WCGCAC, Inc. 2023 Inaugural Recognition & Awards Banquet Souvenir Journal

WEST CENTRAL GEORGIA
COMMUNITY ACTION
COUNCIL, INC.
2023
Inaugural
Recognition
FUNDRAISING
Banquet
THEME:
"Celebrating People
Serving People"
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2023
6:00 PM
CORDELE COMMUNITY CLUB HOUSE
108 15TH AVE E | CORDELE, GA 31015

Congratulations
West Central Georgia
Community Action Council, Inc.
on a successful
Recognition & Awards Banquet!
City Officials:
Joshua Deriso
Chairman
Royce Reeves
Vice Chair
Commissioner Ward 2
Vesta Beal Shephard
Commissioner Ward 1
Isaac Owens
Commissioner Ward 3
Wesley Rainey
Commissioner Ward 4
Angela Redding
City Manager

West Central Georgia
Community Action Council, Inc.
Cynthia F. Brown, Chief Executive Officer
P.O. Box 185 - 4036 State Route 90 East - Vienna Rd - Montezuma, GA
Phone: 478.472.3607 - Toll Free: 855.473.9423 - Fax: 478.472.3609
Email: cfbrown2@windstream.net - Website: www.westcentral-gacac.org
CEO
Greetings
Serving the counties of:
Crisp, Dooly, Macon, Marion, Schley, Sumter, Taylor, Webster,
Chattahoochee, Stewart, Talbot (Weatherization Only)
An Equal Opportunity Employer
1

GCAA
Board
Chair
Greetings
2

West Central Georgia
Community Action Council, Inc.
Cynthia F. Brown, Chief Executive Officer
P.O. Box 185 - 4036 State Route 90 East - Vienna Rd - Montezuma, GA
Phone: 478.472.3607 - Toll Free: 855.473.9423 - Fax: 478.472.3609
Email: cfbrown2@windstream.net - Website: www.westcentral-gacac.org
Board
Chair
Greetings
Dear Friends,
It is my esteemed honor and to welcome you to the Inaugural Recognition & Fundraising Banquet for West
Central Georgia Community Action Council! It is with great pleasure that I, along with my fellow board
members, are able to host what will be one of many celebrations to come.
Our organization was birthed out of the 1964 Economic Opportunity Act to fight poverty by empowering the
poor as part of the War on Poverty. We are still fighting that war, one that has been exacerbated and
magnified by the global pandemic which has brought about a “new normal” over the past three years.
Much like for every other organization whose mission is to serve people, the year 2023 has been been a year
of changes and challenges for West Central. But in “champion like fashion” we are learning to embrace the
changes and meet the challenges necessary to forge our mission of eradicating poverty forward.
“Kudos on a job well done!”, to the Resource Development Committee Chair, Commissioner Vesta Beal
Shephard and to my fellow Committee Members, Ms. Evolia Solomon and Mr. Randall Almond. The hard
work, long nights, countless meetings and extra miles, legwork and resourcefulness paid off!
None of the vital work West Central carries out could be done without our CEO, Cynthia Brown, and her
dedicated and committed staff who are on the front lines daily, ensuring that the most deserving of our
community members within our 11-county service area are met with compassion and professionalism.
Many thanks to our guest speakers who are also elected officials, U.S. Congressman Sanford Bishop Jr.
(GA-2nd Congressional District), Georgia State Senator Carden Summers (GA SD 13), and Georgia State
Representative Patty J. Bentley (GA HD 150). Your willingness to share your time with us and your strong
support of our mission and goals exemplifies the leadership that makes our region and State as great as it is.
To all of the Community Action leaders, partners, and supporters who are with us tonight, “thank you”!
Collaboration is one of the keys to the success of our mission driven work and we appreciate everything
that you do with us and for our communities.
The very fitting theme of this event is "Celebrating People Serving People" and that is precisely what we
will be doing this evening. To all of the deserving awardees, we could never thank you enough for all that
you do, but we certainly hope that you feel special this evening. We celebrate you!
As we look ahead, we encourage you to continue to support West Central. Please know that every
volunteer hour and donation is an investment into improving the lives and future of our neighbors. Thank
you so much for standing by us in the past and through our year of great change. A verse of one of my
favorite hymns says “Time is filled with swift transition; none on earth unmoved can stand; build your hopes
on things eternal; hold to God's unchanging hand.” We look forward to partnering with you to accomplish
our shared mission to serve. To God be the glory!
Peace & Blessings,
Jill S. Harrison
Board Chair
Serving the counties of:
Crisp, Dooly, Macon, Marion, Schley, Sumter, Taylor, Webster,
Chattahoochee, Stewart, Talbot (Weatherization Only)
An Equal Opportunity Employer
3

