Greene County Democrat

Tag: Garria Spencer

  • Greene County Commission meets, approves way for the public to support ambulance services

    Greene County Commission meets, approves way for the public to support ambulance services

    The Greene County Commission met on Monday, March 9, 2026, for its regular monthly meeting. Three commissioners were present for the roll call: Garria Spencer, Chair, Tennyson Smith and Allen Turner. The other two commissioners: Latasha Johnson and Roshonda Summerville arrived late and participated in the meeting when they arrived.

    The meeting began with a report from Assistant Engineer Culliver, who asked that the Commission approve a resolution designating Noah’s Way as a county road for repair and maintenance purposes. The road is in District 5, and Commissioner Summerville has been trying for some time to get the road designated as a county road. At the earlier Commission work session, the status of Noah’s Way was discussed. The Commissioners decided to send the official decision to the Commission meeting, where the resolution was adopted.

    Culliver asked the Commission to approve the agreement with ALDOT to pursue the TAP grant to redo the sidewalks on the interior of the Old Courthouse Square, now named for Sheriff Thomas Gilmore. This project will complement the Street Scape project, which was completed last year by the City of Eutaw on the outside perimeter of the Thomas Gilmore Square.

    The TAP grant, which totals over a million dollars with an 80% state grant and 20% matching for engineering and construction, will redo all of the interior sidewalks on the square. This will make it easier for the many people who use this pathway to exercise and stay healthy.


    The third item on the agenda, which dealt with approving a contract for a Water Park Administration and Engineering firm to help design a “splash pad for children,” was tabled.

    The Commission approved travel for the Engineer and Assistant Engineer to attend a training conference on May 5 and 6 at Perdido Beach.

    The next item was added to the agenda at the meeting. Legal Counsel Mark Parnell proposed that the commission could establish an account, under the Commission’s General Fund, where individuals and businesses could contribute to support the ambulance service and have their contribution be tax-deductible, since the Commission and the ambulance service are public corporations – providing a service, not trying to be for-profit. The resolution creating a fund for contributions to the ambulance service was approved.

  • Commission chooses Spencer as Chair and Summerville as Vice Chair at Organizational Meeting

    Seated L-R: County Commissioners Allen Turner, Garria Spencer, Chairperson, Roshonda Summerville, Vice Chair, Latasha Johnson and Tennyson Smith. Standing are members of the Greene County Alumnae Chapter Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated: Phillis Belcher, President, Drenda Morton, Isaac Atkins, Shirley Ezell and Marva Smith.

    The Greene County Commission held its annual Organizational Meeting on Monday, November 10, 2025, in the William M. Branch Courthouse at 5;00 PM. All five commissioners were present, including newly appointed District 3 Commissioner, Latasha Johnson.
    Garria Spencer, Chairperson relinquished the chair and asked Legal Counsel, Mark Parnell, to officiate at the meeting for the purpose of electing a chair for the coming year. Commissioner Johnson nominated Spencer to be the chair. There were no other nominations, so Garria Spencer was elected Chairperson by acclamation.
    After the election, Spencer thanked the Commissioners for their support and said, I will do my best to work with everyone on this Commission and recognize your concerns and interests.”
    There were two commissioners nominated for Vice- Chair, Tennyson Smith and Roshonda Summerville. Summerville was selected by a 3 to 2 vote.
    The Commission agreed that its regular meetings would be held on the second Monday of each month at 5:00 P M.
    The Commission agreed to retain the same depositories for its funds. They designated that two of the following persons, Garria Spencer, Roshonda Summerville, Brenda Burke, Altheria Wilder, and Rhonda French would be eligible to sign checks for the Commission. The signatures on the safe deposit box were similarly adjusted.
    The Commission did not make any appointments or changes to county agencies or internal committees. Commissioner Turner requested a list of all committees and boards and their current occupants and vacancies.
    The Commission also received and approved a report on finances for the month of October 2025, first month of the current fiscal year. The County spent $2,093,525 on all bills and payroll, plus an additional $94,401 on electronic claims for employee deductions.
    The County has $9,318,691 on deposit with local banks and $1,901,849 in certificates of deposit. There is $4,884,839 on deposit with Citizens Trust Bank of which $1,038,957 in unrestricted and $3,845,881 in restricted funds. In Merchants and Farmers Bank, there is a total of $4,433,851 of which $1,497,654 in unrestricted and $2,936,197 in restricted funds.
    At its November 1 meeting, the Commission accepted the resignation of Sandra Walker, District 1 representative on the Greenthumb Board and appointed Lucy Spann to this position.

