Save Our Community has Emancipation Day event

The Save Our Community (SOC) organization of Southport hosted its 19th annual Emancipation Day program at Friendship Baptist Church on Jan. 1.

Norman Jones, master of ceremonies, opened the program by asking the audience to sing “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” Pamela Ferguson of St. James AMEZ read the Scripture from Exodus 3:7-12. Norman Jones of New Hope Baptist prayed and Kyerra Kinsey of Friendship Baptist gave the welcome.

Emma Myles of First Baptist reviewed the five original objectives of the organization and noted that SOC has concentrated on three objectives by sponsoring the Emancipation Proclamation Program in December, the Student Recognition Program in June and a Bible Quiz Bowl in September. 

Youth representatives Christina Brown, Gary Williams, Shantal Joyner and Bishop Brown from four churches in Southport presented a program centering on such civil rights activists as Frederick Douglas and W.E. DuBois. 

Norman McDuffie, assistant principal at South Brunswick High School, was the inspirational speaker and shared the lessons learned from his boyhood experience on a Duplin County farm. He also talked about the part that hard work and determination played in overcoming academic challenges at UNC Wilmington.

The SOC youth choir under the direction of Linda Hankins presented musical selections throughout the program. Deacon Jones provided closing remarks and closed the program with the benediction.