Host City
Greetings
4

History of
Community
Action
Following the passage of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, launching the
Nation’s War on Poverty as a centerpiece of President Lyndon Johnson’s Great
Society, Community Action Agencies (CAAs) in Georgia and across the Nation were
created by local communities, designated by local government, approved by the
Governor’s Office, and funded by the Federal Government. Funds were also provided
by the Federal Government for the creation and operation of State Economic
Opportunity Offices (SEOOs), responsible for oversight, training and technical
assistance, and coordination and liaison with the Office of the Governor.
In Georgia the SEOO was originally located in the Governor’s Office. In subsequent
years many organizational changes took place at both the Federal and the State levels.
As the Nation’s attention and resources – and those of the President – were captured
by another War (Vietnam), some programs which were originally part of the Economic
Opportunity Act were “spun off” to other Federal agencies (for example, Legal
Services, Family Planning, Employment and Training, and Head Start). The original
funding agency, the U. S. Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO), was renamed the
Community Services Administration under President Richard Nixon and finally was
eliminated under President Ronald Reagan as part of his New Federalism concept.
However, the funding stream to CAAs continued via the Community Services Block
Grant and other such block grants as that for the Home Weatherization Program and
the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program; most CAAs continued to receive
direct Federal grants as well (i.e., Head Start).
The purposes of these programs, addressing the causes and conditions of poverty and
the promotion of self-sufficiency among low-income families, have not changed. At
the State level, the SEOO was moved from the Governor’s Office to DHR, reporting to
the Commissioner, as part of the Executive Reorganization Act of 1972. The Georgia
SEOO subsequently was abolished when the U. S. Community Services Administration
was abolished in 1981 (although some states kept that office’s identity), with its
responsibilities being folded into the Office of Community and Intergovernmental
Affairs in DHR, also reporting to the Commissioner. Finally, in 1991, downsizing of
state government resulted in the termination of the Office of Community
Intergovernmental Affairs. The responsibilities of that Office pertaining to community
action agencies were considerably diminished and moved down to become part of a
section (the Community Services Section) in the Division of Family and Children
Services in DHR, where those functions remain today.
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world;
indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” Margaret Mead 5

WCGCAC, INC.
Board of
Directors
Jill Harrison
Chair
Executive Committee Chair
Macon County
Valery Davis
Vice Chair
Macon County
Melvin Crimes
Treasurer
Finance Committee Chair
Webster County
Lula Neal Cleveland Lemmons
Secretary Chair Emeritus
Programming Committee Crisp County
Chair
Taylor County
Clifton Aldridge, Sr.
Sumter County
Randall R. Almond
Dooly County
Kevin Brown
Marion County
Shea Daniels
Dooly County
Tommie Ford, Jr.
Crisp County
Wayne Gosa
Sumter County
Charles Ivey
By-Laws Committee Chair
Macon County
6
Hudson Murray
Marion County
Vesta B. Shephard
Resource Development
Committee Chair
Crisp County
Evolia R. Solomon
Crisp County
“We cannot live only for ourselves. A thousand fibers connect us with our
fellow men.” Herman Melville
Signifies Resource
Development/
Banquet
Committee
Member

WCGCAC, INC.
Board of
Directors
U.S. Congressman
Sanford D. Bishop, Jr.
GA - 2nd District
State Senator
Carden H. Summers
SD-13 (GA)
State Representative
Patty J. Bentley
HD-150 (GA)
Angela H. Redding
City Manager
City of Cordele, GA
Dr. Ruby Jackson
Associate Pastor
Emmanuel Baptist Church
Cordele, GA
“We cannot live only for ourselves. A thousand fibers connect us with our
fellow men.” Herman Melville
Ernest Dennard
Guest Musician
7

