Greene County Democrat

Tag: Ms. Darlene Robinson

  • Cornelius Blanding, guest speaker at 50th Anniversary

    FOGCE Federal Credit Union holds 50th
    Anniversary Celebration

    Shown L to R: James ‘D’ Powell, Mollie Rowe, Cornelius Blanding, Carol P. Zippert, Carrie Fulghum, Mary Dunn, Jacqueline Allen, Rodney Pham and Darlene Robinson.

    Gathering at FOGCE 50th Anniversary Celebration.

    Dr. Carol Zippert accepts FOGCE celebratory plaque from Cornelius Blanding.

    Mrs. Joyce Pham presents symbol of appreciation to Dr. Carol P. Zippert for 50 years of service to FOGCE Federal Credit Union.

    The Greene County community, along with other friends and supporters, gathered Thursday, December 11, 2025 to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Federation of Greene County Employees Federal Credit Union (FOGCE). In August 1975, FOGCE was chartered by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) as a community based financial institution. Subsequently, FOGCE became certified in 2021 as a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), with over 800 members and assets of $1.8 million. NCUA continues as its federal security and monitoring agency.
    FOGCE’s 50th Celebration, held at the New Generation Church Fellowship Hall, featured Mr. Cornelius Blanding, 11 years as CEO of the Federation of Southern Cooperatives /Land Assistance Fund, (FSC/LAF), which was instrumental in organizing FOGCE Federal Credit Union as well as credit unions in Pickens, Sumter, and Hale Counties.
    In his keynote address, Mr. Blanding praised the courage, perseverance and dedication of FOGCE membership. “ We are still here after 50 years because you continued to believe in community leadership building community worth, and you would not give up,” he stated.
    Mr. Blanding, as FSC/LAF Assistant Director at the time, was also instrumental in securing a $20,000 grant from the Self-Development of People in 2013 for the purchase of FOGCE’s current facility, located at 112 Prairie Ave., Eutaw, AL.
    Ms. Darlene Robinson, FOGCE Board Vice-President and Chairperson of the Supervisory Committee, served as Mistress of Order at the celebration. Ms. Mary Dunn, Credit Committee member gave a warm welcome. Mr. James Powell, Credit Committee member led the invocation. Dr. Carol P. Zippert, FOGCE Board President and a founder, shared a memorial tribute of the community’s efforts that organized, built and secured the credit union for 50 years.
    She noted that FOGCE began to thrive”… when we realized that our credit union was not a social service organization, but we were a community owned and operated financial institution.”
    Zippert gave special recognition to the late Mr. Willie Carpenter, who served as manager of
    FOGCE for over 30 years and was known as Mr. Credit Union. She also acknowledged two founders who were not able to attend the celebration, Mr. Spiver Gordon and Mr. Bill Edwards.
    Special tribute was lifted for the late Mr. Jonas Smothers who conducted a vigorous membership drive in the early years.
    Ms. Mollie Rowe, Board Secretary, lifted a Memorial Tribute for the foot soldiers of our movement who have passed on. Mrs. Joyce Pham, FOGCE Manager, and Mr. Rodney Pham, Credit Committee Chairperson, through Seniors Helping Hand, gifted 5 guests with $100 each toward a utility bill. Mrs. Robinson and Mrs. Pham announced that the first 10 individuals to join the credit union would each receive a sponsored membership.
    Ms. Jacqueline Allen, Board Member, recognized all FOGCE Board, Credit Committee and Supervisory Committee Members, elected officials, and special guests including Mrs. Bobbie Carpenter, wife of the late Willie Carpenter, Mrs. Carrie Fulghum, FSC Boardmember for Alabama, Ms. Felecia Lucky, CEO of the Heron Foundation, Rev. Christopher Spencer, CEO Black Belt Community Foundation and Alabama State Representative Mr. Curtis Travis.
    Mrs. Lena Watford Hill, Mrs. Mary Dunn and Mrs. Loydleetta Johnson Wabbington, in addition to the founders, were recognized for 50-year memberships in FOGCE.
    Music for the occasion was provided by Mr. Antonio Pearson. Mrs. Loretta Wilson’s artistic decorating skills provided an amazing celebratory atmosphere at the event.

