On Saturday, Feb. 21, First Baptist Church, 900 College St., Clinton, paid tribute to four citizens who have made significant contributions to Sampson County and to the state of North Carolina. This was done as a part of the church’s celebration of Black History Month. The honored persons were Mary Brown, Patty Cherry, Dr. Alfonza Williamson and Ronald Moore.

The Rev. Eric Underwood was the guest speaker. He is the pastor of Piney Grove Freewill Baptist Church, Bolivia.

Brown is a graduate of Clear Run High School, Garland. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from Winston-Salem State University, Winston-Salem, and her Master of Science degree in community mental health from Long Island University, New York, N.Y. She retired as the chairperson of the nursing program at Sampson Community College.

She participated in the American Nurses Association; the North Carolina Nurses Association; and the National League of Nursing. She was on the board of directors for the North Carolina Nurses Association, district 14; the board of directors for the Rural Health Services; and the board of directors for the Duplin/Sampson Group Homes.

Brown was actively involved in other organizations. She was a two-term member of the town council for the Town of Garland. She also served as the police commissioner for the Town of Garland; past leader of the Garland 4-H Club; and she was appointed to the legislative commission on nursing. Currently, she is a member of the Sampson County Board of Education. Her honors include: Outstanding 4-H Leader; Outstanding Young Woman; and Who’s Who Among Black Americans.

Cherry is a graduate of Sampson High School, Clinton. She was a clerk at Reynolds Drugs for 38 years. Currently, she is employed with Rite Aid Drug Company. Cherry is known in the Clinton/Sampson community for her leadership and service in many organizations which include the following: member of the emergency food and shelter board for Sampson County; the United Way; chairwomanof the nomination committee; the Clinton City Board of Education for eight years; president of Clinton High School PTA for four years; president of the Clinton High School band boosters; co-chairwoman and organizer of the United Negro College Fund in Clinton and Sampson County; president of the Clinton chapter of the Sampson High School Alumni Association ; and member of the Sampson Community College advisory board for four years. Mrs. Cherry was co-chairwoman of the All America City Committee for the city of Clinton and she was the chairwoman for Friends of the Head Start for Sampson County. She also participated with pastor Leonard Henry in Dancing with the Clinton Stars, which raised close to $200,000 to put Smart Boards in the Clinton City Schools Classrooms.

Her awards down through the years include the following: American Business Women Association Woman of the Year 2004; Sampson County Head Start Award; and the Clinton High School Principal Excellence Award.

Moore is a graduate of Clinton High School. He received a Bachelor of Science degree from Fayetteville State University and his Masters degree in educational administration from Fayetteville State University.

He is currently the program development coordinator for fatherhood and healthy marriage relationships. His job is to help the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services develop strategies and workplace policies which recognize and support the role of father and family needs and to promote best practices through public education and awareness that will increase responsible fatherhood and healthy marriage relations.

Moore is the chairman of the Sampson County Male Mentoring Association, Inc. He helped to organize this organization to help our at-risk black males in Clinton and Sampson County.

He has been or is affiliated with the following organizations: North Carolina Partnership for Children’s Board (Smart Board); chairman of communication committee for the North Carolina Partnership for Children; National Head Start Association; North Carolina Head Start Association governing board; North Carolina Partnership for Inclusion committee; Region IV Head Start Association board; and former chairman of North Carolina Head Start Association alumni and special recognition committee.

Williamson is a graduate of Sampson High School. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in education from North Carolina A & T State University; masters degree in education from North Carolina A & T State University; masters degree in school supervision and administration from North Carolina A & T University; Master of Divinity from Shaw University; and a Doctorate of Humanities degree from the School of Religion, Detroit, Mich.

Dr. Williamson is a licensed and ordained minister. He has been a Baptist pastor for 15 years. He served as pastor of Mt. Calvary Missionary Baptist Church in Fayetteville. He served as pastor of Little Field Missionary Baptist Church, Newton Grove. Presently he is the pastor of Rainbow Missionary Baptist Church, Warsaw.

Dr. Williamson’s military experience includes two years in the U.S. Army. His educational experience includes the following: teaching in the Sampson County Schools; principal of Garland Elementary School, Garland; and principal of Charles E. Perry School in Roseboro.

Dr. Williamson is the president of the Sampson County Teachers Association; member of the National Education Association; member of North Carolina Association of Educators; and he was the president of the Sampson County Principal Association.