[StBernard] African-American leaders in St. Bernard honored in recognition of Black History Month

Westley Annis Westley at da-parish.com
Mon Feb 21 11:20:42 EST 2011


African-American leaders in St. Bernard honored in recognition of Black
History Month



St. Bernard Parish President Craig P. Taffaro, Jr. and the Parish Council
proclaimed February as Black History Month in St. Bernard Parish. Before the
council meeting, Taffaro hosted a Black History Month Recognition lunch and
dialogue with local African-American leaders from several areas of
professional and civic areas. Council members Wayne J. Landry, Frank
Auderer, Mike Ginart and Kenny Henderson joined Taffaro and a group of more
than 20 honorees and their guests for the lunch.

"There is no denial of our country, state, and parish's past which included
racial divide," Taffaro said at the council meeting. "Today, we, as a parish
government, establish, for maybe the first time, an official statement that
we have crossed into a new acknowledgement of community partnerships. While
our society as a whole may still have an ongoing challenge to balance
political, social, economic, and spiritual agendas across ethnic lines, we
take time to acknowledge several of St. Bernard's outstanding figures in
this process."



At the meeting, Taffaro and the council recognized and gave proclamations to
the following honorees. They are local leaders and include elected
officials, outstanding educators, community and religious leaders, longtime
businessmen and top athletes:

. Dr. Henderson Lewis, principal and St. Bernard Parish School Board
Member

. Honorable Barbara Manuel, Justice of the Peace Ward J

. The late Mr. Willie Smith, former Principal of Violet Consolidated
School

. The late Coach Donald Moore, former coach and educator at Millaudon
Middle School

. Ms. Dedra Bailey, principal of Willie Smith Elementary School

. Dr. Montrell Sinegar, principal of Andrew Jackson Elementary School

. Mr. Tommie Powell, Jr., Supervisor of Instruction for St. Bernard
Parish Public Schools

. Mr. Warren "Nip" Williams, barber and business owner for 59 years

. Arthur Brown, barber and business owner for 57 years

. Reverend Raymond Smith, pastor of First Baptist Church of Verrett
for 20 years

. Reverend Clarence Thomas, pastor of Greater Round Hill Baptist
Church for 40 years

. The late Reverend George Robinson, founder of the Dr. Martin Luther
King, Jr. Community Committee in St. Bernard

. Yolanda "Loni" Banks Thomas, 2007 St. Bernard Parish Sports Hall of
Fame Inductee

. Jeff Sanchez, 2011 St. Bernard Parish Sports Hall of Fame Inductee

. Kia Jefferson, 1996 St. Bernard Parish Sports Hall of Fame Amateur
Athlete Honoree

. Danielle Lewis, 1998 St. Bernard Parish Sports Hall of Fame Amateur
Athlete Honoree

. Areal Bienemy, 2001 St. Bernard Parish Sports Hall of Fame Amateur
Athlete Honoree



"As Dr. King challenged all of us, these community leaders have excelled in
their respective areas of talent to rise above racial, economic, and social
boundaries and serve as models not only for the Black community of St.
Bernard Parish, but as models for all of St. Bernard Parish and beyond."



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