  • Greene County receives $41, 263 in BBCF grants Black Belt Community Foundation awards over $300,000 in community and arts grants

    Shown above are representatives of Greene County groups awarded BBCF community and arts grants. At far left are: Dr. Carol P. Zippert, a BBCF Founder; Ms. Darlene Robinson, BBCF Greene County Board Member and Ms. Felecia Lucky, BBCF President.
    BBCF presents grant award to the Society of Folk Arts & Culture which is sponsoring the 50th Celebration of the Black Belt Folk Roots Festival, August 23-24, 2025 in Eutaw, AL.

    L to R: Felecia Lucky, BCF President; Darlene Robinson, BBCF Board Member, Carol P. Zippert, Festival Coordinator and Aaron Head, BBCF Arts Coordinator.

    The Black Belt Community Foundation (BBCF) awarded $344,447.20 to 141 community and arts projects across its 12 county service area in the Alabama Black Belt Region, including Bullock, Choctaw, Dallas, Greene, Hale, Lowndes, Macon, Marengo, Perry, Pickens, Sumter and Wilcox. The presentations were made at its 2025 Arts and Community Grant Ceremony held Saturday, May 3, 2025 at Wallace Community College Selma. “As we continue to celebrate BBCF’s 20th anniversary through May, the Black Belt Community Foundation is proud to award these funds in 141 different grants to community and arts organizations across the 12 counties we serve,” said BBCF President Felecia Lucky.
    Greene County received 13 grants for community and arts projects, in the amount of $41,263.24, awarded to the following organizations: Alabama Art Casting, Boligee Senior Center, Boss Ties LLC, Broader Horizons, Bundle of Joy Praise Team, Eutaw Elderly Village Inc., Greene County Human Rights Commission, Mount Pleasant Home Protection Society, Operations Taking Back Our Community (TBOC), Release the Earth, Society of Folk Arts and Culture (Black Belt Festival Grant,) United Purpose Inc. The 2025 arts grants, including the Black Belt Folk Roots Festival, totaled $14,125; community grants totaled $27, 138.24.
    Ms. Darlene Robinson, BBCF board member representing Greene County, stated that each of the 12 counties has a group of volunteers, known as Community Associates, who raise funds for the Foundation and these resources, which receive a percentage match from BBCF, are allocated in grants to the respective county. “We hold a lot of fundraising activities in Greene County, but that money can only be spent in Greene County through grants,” she said.
    “We continue our focus on empowering local initiatives by first listening and responding to the very needs voiced by the communities themselves — all while fostering growth and impacting the entire Black Belt region,” stated President Lucky.

  • FOGCE Credit Union holds annual Drop-By Membership Meeting

    The Federation of Greene County Employees Federal Credit Union (FOGCE Federal Credit Union), based in Eutaw, AL, held its annual membership gathering as a Drop-By Meeting, on Thursday, December 16, 2021, from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Members visited the credit union’s office during that time period to sign-in and receive a gift bag with annual operational reports on the credit union, as well as various holiday treats.
    Forty-nine members participated in the Drop-By Meeting and were able to cast their ballots for board and credit committee elections. Ms. Darlene Robinson, Ms. Mollie Rowe and Mr. Rodney Pham were re-elected to the FOGCE Federal Credit Union Board of Directors and Ms. Arnelia Johnson and Mr. James Powell were re-elected to the Credit Committee.
    The members’ sign-in roster also served as the basis of selection for awarding door prizes.
    Board members scheduled individual volunteer time to meet and greet members assisting in maintaining the safe distance as members participated in the Drop-By Annual Membership Meeting.
    The credit union is obligated to hold an annual membership meeting, but the board of directors and staff recognized the responsibility of maintaining a safe environment for the credit union’s continued service to members.
    FOGCE manager, Mrs. Joyce Pham, secured various equipment on the premises as safety measures for staff and members. These include sanitation stations and plexiglass dividers in the lobby area, clerk and manager’s offices and in the boardroom. The mask requirement is also in place, and routine cleaning and sanitizing are conducted throughout the operational hours.
    The December FOGCE Board of Directors meeting followed at 4:00 p.m. at which time the board conducted its reorganization of officers. By acclamation, the body retained all its presiding officers: Carol P. Zippert as President; Darlene Robinson as Vice President; Mollie Rowe as Secretary and Jimmie Paster as Treasurer.
    The FOGCE Federal Credit Union is located at 112 Prairie Avenue, Eutaw, AL, across from the Thomas E. Gilmore Courthouse Square. Any one residing or working in Greene County can be eligible for membership.