Kensett, business: Tom Brown, Brown’s Painting and Strips; Shirley Williams, William’s Family Beauty; William Hadley, Hadley Plumbing Service; Mark Baker, Baker Electrical Work; Rev. Anna Goodlow, Ultra Modern Beauty Salon and Glenda Sevier Hadley, Sevier Beauty Salon.

West Point, retired: Rev. James Hart, railroad.

Searcy, retired: Douglas Washington, Washington Plumbing.

Searcy, business: Joseph V. Washington, Mem. by Jos. V. Washington; Terry Edwards, Pleasure Street Conoco, Sharon Poindexter, Turn-N-Headz; Jessie Chatman, Vision Detail Shop and Chavonne Cantrell, beauty salon owner.

Searcy, professionals: Dr. Herman Clements, Mental Health Solutions; Joe Myles, Turn-N-Headz, Tracye Smith, Food Service-AR Baptist College director; Jeanette Williams, area operations chief-AR Workforce; Rev. Roderick Smith, assistant director of Wilbur D. Mills; detective Mary Broadway, WCSD; Michael Watson, WCSD and Dr. Mitzi Washington, Searcy Kids and Moore.

Beebe, business: Sonny Walker, Perferred Painting and Harold and Mae Welch, Harold’s Detail Shop.

The late Exie Mae Washington, the first black nurse in 1966 and the late Dorothy Adams, LPM will be honored in the field of medicine.

White County Medical Center nurse Jasper Fultz will be honored at Nurse of the Year and will also speak. Several other locals in the field of medicine will be recognized.

The event will lead up to Black History Weekend Feb. 19-21. This will provide an opportunity to learn more about Black History. The 2000 Census identified five towns in White County with no Black residents.

The weekend will provide those communities and others to gain insights into the Black culture, constributions and achievements.

Activities for the weekend include Honorable Judge Wendell Griffen speaking Feb. 19 at 7 p.m. at the Mt. Arratt Baptist Church in Beebe, a parade Feb. 20 at 11 a.m. with free fellowship following at Spring Park, a special program at Art Exhibition at the Carmichael Community Center at 6 p.m. and Feb. 21 the White County Youth Federated Choir will perform at 7 p.m. at First United Methodist Church in Searcy.

The committee honored Afro-Americans in education Jan. 23 at Mt. Arratt Baptist Church in Beebe. The following were honored

Bald Knob Public Schools: Sylvia Ball, 5th grade language arts

Beebe Public Schols: Brandy Dillin, director of aleternative education; Sheena Hunter, special education and Dorene Mellon, elementary para professional.

Kareer Kids Early Childhood: Martha Farmer, ABC lead teacher.

Riverview Public Schools: Louis Bonner, health and athletics; Christy Chatman, elementary para professional; Jennifer Hicks, language arts/creative writing; Heather Lee, 4th grade; Estellia Smith, 1st grade and Margaret Smith, Impact Lab.

Searcy Public Schools: Mae Clifton, secondary education; Marvin Flowers, secondary education and Tony McCoy, track/football/alternative education.

West Memphis School District: DeWayne Streets, health and football/basketball coach.

For more information call Rodney Hendrix at (501) 268-6535, e-mail Rbfn4life@msn.com or call Rev. William Gant at (501) 278-7152, e-mail wmdeb@sbcglobal.net.