Esteemed
Honorees
William Holt
Board Chair
The Agricultural and Labor
Program, Inc. (ALPI)
Recipient of the
NORTH STAR AWARD
Elnora Felton
Fiscal Operations
Coordinator
West Central Georgia Community
Action Council, Inc.
Recipient of the
SHINING STAR AWARD
8
“In every community, there is work to be done. In every nation, there are wounds to
heal. In every heart, there is the power to do it.” Marianne Williamson

Esteemed
Honorees
A.J. Rivers
Board Member
Emeritus
West Central Georgia
Community Action Council,
Inc.
Recipients of the
LEGACY AWARD
The Late
Rufus Green
Board Member
West Central Georgia
Community Action Council,
Inc.
(Awarded Posthumously)
Cleveland Lemmons
Board Chair Emeritus
West Central Georgia Community
Action Council, Inc.
Bennie L. Raines
Former Board Member
West Central Georgia Community
Action Council, Inc.
Earnest Calvin Mansfield
Former Board Member
West Central Georgia Community
Action Council, Inc.
Recognized for
OUTSTANDING SERVICE &
DEDICATION
“No man can become rich without himself enriching others.” Andrew Carnegie
9

WEST CENTRAL GEORGIA COMMUNITY ACTION COUNCIL, INC.
2023
Recognition
Inaugural
FUNDRAISING
Banquet
THEME:
"Celebrating People Serving People"
Mistress of Ceremonies - Jill Harrison, Board Chair
Welcome .............................................................
Cleveland Lemmons
Chair Emeritus, WCGCAC, Inc.
Invocation ..................................................................... Dr. Ruby Jackson
Associate Pastor
Emmanuel Missionary Baptist Church, Cordele, GA
Black National Anthem ......
......... led by Brother Ernest Dennard
Please Stand
"Lift Every Voice and Sing" by James Weldon Johnson
Lift every voice and sing,
’Til earth and heaven ring,
Ring with the harmonies of Liberty;
Let our rejoicing rise
High as the listening skies,
Let it resound loud as the rolling sea.
Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us,
Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us;
Facing the rising sun of our new day begun,
Let us march on ’til victory is won.
National Anthem .......... Please Stand ........... led by Brother Ernest Dennard
"The Star Spangled Banner" by Francis Scott Key
O! say can you see by the dawn's early light,
⁠What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming,
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight,
⁠O'er the ramparts we watch'd, were so gallantly streaming?
And the Rockets' red glare, the Bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our Flag was still there;
⁠O! say does that star-spangled Banner yet wave,
⁠O'er the Land of the free and the home of the brave?
Dinner is Served
Vocal selections by Brother Ernest Dennard
Greetings from the City of Cordele............................. Angela H. Redding
City Manager
10
Occasion................................................................................ Valery Davis
Vice Chair, WCGCAC, Inc.

WEST CENTRAL GEORGIA COMMUNITY ACTION COUNCIL, INC.
Introduction of the WCGCAC, Inc. Staff................ Vesta Beal Shephard
Board Member, WCGCAC, Inc.; Commissioner, City of Cordele, GA, Banquet Chair
Introduction of the WCGCAC, Inc. Board of Directors.......... Jill Harrison
Board Chair, WCGCAC, Inc.; Councilwoman, City of Oglethorpe, GA
Introduction of Keynote Speakers......................................... Jill Harrison
Keynote Addresses.................................. The Honorable Patty J. Bentley
Georgia State Representative - HD 150
The Honorable Carden H. Summers
Georgia State Senator - SD 13
AWARD PRESENTATIONS
Pioneer Award Presentations .................................. Vesta Beal Shephard
Valery Davis
Recognized for Outstanding Service & Dedication
Honorees:
Cleveland Lemmons Earnest Calvin Mansfield Bennie Raines
Chair Emeritus Former Board Member Former Board Members
Legacy Award Presentations .................................. Vesta Beal Shephard
Lula Neal
Board Secretary, WCGCAC, Inc.
Recognized for Leadership, Influence, & Impact
Honorees:
A.J. Rivers
The Late Rufus Green
Board Member Emeritus
Board Member (Awarded Posthumously)
Chairman’s Awards .............................................................. Jill Harrison
Leaders Recognized for Embodying the Purpose, Vision & Mission of the Organization
THE SHINING STAR AWARD
Elnora Felton
Fiscal Operations Coordinator
West Central Georgia Community Action Council, Inc.
THE NORTH STAR AWARD
William Holt
Board Chair
The Agricultural and Labor Program, Inc.
Special Remarks ................................... The Honorable Sanford J. Bishop
U.S. Congressman, GA - 2nd Congressional District
Presentations, Remarks & Announcements............ Vesta Beal Shephard
Acknowledgements & Closing Remarks ................................ Jill Harrison
Closing Prayer .................................................................... Melvin Crimes
Treasurer, WCGCAC, Inc.
FELLOWSHIP, NETWORK & TAKE PICTURES
11

