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Page 2— Wednesday, February 23, 2022, The True Citizen
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Local actor/comedian
Lorenzo Williams spoke about
upcoming movies in which he
has landed roles.
The Keysville native attend
ed the Celebrating Black His
tory Month event presented by
the Junior Concerned Citizens
of Keysville at the Charles
Walker Building Saturday,
Feb. 26.
Using his own life journey
as an example, Williams said
it is important to encourage
youths to utilize the gifts they
have received through God.
He credited the late Keysville
mayor, Emma Gresham, with
his success and stated that his
upbringing in Keysville is the
source of who he is today.
“Before I knew what I was,
she told me what I was,” he
said and recalled that the may
or often approached him dur
ing his youth to remind him
he was going to be a star. She
encouraged him to be brave,
confident and to “speak with
some sense.” Returning to his
hometown, he referred to him
self as a voice for Keysville’s
youth.
Landing roles in movies star
ring Jamie Foxx and Dwayne
Johnson, aka The Rock, Wil
liams said he is spreading
awareness among famous peo
ple of where his hometown
exists. He pointed out he is the
only black person speaking in
the movie The Hill, scheduled
for release this year. The film
depicts the true-life story of
Rick Hill’s journey to play
Major League baseball.
“I have been in 25 movies
and they are all coming out this
year,” he said.
Williams told the crowd that
he decided during his second
run at the first grade that he
wanted to be a comedian. He
shared a story of admiring the
late pop star Michael Jackson
during his grade school years,
to the point that he often car
ried a sequined glove in his
pocket. His teacher told him
2022
African American
he needed to buckle down on
his school work because the
pop star would never speak
to a “dummy.” Even so, Wil
liams was determined to meet
the icon. Years later when he
met Jackson, who spoke to
him briefly, it impacted him.
It inspired him to believe he
could achieve anything he
could envision.
“Nobody can speak your
future but you,” he said to the
attendees and encouraged them
to write down their goals. ‘It’s
so easy to think negative, no
body thinks positive.”
Williams advised the crowd
to speak positive results into
their own lives.
“I believe that the energy of
God blesses us to be able to
manifest whatever you want in
your life,” he said.
The Junior Concerned Citi
zens honored Williams’ contri
bution to the black community
with a certificate. .
Other speakers at the event
included former Georgia State
Representative Alberta Ander
son, Michael Searles, and Rev.
Ruby Rucker of Brown Grove
Baptist Church.
Comedian/actor Lorenzo Williams spoke at the Celebrating Black History Month event in
Keysville Saturday, Feb. 26 while former Georgia State Representative Alberta Anderson
and Concerned Citizen of Keysville member James Neely listen.
GBI to investigate alleged kidnapping
The District Attorney’s Office has recom
mended that the Georgia Bureau of Inves
tigation look into the Jan. 22 incident at
El Cheapo gas station which resulted in an
alleged attempted kidnapping.
Chundra and Sam Hendrix filed a complaint
against the Waynesboro Police Department
last week claiming the city failed in their
investigation of the incident.
During last week’s city council meeting,
Chundra stated the couple wants the officers
involved, Ronald Bartlett and Sgt. Greg
Stroud, terminated from their positions. They
want the stranger who attempted to kidnap
their 7-year-old child arrested and they want
the city to apologize to the youth.
As a result of an internal investigation, the
WPD stripped Bartlett of his corporal status,
and gave him six months probation. Stroud
received no reprimand.
Special Agent in Charge Pat Morgan is
investigating the matter for the GBI.
"On February 22, 2022, the GBI was
requested by the Augusta Judicial Circuit
District Attorney to conduct an independent
investigation into this incident," Morgan said
in an email Tuesday morning. "GBI received
documentation relating to the incident from
the Waynesboro Police Department earlier
today and will begin a review of the docu
mentation."
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Ik. jik.-: I
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Please give us a call today at 1-877-JEFFERSON or visit our website at www.jec.coop.
history awards
The Association for the
Study of African American
Life and History theme for
2022 focuses on the impor
tance of "Black Health and
Wellness.” This theme ac
knowledges the legacy of not
only African American schol
ars and medical practitioners
in Western medicine, but also
birth workers, doulas, mid
wives, naturopaths and herb
alists throughout the African
Diaspora.
In order to foster good health
and wellness, African Ameri
cans have embarked on self-
determination, mutual aid and
social support initiatives to
build hospitals, medical and
nursing schools and commu
nity clinics. Clinics were es
tablished by individuals, grass
roots organizations and mutual
aid societies to provide spaces
and to counter the economic
and health disparities and dis
crimination that are found at
mainstream institutions.
In the still overhanging shad
ow of COVID-19 pandemic,
African American communi
ties must look to the past to
provide the light for our future,
by embracing the rituals, tradi
tions and healing modalities of
our ancestors.
In commemoration of Afri
can American History Month,
Burke County Improvement
Association President Emanuel
Larkin Jr. recently announced
the 2022 African American
Heritage Award recipients.
The African American Heri
tage Arts Award was presented
to Shaylon Mobley as author of
"Really Great Friends.” Also,
Kenisha B. Moore received the
Arts Award for writing "And
Then Wrote About It" and "A
Season of Birthing: Unlocking
the Power Within.”
J'dynn Allen received The
African American Heritage
Athletic Award for achieving
the 2021 Region Champion
Track Meet 100 meter (12.70
seconds) and the 200 me
ter (26.84 seconds). Bettye
Jackson received The African
American Heritage Communi
ty Service Award for providing
clothing and non-perishable
bagged food for Malawi chil
dren orphaned by the HIV/
Aids epidemic and also provid
ing cultural and educational
experiences for children of
Burke County.
The African American Heri
tage Trailblazer Award went
to Ashley Moore Jr. for being
elected as the first African
American Probate Judge of
Burke County.
Shaylon Mobley
Kenisha B. Moore
J’dynn Allen
Ashley Moore Jr.
SHELLIE SMITLEY