The 11th annual Fundraising Benefit for the ZION COMMUNITY PROJECT, Inc. “And Still We Rise” Benefitting the ZION Christian Cemetery A Memphis, TN Historical Landmark Established in 1876 THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2019 ♦♦♦ McCallum Ballroom at Rhodes College Story By Dr. Yvonne D. Nelson and PHOTOGRAPHY by TYRONE P. EASLEY, tpephoto1@yahoo.com The April edition of NEWSCENE featured a brief synopsis of the history and the marking of the Thomas Moss gravesite in the Zion Cemetery, the oldest known African American community cemetery in Memphis, TN. On Thursday, November 7, 2019, a group of Zion Community Project supporters gathered in the McCallum Ballroom at Rhodes College, 2000 N. Parkway, to honor those whose contributions have assisted in the ongoing restoration of the historic site. “Tonight’s theme, “And Still We Rise,” said Dr. Tyrone T. Davis, Zion Community Project Board Chair and General Secretary, CME Board of Personnel Services, “speaks to the hopes of tomorrow in the face of the challenges of today.” Davis acknowledged the magnitude of the project as he spoke about the cemetery in terms of the project being “more than the restoration of a cemetery.” The Zion Community Project, Davis stated, “encompasses a legacy of nearly 150 years and represents the lives and accomplishments of a newly freed people who learned to do so much with so little.” Designed to raise funds and awareness, the program featured WREG-TV, News Channel 3 anchor Alex Coleman, who B. was introduced by Tramica Morris, President and CFO of Mo’s Bows, as the Master of Ceremonies. Reginald Eskridge, Esq., Senior Partner at Eskridge & Eskridge Law Firm, provided the greetings and Dr. Roderick D. Lewis Sr., General Secretary of the CME Department of Publications gave the invocation and blessed the dinner. The menu, consisting of house garden salad with a choice of dressings, wild salmon fillet baked with Chablis butter, herb roasted beef shoulder tender with port Demi-Glaze, vegetables, buttermilk Yukon gold mashed potatoes, rolls, carrot cake or pecan pie, iced tea and water was prepared by Mark Coy, Catering Director of Bon Appetit Management Company, the recently contracted company that provides food and beverages to and for all events held on campus. There were three categories of emphasis, Public Service, Preservation, and Legacy, highlighted during the event. The Rose Flenorl Public Service Award was introduced by Trena M. Williams, Principal at the Williams Law Firm. Rose Flenorl, Global Citizenship Manager at FedEx, presented the award herself. The award recipient was First Horizons Advisors Financial Advisor, Steve McManus. The Ron Walter Preservation Award was introduced by Elmwood Cemetery Assistant Director Bob Barnett. The award was presented to award recipient Mark L. Stansbury Sr., University of Memphis (retired) Assistant to the President, by WREG-TV - News Channel 3 President, Ron Walter. The William Smith Legacy Award was introduced by Howard Robertson, President of Trust Marketing. The award was presented by L. Geraldine Smith, the widow of Rev. William Smith, to Dr. Marjorie Hass, the program’s Keynote Speaker and President of Rhodes College, who was introduced by Dr. Milton Moreland, Rhodes College Provost. Dr. Davis provided the closing remarks and final blessing for the event. “We are grateful to Dr. Warner L. Dickerson, Dinner Program Chair, Program Committee members Dr. Milton Moreland, R. Elaine Turner, Raka Nandi, Trena M. Williams, Beverly Robertson, Dr. Walker D. Wright, and all the participants who have worked to make this evening a success,” said Davis. “The entire Board joins me in thanking you for your contributions and your presence which continues to encourage us.” Davis encouraged those in attendance to join the ZION Community Project again in 2020, thanked everyone for all 16
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