12

Congratulations “Sissy”,
Jill Harrison, & WCGCAC!
Providing services for
Investors, Buyers &
Sellers, including
property
management, home
buyer workshops, and
more!
13

In Support of Your Fundraising Gala
West Central
Georgia CAC, Inc.
&
Cordele City Commissioner
Vesta Beal Shephard
A dedicated Servant, an Advocate for her Ward and for the City of
Cordele, and a collaborative working with various agencies and
organizations to secure needed resources for her constituents.
14
Vote for Vesta to continue working to secure sidewalks, better
roads, the removal of abandoned mills and dilapidated houses in
your ward and representing Cordele in her regional and state
educational and leadership classes and conferences.
A Proud and Supportive Sister,
Ruby Beal
Syracuse, New York

As the Mayor of the City
of Buena Vista, I want to
thank the Staff, Board of
Directors, and
volunteers of West
Central Georgia
Community Action
Council for the service
and assistance that is
provided to the
residents of the City of
Buena Vista.
Mayor Kevin T. Brown
15

Congratulations
to our beloved member
HUDSON MURRAY &
THE WEST CENTRAL GEORGIA COMMUNITY
ACTION COUNCIL, INC.
FOR DOING GREAT WORK IN
MARION COUNTY!
“Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the
poor and the oppressed. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver
them from the hand of the wicked.”
Psalm 82:3-4
Brown Chapel A.M.E. Church
2835 Pineville Rd
Buena Vista, GA 31083
Reverend Angenitte Damiani, Pastor
Join us for Sunday morning worship service:
16
1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th Sundays
10:30 a.m.

to our niece
Jill Harrison, Chair
& the entire
West Central Georgia Community
Action Council, Inc. Family on a job well done!
Samuel & Fairella Cook
Great Aunt & Uncle
For the needy shall not always
be forgotten, and the hope of
the poor shall not perish
forever.
Psalm 9:18
2 176

TOMMY
COLEMAN
ATTORNEY
18
1604 W. THIRD AVENUE
ALBANY, GA 31707

Congratulations!
To Our Beloved Daughter
JILL S. HARRISON
For Being Elected Chair
& West Central Georgia Community
Action Council on your Inaugural
Recognition & Awards Banquet!
Two Generations of Community Action Service
Daddy & Mommy
Mr. Lloyd Cunningham, Jr. & Rev. Sandie Cunningham
We're So Proud of You!
“If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your
towns within your land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not
harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother.”
Deuteronomy 15:7
5 19

CONGRATULATIONS CHAIR HARRISON & THE WEST
CENTRAL GEORGIA COMMUNITY ACTION COUNCIL, INC.!
6
Many Hands - One Mission
Our Mission
Our Goal
Our Core
Objective
Our Motto
To enhance the professional and business conditions of NAREB® Realtist®
members by strengthening the consumer capacity of Black, minority, and
emerging target market segments that Realtists® serve.
To bring together professionals in the real estate industry to promote the
meaningful exchange of ideas about our business and how best to serve
our clientele.
To secure the right to equal housing opportunities regardless of race,
creed, or color.
Democracy in Housing
20
Archie Emerson
EBR President
empireboard.com