  • Greene County Commission provides $240,000 in assistance to the Greene County Health System

    By John Zippert, Co-Publisher and Editor

    In a special meeting on October 23, 2025, the Greene County Commission approved a loan/grant combination of $240,000 in financial assistance to the Greene County Health System (GCHS), which includes the hospital, nursing home and physician’s clinic.
    The healthcare system has been challenged by many financial problems over the past decade. The monthly revenues have not been sufficient to cover all expenses of the GCHS, for the past three years. “We have had to juggle bills for a while to keep operating and we have come to the end of the line. An IRS lien at the beginning of September took all our reserves and some funds we were holding to pay other bills. Last week, Blue Cross-Blue Shield, which provides health insurance for our employees cancelled our policy saying we owed $60,000 for two months – September and October,” said Dr. Marcia Pugh, GCHS Administrator.
    The income of the GCHS has been also affected by low reimbursement rates from Medicaid, Medicare and private insurance. The failure of the State of Alabama to expand Medicaid to persons making less that 135% of poverty level income, has resulted in 40% of the people in Greene County, most who are working at low wages, not to have any health insurance coverage. This has meant that the facilities of GCHS giving increasing “uncompensated care”, which adds to the facilities operating deficits. The uncertainty of the impact of future cuts in Medicaid, Medicare and other health care benefits casts a shadow over the future financial progress of the organization.
    John Zippert, Board Chair of the GCHS requested that Garria Spencer, Chair of the Greene County Commission consider advancing to the healthcare system $100,000 from the 4 mil advalorem, property tax funds , that the county collects for the hospital. Taxpayers are starting to pay their 2025 property taxes as of October 1, 2025, and will pay over the next four months. Spencer checked with the County’s Legal Counsel and called the special meeting for the Commission to discuss and act on the request.
    The Commission approved the $100,000 advance to be used to pay Blue Cross-Blue Shield to reinstate the employee health insurance and to pay other bills, including payroll. The Commission also approved transferring $40,000 of Opioid Lawsuit Settlement funds to the GCHS. At the suggestion of Commissioner Tennyson Smith, the Commission also approved granting $100,000 to GCHS from the Commission’s Bingo Funds. That resolution was amended by Commissioner Roshanda Summerville for $50,000 to be used for an audit and the remaining $50,000 to pay other bills, when the GCHS presents a list of bills owed. Commissioner Allen Turner urged the GCHS Board of Directors to seek funding from the sheriff, municipalities, and other groups receiving funds from gaming.
    John Zippert, GCHS Board Chair thanked the Commission for its support and said that the healthcare system might have to come back for additional help depending on the finances of the organization. Zippert explained that GCHS has a short-range financial plan and a longer-range plan that it was working to implement.
    The GCHS currently has a loan/bond financing arrangement with Citizens Trust Bank to pay off bills and debts that accumulated over a dozen years ago. This bond issue matures in 2027 but should have accumulated reserves to pay off the bonds early. The healthcare system looks to make a new loan/bond issue, with the support of the County Commission, to pay off over $2million of current debts. The bonds are backed by a one cent of the 3 cents sales tax that the County Commission receives each month. The County Commission pays the sales tax funds to the bank to service the secure bridge loans to keep operating until supplied the assurance necessary to the bank and the bondholders that they will be paid.
    Along with a new bond issue, the GCHS Board is looking to find other sources of new revenue for the health system. This includes a new Alabama Rural Hospital Investment Fund (RHIF), which can make grants for operational costs to qualified rural hospitals. The grant will be contingent on hospitals raising money from individuals and corporations willing to pay into the RHIF, in lieu of paying state income taxes. Another source will be the five-year, $50 billion fund for rural hospitals, in Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’. Federal regulations are still being developed for the dispersal of these funds. The GCHS also proposes to increase usage of the facilities which will increase revenues. Currently there are 38 residents in the Greene County Nursing Home, and they have 72 beds which potentially could be filled.
    The GCHS plans call for securing the new bond issue by the end of this calendar year. In the meantime, the short-range plan calls for bridge loans to help the facility remain open and operating to serve county residents. The plan also includes asking creditors for patience until the longer-range plan goes into effect to receive the funds they are owed.
    The GCHS Board of Directors, which is appointed by the County Commission, has vowed to keep the hospital, nursing home and clinic open and operating, no matter what it takes.

