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NAACP branch celebrates 75 years
Barely enough seats available for large number of attendees
Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2009
 Click here to enlarge this photo Staff photos by DARWIN WEIGEL
The Rev. Lillie Gray talks with District Court Judge E. Gregory Wells at the Calvert County NAACP's annual fall luncheon Saturday at the Rod 'N' Reel Restaurant in Chesapeake Beach.
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The Calvert County branch of the NAACP commemorated its 75th anniversary at its annual fall luncheon last Saturday at the Rod 'N' Reel Restaurant in Chesapeake Beach, but not before surplus guests caused a lengthy delay.
Attendance was so high, about a dozen were left to stand and wait as restaurant staff scrambled for half an hour to gather extra tables and chairs to accommodate everyone. But once everyone was seated, the celebration began.
Following welcoming addresses from state Senate President Thomas V. "Mike" Miller Jr. (D-Calvert, Prince George's) and District Court Judge E. Gregory Wells, the throngs rose for a rendition of "Lift Every Voice and Sing," commonly known as the Black National Anthem.
Master of Ceremonies Dana Jones marked the occasion by reviewing African-Americans' "nadir," towards the end of Reconstruction when Jim Crow ran rampant and court cases like Plessy v. Ferguson advanced the notion of "separate but equal."
It was in those conditions, Jones said, that the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People was created 100 years ago. Led through the civil rights movement by leaders like Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks and Thurgood Marshall, blacks have made considerable societal strides since then, evidenced in part by last November's presidential election, Jones said.
But he stressed that there was more work to do and, with the civil rights leadership mostly gone, compared today's blacks to biblical Hebrews who were forced to cross the Jordan River without Moses.
"Arise and cross that Jordan," Jones said. "We must still arise and embrace our responsibilities to take this country to another place."
Following Jones' address, a brief moment of silence was held in memory of the victims of last week's shooting at Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas.
Lunch was served, and towards the end of the meal guests were treated to a musical performance by Calvert Middle School sixth-grader Andre Jones and 15-year-old Northern High School honors student Summer Mealing.
In addition, Calvert County Historical Society Director Christine Stelloh-Garner gave a presentation on family history research and recommended that those interested begin gathering clues and leads from their own knowledge and interviews with immediate family members.
Garner also encouraged the use of pedigree charts and family sheets to organize important information and vital statistics, such as names and the place and day of birth, marriage and death. Important information could be gleaned from family bibles, county records, federal censuses and even the purchase forms of slaves.
Lunch Committee Chairman Ruth Reid recognized past branch presidents and officers and also those who had demonstrated exemplary community service before branch President Joyce Freeland took the mic.
"This is your birthday celebration," Freeland said. "I think we should say, ‘Hallelujah, thank you Lord.'"
Door prizes and a proclamation from the Calvert County Board of County Commissioners ended the luncheon as some guests began filtering out early due to the prior delay, one which Jones promised would not happen next year.
"Even if I have to lay hands on brother Gerald [Donovan, owner of the Rod 'N' Reel], we're going to be downstairs next year so we can have more space," Jones said.
See related stories
- Calvert NAACP to celebrate 75 years
- NAACP celebrates 100 years
- African-American history to be on display
