By Gwendolyn H. Daniels, Unit Historian. Photos by HRB Photography.
An audience of 249 filled the ballroom on Sept.21 at the Hyatt Place Garland Hotel to enjoy the NAACP Garland Unit’s 29th year of Freedom Fund events.
National recording artist Reuben Lael led the audience in “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” Bennye Bryant served as Mistress of Ceremonies, 
Shealeigh Rooks served as soloist and Rev. Raliegh Jones, Jr., Senior Pastor of Christ Triumphant Church in Garland, brought the keynote address. The morning was filled with shoppers visiting an array of items up for bid at the ever-popular NAACP Garland Unit’s silent auction.
The Garland Unit was backed by corporate sponsorship from Dallas Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram, Garland Power & Light, Randall Reed’s Prestige Ford, First Guaranty Bank, scholarship sponsors Weldon Bradley, and Elrie and Kelly Freeman.
The spotlight of the morning came when NAACP scholarships were presented to nine seniors: Tiatyana Campbell, president of the Garland Youth Council received the prestigious Elaine Bradley Scholarship for $1,000; Aria Morgan received the $750 Goldie Locke Scholarship for having the highest grade point average of all African American seniors in the Garland ISD and Emmanuela Bozor received the $500 John W. Washington Legacy Scholarship.
The remaining six seniors each received a $500 scholarship for having the highest-grade point average of other African American seniors at their respective high school campuses. These scholars were Tianna Strong, South Garland High School; Rebecca Workalemahu, North Garland High School; Ciara Beane, Lakeview Centennial High School; Reagan Warren, Rowlett High School; Micheal Alemayehu, Naaman Forest High School; and Rachel Mashambanhaka, Sachse High School.
The Garland Unit recognized Rev. Larry G. Walker as the 2019 Community Service Honoree; Mr. Calvin Simmons as the 2019 Entrepreneur of the Year; Ms. Dana Smith-Page as the Educator of the Year; and The North Dallas Gazette received the 2019 Online and Print Media Award. A special award for 50 years as an outstanding educator/administrator in the Garland ISD was presented to Ruby Armstrong. After recognizing the keynote speaker, soloist and MC of the morning, President Ricky C. McNeal announced that Mrs. Corsharra Jackson was the recipient of the 2019 NAACP Garland Unit President’s Award.
The event opened and closed with prayer by Deacon Chester B. Johnson of the Sweet Home Missionary Baptist Church of Garland. Officers of the NAACP Garland Youth Council played a major role in the event. Marc Anthony Abernathy, treasurer, delivered the welcome; Enouch Ellis, first vice president, introduced the
dais and Tiatyana Campbell, president, introduced the keynote speaker.
Ruby Adams serves as chairperson and Carol Blakes is vice chair of the Garland NAACP Freedom Fund Committee, Mr. Robert Ben chairs the ever-popular silent auction, Gwendolyn Daniels chairs corporate sponsorships and President Ricky C. McNeal chairs the program booklet sub-committee.
The NAACP Garland Unit was chartered In July 1984 and remains a viable entity in the Garland community.