LOCAL EVENTS
The Juneteenth Foundation held its annual Unity Walk and Parade on the National holiday. Juneteenth is a celebration of when enslaved people in Texas were finally freed by executive decree on June 19, 1865, according to the National Museum of African American History & Culture website.
This year, the monthlong celebration honored two prominent Black women in the community — Georgia Hoodye Cheatham and Reverend Willie Mae Ford.
Cheatham was one of the first five Black women to attend Texas State University when it integrated, and she worked at Gary Job Corps for 58 years, recently retiring.
“She has been a mentor to those that are out doing something for themselves,” Hays County Constable Pct. 1 and Juneteenth Foundation President David Peterson read of Cheatham. “Cheatham is cofounder of the calaboose African American Museum in 1997. [She] helped preserve local history through the Hays County Historical Commission and the Heritage Association and has been deeply involved with the Greater Bethel Baptist Church. She also has contributed social work, writing a chapter on Black women’s history in Texas. A mother of three, grandmother of four and a great grandmother of one, Mrs. Cheatham continues to lead by example. She advises the young people to keep their power up, to make something out of themselves, to be trustworthy.”
Willie Mae Ford, PhD, is a reverend that is originally from San Marcos.
“Reverend Ford has given 38 years of service to the Victoria Independent School District and serves as a chaplain to the Victoria Police Department in recognition of her influences on their community,” Peterson read. “As a wife of the late Reverend James Ford, she is a proud mother of three. … She spends a lot of time with them and within her community. Her legacy is one of the unwavering faith in service and passion for empowering others through ministry and education.”
Before the parade set off on its route, The Rotary Club of San Marcos held a brief dedication ceremony for a second San Marcos Peace Pole, which was led by Rotary Member Jannett Jackson. The Rotary Club of San Marcos is part of an international program with 45,000 clubs across the world.
“The peace pole has been erected in more than 200,000 places around the world, and it represents a silent visual for peace to prevail on this planet,” Jackson said. “It says, ‘May peace prevail on Earth.’” Learn more about Juneteenth and its significance at nmaahc.si.edu/ explore/stories/historical- legacy-juneteenth.
Above left, all pastors and reverends present gathered for a photo. Above right, all officers in attendance at that time. Below right, honoree Georgia Hoodye Cheatham. Daily Record photos by Shannon West
Above, flags for both Juneteenth and Pride, which also occurs in June, could be found at the parade. Daily Record photo by Shannon West