  • Commission approves CD investments with Merchants & Farmers Bank

    County Commission and School Board to determine status of ad valorem tax for schools

    The Greene County Commission met in regular session, Tuesday, October 14, 2025 with all Commissioners present. The October meeting was scheduled for the second Tuesday, since the second Monday was National Indigenous Peoples Day, a holiday observed by Greene County.
    At the Commission’s work session, held Wednesday, October 8, Ms. Marquita Lennon, CSFO of the Greene County Board of Education, presented a request for renewal of an ad valorem tax for the school system. Ms. Lennon indicated that the milage tax would expire in 2026 and the procedure for renewal required action from the county. This was an agenda item for the October 14 meeting, at which time Attorney Mark Parnell stated that according to his research, the milage tax was not scheduled to expire in 2026 because it was attached to a bond. Commission Chairperson, Garria Spencer, recommended that the Attorneys for the county and the school board communicate and bring clarity to the issue by the next commission meeting.
    The Commission approved a recommendation by Ms. Altheria Wilder, CFO for Greene County Commission, that CD investments, currently at Pinnacle Bank in Birmingham and scheduled to expire, be transferred to Merchants & Farmers Bank for better interest rates. She noted that Pinnacle offered 3.5 interest rate; Merchant &b Farmers offered seven month CD investment at 4.5 and 13 month CD investment at 4.25. The total CD investments approximately $625,000.
    In other business the Commission acted on the following items.
    * Approved hiring grant writer, Marilyn Culliver. Attorney Parnell will prepare contract.
    * Approved painting the Activity Center.
    * Advised staff to follow-up on replacing doors and glass at Activity Center.
    Approved the School Resource Officers contract.
    Approved the Supplement Agreement with Sheriff Benison, regarding the sheriff’s payment to the county for additional employees in his department.
    Approved the SSUT Resolution – Alabama Simplified Users Tax.
    The Commission approved various board appointments and re-appointments.
    Commissioner Corey Cockrell recommended the following persons from District 3:
    Ms. Shirley Edwards re-appointed to the Hospital Board; Ms. Kimberly Tyree appointed to the Greenthumb Board; Ms. DeCharo Rice appointed to the PARA Board; Ms. Vivian Carpenter appointed to the DHR Board.
    At Commissioner Tennyson Smith’s request, the Greenthumb board position for District 2 was tabled, as well as Commissioner Roshanda Summerville’s DHR board position for District 5.
    At the request of Commissioner Smith, Ms. Geraldine Walton was appointed to the Greene County Mental Health Board.
    The financial snapshot for the period ending September 30, 2025: General fund claims paid totaled $861,905.62; Payroll Transfer total $299,112.48; Fiduciary totaled $38,079.45. Electronic Claims paid August 2025 totaled $94,482.87. Citizen Trust Bank unrestricted funds totaled $1,098,587.31; restricted funds totaled $4,485,946.84. Merchant & Farmers Bank unrestricted funds totaled $2,015,221.86; restricted funds totaled $2,799,038.82. CD investments totaled $1,901.457.80.
    In the Public Comment session of the meeting, Mr. Michael Williams, former Greene County Commissioner, gave an emotional reaction to the current State Audit of the Greene County Sheriff’s operations. Williams emphasized that the nearly $5 million the State Examiners of Public Accounts reported has no documentation and must be refunded by Sheriff Benison could have been used to support local services such as the hospital, school system, fire departments, emergency services and others. He asked Greene County residents to sign a petition which will be sent to the Alabama Attorney General’s office for legal action.
    Commission Chair Spencer and Attorney Parnell emphasized that the recent State Audit Report involves only Sheriff Benison’s operations; the audit has nothing to do with the County Commission’s operations.

  • 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.

     

  • People in Greene County protest the actions of Trump-Vance-Musk in their first 75 days in office

