tuscaloosa, with two kids, who was taking care of other people’s children when she fell and became disabled, and it’s Medicaid that was taking care of her.” Booker said Democrats must move beyond “business as usual” and find new ways to confront injustice. “We can’t keep doing things like business as usual,” he said. “Speaking out and speaking up is how we will convince at least four Republicans in the House and Senate to do the right thing and vote no.”.

  • Deltas sponsor 39th Debutante Ball

    L to R: Kayla Nickson Miss Debutante 2025, Madison Thompson 1st winner up and Alyce Josephine Hill 2nd winner up.

    Greene County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated held its 39th Debutante Ball on Saturday, April 5, 2025 at the Eutaw Activity Center in Eutaw, Alabama. Twelve lovely young ladies made their debut to their family and guests. The 2025 Debutante and Escorts were Debutante Sanaa Braxton escorted by Thomas Fritts; Debutante Jakayla Brown escorted by Indaglis Hunter; Debutante DeMya Chavers escorted by Mekhi Bragg; Debutante Nichyia Cook escorted by Christian Lewis; Debutante Alyce-Josephine Hill escorted by Christopher K. Williams; Debutante Zamiyah Hughes escorted by Nicholas Henley; Debutante Aniya McMillian escorted by her brother Anthony McMillian, Jr.; Debutante Kayla Nickson escorted by Jaron Lavender; Debutante ZoToria Petty escorted by Kameron Landrum; Debutante Jasmine Simpson escorted by her father Steven Simpson; Debutante Madison Thompson escorted by Joseph Ian Jones; Debutante Diamond White escorted by James Eatmon.

    Debutante Kayla Nickson was crowned Miss 2025 Debutante. First Runner up was Debutante Madison Thompson and Second Runner up was Alyce-Josephine Hill.

    The guests enjoyed an elegant affair that had “A Storybook Ending”. Phillis Branch Belcher is the chapter President and Nancy Cole was the Debutante Ball Chair.