Jill Harrison
on being elected chair
& to The West Central Georgia
Community Action Council
for hosting a successful event!
We're proud of you niece!
“Blessed is the one who considers the poor! In
the day of trouble the Lord delivers him.”
Psalms 41:1
THE DIXON FAMILY
21

Congratulations
West Central
Georgia Community
Action Council, Inc.!!
The Flint River Farm School
Preservation Society, Inc. was
formed during the summer of
2004. The founding board
members include Bob Melvin,
Cleveland Whitehead, Curtis
McDonald, and Ricky Waters.
With the help of the community,
local churches, and local
businesses this group has
achieved phenomenal success in
recognizing and acknowledging
the achievements of local
residents who stepped out on
their faith to pursue a dream of
independence, self-sufficiency,
and self-reliance by participating
in the Flint River Farms
Resettlement Project.
22
ABOUT FRFS
www.flintriverfarms.org

Congratulations mom,
Jill Harrison, Chair &
WCGCAC!
Pastor
Raymond Forte
MISSION: TO BE THE CORNERSTONE OF HELP TO THE COMMUNITY
BY HEALING THE HURTING, DIRECTING THE HELPLESS, AND
RESTORING THE HOPELESS IN THE CITY OF PHOENIX AND BEYOND.
MEETING EVERY 2ND & 4TH SUNDAY
Starting August 2023
602.935.8383
ebenezerphx@gmail.com
@EbenezerPHX/
@ebenezerchurchphx
DONATE AT:
CASHAPP: $WEAREEBENEZERPHX
CHECK MONEY ORDER MADE TO: EBENEZER CHURCH PHX
ZELLE: EBENEZERPHX@GMAIL.COM
ONLINE: WWW.EBENEZERCHURCHPHX.ORG
ebenezerchurchphx.org
23

WEST CENTRAL
FROM
Evangelist
NICOLE WINSTON-HOWELL
CONSULTANT
24
US
on FaceBook Live
for my virtual parties!
It's all about
JEWELRY & JESUS!
@NICOLEHOWELL

J A &
TREE SERVICE
CORDLE, GA
JAMES BEAL
229.322.4905
ALVIN BEAL
229.276.6285
25

CONGRATULATIONS
CHAIRWOMAN JILL HARRISON
& THE WEST CENTRAL GEORGIA COMMUNITY ACTION COUNCIL, INC.
RAMON TOOKES
THE REAL ESTATE RESOURCE
26

PATRONS
Mr. & Mrs. EJ Askew
Cordele, GA
Mr. Harmond Beal
Cordele, GA
Veteran Jimmy Beal
Fairburn, GA
Mr. & Mrs. Nathaniel Beal
Warner Robins, GA
Mr. & Mrs. Donald Daniels
Cordele, GA
Mr. Vontor Herring
Cordele, GA
Mrs. Cassandra Reid Woods
Fairburn, GA
Roberson Barber Shop
306 16th Ave W | Cordele, GA 31015
Ms. Easter Sanders
Cordele, GA
Ms. Lydia Smith
Memphis, TN
Deacon & Mrs. John Stubbs
Greater Morris Tabernacle Baptist
Warner Robins, GA
Mr. & Mrs. Lonnie Walker
Cordele, GA
Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, “What are you doing for others?”
Martin Luther King, Jr.
27

Special Thanks
City of Cordele
Jonathan Hillman-Storey
Close to Your Heart Photography
Saturday
10.14.23
6 AM - 1 PM
WCGCAC will be a vendor in the
100 MILE PEANUT PICKIN’
YARD SALE
Come by our booth at
11th Street & Hwy 41 Bypass
1304 N 11th Street | Cordele, GA
V.B. Shephard Catering
Belinda Carr
Lloyd Rochelle
Marketing & Consultants
Serving Staff
Announcements
28
Friday
12.1.23
LIHEAP enrollment for
residents 65+ years old

408 B 16th Ave E, Cordele, GA 31015
Phone: 229-273-3433
Mon-Fri: 9a.m.-6p.m.
Sat: 9a.m.-12p.m.

SOUVENIR JOURNAL DESIGNED BY LLOYD ROCHELLE MARKETING & CONSULTANTS | 770.896.8723 | JILL@LLOYDROCHELLELLC.COM