    On Saturday, April 5, 2025, 30 people from Greene County held a picket line and rally at the Eutaw, Alabama Post Office , from 10:00 AM to Noon to as part of the national “Hands Off” protest against the actions of the Trump-Vance- Musk regime in their first 75 days in office.
    The people of Eutaw and Greene County were protesting and resisting the actions of Trump-Vance-Musk in firing Federal workers, destroying Federal agencies, e.g., USAID, CFPB, Department of Education; proposing budget cuts to Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, Food Stamps and other programs that help poor people, while giving tax cuts to the wealthy; and re-writing the history and contributions of Black people to our nation in the name of ending civil rights, voting rights and “diversity, equity and inclusion” (DEI).
    Carrying signs that said, Trump Hands Off Social Security, Trump Hands Off Medicare, Trump Hands Off Medicaid, Trump Hands Off Food Stamps and Food Banks, Trump-Vance-Musk Hand Off our Museums and National Parks, Trump-Vance-Musk No Tax Cuts for the Rich on the Backs of the Working People and the Poor, the protestors walked on the sidewalk at the front of the U. S. Post Office, the only Federal Building in Eutaw.
    Garria Spencer, Chair of the Greene County Commission, said “The people of Greene County need to wake up and protest and resist the illegal and immoral acts of the Trump, Vance and Musk regime. If we don’t stand up and speak up now the leaders in Washington will cut our benefits and programs to give tax cuts to the rich and well connected.”
    Mayor Latasha Johnson of the City of Eutaw, said “ I am glad to be here protesting against Trump who is taking away all our rights and programs. Small rural places like Eutaw will be hurt if all these cutbacks go through. We all need to stand up now or we will be sorry later.”
    Spiver Gordon of the Alabama Civil Rights Museum, said “Trump, Vance and Musk are trying to erase Black history and the contributions of Black people during and after slavery to our nation. That doesn’t seem like making things great – it seems like going backwards.”
    Carol P. Zippert, Democrat Co-Publisher said, “ I am especially disturbed by the impact of these authoritarian steps taken by Trump, Vance and Musk to hurt our children by dismantling the Department of Education, cutting back on school lunches, banning books in libraries, cutting healthcare for children and mothers. If you were not able to join us this time, I am sure we will be voicing our resistance again soon, so I hope you will come next time to show the opposition to trump is growing.”
    John Zippert, Democrat Co-Publisher, said “We joined millions of people across America and the World, in big and small places, in bearing witness to the illegal and unjust actions of Trump-Vance-Musk in trying to end our national progress toward fairness , social change and democracy for all people.

  • Commission raises concerns about maintenance and accessibility of storm shelters

    The Greene County Commission met in a work session, Wednesday, January 8, 2025 at 5:00 pm. This is the opportunity for each commissioner to report on and/or raise issues and concerns relative to their districts. Concerns were raised about the upkeep of the various storm shelters throughout the county. The commissioners agreed that each community needs to keep its shelter clean and ready for use when severe weather warnings are issued. They directed that each shelter be maintained and inspected on a monthly basis and reported to the commission.
    Other concerns raised related to the PARA Board and it’s operations. The Greene County Park And Recreation Authority is funded by ad valorem taxes, but seemingly the commission is not apprised of its various activities. It was also noted that the PARA Board is not holding regular meetings. Commission Chair, Garria Spencer, agreed to contact PARA Director Frank Smith and set a meeting with the commission.
    As part of his financial report, CFO Mac Underwood informed the commission that a Positive Pay procedure has been put in place, which will inform the banks of checks written before the checks are processed by that bank. “This is another measure to help eliminate fraud,” Underwood said.
    Commissioner Spencer informed the body that the former Greenetrack, Inc. has turned over its half ownership of the physical properties which were co-owned by Greenetrack, Inc. and Greene County, however the State of Alabama still has a lien on part of that property. “These are issues we still need to resolve,” Spencer stated.
    At its regular meeting, held Monday, January 13, 2025, the County Commission toke the following action.
    Approved financial report and payment of claims.
    Approved purchase of a full page ad in the Democrat’s annual Black History Edition.
    Approved extending solid waste exemption period until January 21, 2025.
    Approved various conference travel for Highway Department personnel.
    Approved Daryl Jones for IDA – District 5.
    Approved Lucy Spann for Hospital Board – District 1.
    Approved Pinnina Hines for Hospital Board – District 5.
    Approved Pastor Michael Barton for Hospital Board – District 4.
    Approved Cila Morrow for Library Board.
    Approved Pastor Carolyn Branch for DHR Board – District 4.
    The CFO’s financial report for December, 2024 included the following. Accounts payable totaled $941,064.29; payroll transfer totaled $498,064.27; fiduciary totaled $243,284.08; electronic claims paid totaled $141,941.25. Citizen Trust Bank unrestricted funds – $892,559.44; restricted funds – $4,650,770.29. Merchant & Farmers Bank unrestricted funds – $2,085,329.52; restricted funds – $2,141,194.90. Investments and CD’s totaled $1,897,871.16.

