Photos and Story by Iman N. Mason, It would appear to me that the number of attendees at the “Conductors of All Times” Living Legend Awards ceremony held in honor of Harriet Tubman and presented by TN State Representative Barbara Cooper, the Cooper/Jones Initiative and the Living Legend Awards Ceremony Team consisting of the Memphis River Park Ambassadors, registration overseer Tanya Cooper, Publicist Tony Jones, Dr. Clifford Black, Ronnell A. Bowens, James Bunch, chair Vontyna Durham, secretary Dianne Withers, co-chair Aaron K. Robinson, Fannie Garner, Wesley Hurt, Ben Ivy, Robert Jefferson, Debra Lockard, Booker Middleton, Tamarques Porter, Earlice Taylor and Barbara Cooper, was severely underestimated. Upon my arrival to the event, held from 4-6 p.m. on Sunday, March 10, 2019, at Beale Street Landing, 251 Riverside Drive, Memphis, TN 38103, all I could see was a room of four corners, full of people from all walks of life. The presenters for the Harriett Tubman Living Legend Leadership Award were Walker Homes/West Junction community activist and Mitchell High School Alumni Association President Linda Street and entrepreneur Riki Stone. Category awardees included former city of Memphis Mayor’s W.W. Herenton and AC Wharton, who also served as Mayor of Shelby County; former City Councilman and professional mortician, Ed Ford Sr.; former Shelby County Commissioners Terry Roland, a Millington Chamber of Commerce attorney, and Walter Bailey, owner of the Bailey Law Firm; Beverly Robertson, recently elected Interim President & CEO of the Memphis Chamber of Commerce, former Executive Director of the National Civil Rights Museum, and co-owner of Trust Marketing with her husband Howard Robertson; Carol Coletta, President & CEO of the Memphis River Parks Partnership; Dr. Joris M. Ray, who was unanimously selected to be the Interim Superintendent of Shelby County Schools; Attorney Dorsey Hopson II, the outgoing and former Superintendent of Shelby County Schools; Callie Stevens, a former Assistant Superintendent of Memphis City Schools and member of the TN Education Board; Veda Turner, Principal of Craigmont High School; Wiley Henry, an artist, writer, photographer, and employee in the offices of Congressman Steve Cohen; and Carl Person, former Chairman of the Memphis Downtown Commission. Presenters for the Legends “Special” Honorary Harriet Tubman Conductors Award were Senator Raumesh Akbari Esq., Shelby County Commissioner Dr. Ed Ford Jr., Carolyn Bell-Black, Vontyna Durham, Travis Olive, and Markus Hill. Awardees were former Memphis/Shelby County Schools board member, District 6 representative, and president, Dr. Freda Garner Williams; and former District 86 representative and grocer, Rufus E. Jones. Special Harriet Tubman Community Conductors presenters were entertainer and producer Toni Green; entrepreneur Riki Stone and Vontyne Durham. Awardees included the Tom Lee family; Faith-based leaders Middle Baptist Church Whitehaven pastor emeritus, Reverend Lester Baskin, and Mount Pisgah Baptist Church senior pastor, Reverend Frank Harris; Chief Executive Officers Ron Redwing of the Redwing Group, Ronald Kent of Chow Time Restaurants, Greg Grant of the Southbrook Towne Centre, and Lisa Akbari of the Trichology Institute. The recognition for workforce initiatives went to Resolution 1000, Jobs for All, U.S. Congress, Kevin Bradshaw, Kelloggs’ Corporation, COPPER, Kenneth Ingram and the oldest and largest electrical union in the world, the IBEW Local 1288 Union. Community Organization and Professionals Ruby Payne, retired principal, Hanley Elementary School and member of Businesses United to Recognize Educators (B.U.R.E); Katrina Thompson, president of 100 Black Women and the LeMoyne-Owen College Memphis Alumni Chapter; Attorney Linda Harris, former federal prosecutor and owner Harris Law Firm; Attorney Laurice Smith, Interim Judge and Smith Law Firm owner; Lucille Catron, Executive Director of the Beale Street Development Corporation; Mary Cheers, president of the Mt. Pisgah Heights/Rolling Green Hills Community neighborhood association; Charlotte Smith, Supporter of People of Woodstock and teacher, Shelby County Schools; Myrtle Malone, president, Shelby County section, National Council of Negro Women; and Dr. Vincent J. Hunter, principal, Whitehaven High School. The program began with a prelude, music and a video hosted by Robert Jefferson of WIAN and former Glenview Community Development Partnership, Inc. president, Earlice Taylor. Rep. Cooper gave the opening remarks and retired Bishop Edward Lynn Brown, of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, gave the prayer. Soulsville/STAX board member Henry Ford led attendees in singing the Black American National Anthem, Lift Every Voice and Sing. Program Analyst Specialist and Shelby County Commissioner Elect Bennie Smith introduced the program’s moderator, Stan Bell, of V101 FM and WDIA 1070 AM. Music was provided by Taylor and a candle lighting memorial was conducted by Aaron K. Robinson of the Redwing Group; Debra Lockard, chair of the Urban Farm Technical Assistant program and owner of Lockard’s Produce. Additional presentations were made by Dr. Clifford Black, reading facilitator and Tamarqus Porter program analyst in the Super Learning Class. Dr. Janice Tankson, Principal of Robert R. Church Elementary School, introduced Whitehaven High School principal, Dr. Vincent J. Hunter, who spoke on the “Importance of Conductors in the Community.” Former Blue Suede Brigade member Fannie Garner and Lockard presented the Harriet Tubman Living Legend Leadership Award to Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris, City of Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland, City of Millington Mayor Terry Jones, and Shelby County’s first African American Sheriff, Floyd Bonner. Entertainment was provided by Taylor and Rep. Cooper ended the event with a few announcements, closing words, and invited all in attendance to join her and the Living Legends Award team for refreshments. It was truly an event that recognized the work of so many Memphians who work daily to make Shelby County the best place it can be to live, work, and play. 14
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