  • James Morrow selected as Distinguished Fire Fighter of the Year

     

    The Greene County Association of Volunteer FireFighters Departments (AVFD) held its 9th Annual Volunteer FireFighters’ Banquet and Awards program, Friday, October 18, 2024 at the Robert Young Community Center (The former Carver High School).
    Mrs. Mary R. McInnis served at mistress of order, greeting was presented by Mr. Hodges Smith, President of Greene County Association of Volunteer Fire Departments, Mr. Billy Doss President of the Alabama Association of Volunteer Fire Department, Garria Spencer, Vice Chairman of the Greene County Commission and Mayor of Eutaw Latasha Johnson.
    Mr. James Morrow was selected as Distinguished Fire Fighter of the Year for 2024 and presented with a plaque by Hodges Smith, President of the Greene County AVFD.

    Morrow was recognized for Exceptional Courage and Dedicated Service to the Citizens of Greene County.
    1st place went to Mr. Lester Cotton Eutaw Volunteer Fire Department, 2rd place, Mr. Keith Young, Dollarhide Volunteer Fire Department, receiving 3nd place was Henry Harkness, Union Volunteer Fire Department.
    Sharon Warren received the Presidential Award.
    Ms. Severe Strode of Lower Gainesville Road Volunteer Fire Department presented a Memorial Tribute with Hodges Smith, ringing the bell in honor of fallen firefighters. Fallen firefighters included: Mr. Willie Mack Nickson- Lower Gainesville Road VFD, Mr. Bobby James Davis -Dollarhide VFD, Mrs. Rosie Mae Smith- Knoxville VFD, Mr. Roy D. Jines-Forkland VFD, Mr. James C. Lashley, Jr.- Eutaw VFD and Mrs. Barbara Dukes- Clinton VFD. Featured speaker for the occasion was Comedian Lamar Pullom (LP) of Tuscaloosa, AL with an ensemble featuring Mr. Marvin Turner, Ms. Lauren Smith, Felecia Smith and Mrs. Eddie Mae Brown.
    Each of the 14 Volunteer Firefighters Departments received a Good Standing Membership Award.
    The planning committee for the program including Geraldine Walton Chairperson, Hodges Smith, Bennie Abrams, Iris Sermon, Mollie Gaines and Willie Mae Austin would like to thank all supporters and sponsors of this event. “All Ready to Fight the Fight.”

  • Greene County Commission approves FY 2024-25 budget for $14 million

    At a special called meeting on Monday, September 30, 2024, the Greene County Commission approved a budget for the coming 2024-25 fiscal year which begins on October 1, 2024. A quorum of three members were present: Garria Spencer, Allen Turner and Roshanda Summerville to vote on the budget.

    The total budget includes $14,069,394 in revenues and $13,224,811in expenditures, with a surplus of $844,583. Most of the surplus is in the General Fund Bingo account reserved for emergencies, budget overruns and unanticipated capital expenditures.

    There is a note that the budget includes a 3% pay increase for all employees including elected officials. Mac Underwood, CFO said “We stretched our income and expenses to allow the commission to make a 3% salary increase for all employees. This was not easy to do, and we wished we could give more to our employees.”

    The General Fund, which covers most basic county services, activities and programs, other than road and bridge construction and maintenance, projects revenues of $4,301,095 with expenses of the same amount, leaving a zero-fund balance to carry over into the next fiscal year.

    The next largest fund, the Gasoline Fund had revenues of $3,824,300 and expenses of the same amount. There are several other funds: Roads and Bridges ($797,000), Highway and Traffic ($41,204), RRR Gas Tax ($863,968) and Capital Improvement ($235,500) which are for improvement and maintenance of roads, bridges and other county facilities. All these accounts are budgeted to spend all their revenues, leaving no surplus.

    The Gasoline Fund Budget contains the sale of 3 dump trucks at $195,000 each, 4 tractors at $42,000 and other excess equipment for $104,000. This income is offset by the purchase of three new dump trucks at $215,000 each, 3 tractors at $82,000, 1 tractor at $89,000 and computer hardware and software for $16,500. The County negotiated this agreement to trade its one year old dump trucks and tractors for new equipment to reduce expense for repairs and down-time.

    The Commission also approved an agreement with the Board of Education and the Sheriff’s Department to allow for the employment of six School Resource Officers, who provide safety in the schools for $238,040.
    The Greene County Board of Education pays for nine months of the SRO contract, during the regular school year, and the Sheriff pays for three months, out of bingo funds that he administers.

    The called meeting took about thirty minutes since all the details had been discussed at previous Commission budget hearings, working sessions and regular meetings.

  • Greene County celebrates 55th ‘Freedom Day’ to commemorate Special Election of July 29, 1969, when Black people took control of the County Commission and School Board

    Mrs. Ida Bonner awarded the Coretta Scott King Freedom Award by Elder Spiver Gordon; Spiver Gordon presents plaque to Bill Edwards; Spiver Gordon presents plaque to Mr. Tony Clayton District Attorney of Port Allen, LA; Mr. Morris Hardy awarded the Dr. MLK Jr. Freedom Award by Elder Spiver Gordon.

    On Sunday evening, in the William M. Branch Courthouse, about 100 people from Greene County celebrated the 55th anniversary of the Special Election in 1969, when Black people were elected to control the County Commission and School Board in the county. Greene County was the first county in Alabama where Black people were able to control the county government.

    The U. S. Supreme Court ordered the 1969 Special Election, because local white officials had deliberately left the mostly Black candidates of the National Democratic Party of Alabama (NDPA) off the November 1968 ballot. The decision was made in US Supreme Court case no. 647, Hadnott vs. Amos, 394 US 358 (1969).

    In the election of November 1970, Judge William M. Branch was elected the first Black Probate Judge in Alabama and America. Thomas Gilmore was elected Sheriff and over the next few years, Blacks were elected to all political positions in the county.

    The program was sponsored by the Alabama Civil Rights Freedom Movement under the direction of Spiver W. Gordon, President. Gordon has been celebrating Freedom Day in Greene County for many years to remind people of the importance of using their voting rights to push for more justice, equity and progress in the county.

    The theme of the program was ‘Rejoicing about the Past – Causality in looking to the Future”. There were two main speakers: Bill Edwards, who now lives in Oregon, but was active with NDPA, Miles College, FOGCE Federal Credit Union and Community Service Programs of West Alabama in the 1965-1985; and Tony Clayton, District Attorney of West Baton Rouge, Iberville. and Pointe Coupee Parishes in Louisiana.

    After a spirited devotional, Mayor Latasha Johnson of Eutaw, Alabama, gave greetings and keys to the city to the two guest speakers. Lorenzo French, Chair of the Democratic Executive Committee, in his occasion for the meeting, lamented that most of the Black elected officials in Greene County were not present for Freedom Day. “Where are the Probate Judge, Circuit Clerk, Revenue Commissioner, Sheriff, Mayors and Council members of Union, Forkland and Boligee?” asked French.

    Several persons gave special commendations for Bill Edwards in his work as Director of Community Service Programs of West Alabama. District 1 Commissioner, Garria Spencer, who was chair of the CSP-WA Board lauded Bill’s work with the anti-poverty agency. Ms. Sandra Fair who worked with Bill thanked him. Judge John H. England thanked Bill for his work in building new houses and replacing the shotgun shacks in Belchers and Barr’s Quarters in Tuscaloosa.

    Rev. Wendell Paris spoke on the importance of voting in all elections, especially the election coming up on November 5, 2024. John Cashin, son of his namesake from Huntsville, Alabama, who headed the NDPA and was instrumental in the lawsuit that created the special election on July 29, 1969, spoke on the importance of the NDPA, as a grassroots response to the racist regular Democratic Party of Alabama, which was controlled by George Wallace.

    Three speakers commented on looking to the future, including Rev. Kenneth Popleon of Plaquemine, Louisiana; Arthur Crawford, Probate Judge of Hale County and Carol P. Zippert, former school board chair. Zippert asked, “Where are the youth leaders, people between 18 – 40 years old, today? We must reach out to them. Fifty-five years ago, Judge Branch, Gilmore and most of the other leaders were young people under 30. It is frightening that this whole generation is missing.”

    Spiver Gordon introduced Tony Clayton, the District Attorney of three parishes in Louisiana. Clayton said he owed his election to places like Greene County which rose up for Black people and electing Black people to office in the1960’s, when it wasn’t easy. He said Jesse Jackson, Obama and now Kamala Harris owe their political future to what Greene County people did fifty-five years ago.

    After the speaking, Spiver Gordon presented awards to many of the speakers, participants and ‘foot-soldiers’ of Greene County-who contributed their time, skills and money to the civil rights movement in the Alabama Black Belt.