The tenacious, zestful and sometimes controversial leader of the Sumter County NAACP will step down from his position this month.

Dr. John Marshall, who has been president since 1993, said he thought it was a time for “a more gentle approach to be taken throughout Sumter in the battle for the civil rights of black people.”

The announcement was made during the group’s annual Freedom Fund Banquet last month. Mathis Wright, an area caterer and former Sumter County Commission candidate, is expected to officially take the reins of the organization after a vote by the Executive Board of the local National Association for the Advancement of Colored People this month. Marshall said he had been thinking about stepping down for a while, but “a cold and hostile” reception he received at an Emancipation Proclamation event earlier this year, led him to think it was time to step down. “I felt, I had enough,” Marshall said.

In 1990, Marshall joined the Sumter County NAACP and became president of the branch three years later. During his tenure, the branch battled wrongdoings at Sumter Regional Hospital, Middle Flint Mental Health Center, Sumter County Schools, the city government and the Americus Times Recorder, the latter which he refers to as the “dangerous monster.”But he said the fight has taken some toll on him, with many residents –black and white – believing his tactics were too ferocious. “My effort to expose “Uncle Toms” and racists, ended up frightening a lot of innocent black people,” said the Savannah State College (University) graduate. “Maybe we need someone less direct.”

However, Mathis was quick to point out to the audience that while he may take a more subtle approach to black issues in Americus, he would be far from a pushover.

“Matt is ready and quite capable to carry on the spirit and commitment that is needed to do the work of the NAACP,” Marshall said. “Matt, along with his beautiful wife, Linda, will be a strong team in the leadership of this branch.”

Days after the  March 1 tornado ravaged Americus, Marshall referred to the storm as the “hand of God” and a wake-up call for Blacks and the local NAACP to reassess their priorities and strategies. He made the announcement of his leaving the post at the NAACP Freedom Fund Banquet on April 21, where many of the speakers praised his work with the organization. “The NAACP needs strong leaders like Marshall,” said U.S. Congressman Kendrick B. Meek, the keynote speaker for the event. “This branch has made so many achievements under him.”

U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop, D-GA., compared the outgoing Marshall to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  “Dr. Marshall has always had a strong commitment to the down trodden. He held the NAACP presidency with a sense of purpose,” Bishop said. Marshall said his biggest achievements as president were summed up “as a lot of small victories.” I think the biggest problem in Sumter County is that our elected and appointed Black officials are too afraid to speak up for the Blacks who put them there.He said he plans to use his free time to devote to the Americus Sumter Observer, which he started in 1997. The newspaper has also been a strong and fearless advocate of blacks in Sumter County and covering controversial topics. “The newspaper has no plans of cooling down,” Marshall said.

Education of local youths has been an integral part of the Sumter County branch NAACP since its inception 14 years ago.

And for 10 years, the local National Association for the Advancement of Colored People has chosen three high school student finalists each year to provide $1,000 scholarships to -- those who are succeeding in academics but may be having trouble with tuition.

But this year, the futures of all seven applicants were so bright and their academics were so high, the NAACP decided to award them all scholarships.

 "They are all so smart, we never had so many with such high grades," said Dr. John Marshall, outgoing president of the NAACP branch. "So, we decided we would not leave any of them out."

High school seniors Marcus Bridges, Lakiethia Brown, Precious Williams, Stephanie Laster, Whitney Kimbrough, Kelsey Heard and Kyndrell Clemons will all receive scholarships once they start their perspective colleges or continuing education.

Laster is a 17-year-old cheerleader for Americus-Sumter High, with a 3.7 GPA. She said she was very surprised when NAACP members announced all the candidates would receive scholarships.

"It was just a blessing that we all got the money," said Laster, who plans to enroll in Spellman College.

This will further my educational endeavors," said Kimbrough, a student with a 3.9 GPA, who plans to attend Armstrong Atlantic State University in the fall.

The scholarships are named after Christopher Brown-Shootes, a local resident and soldier who died during Operation Desert Storm in Iraq.

"We thought this was someone worthy of naming the scholarship after," Marshall said.

This year's scholarship recipients were announced at the branch's annual Freedom Fund Banquet on April 21 in front of 400 people in the audience. The banquet was an appropriate event to make the announcements, considering the NAACP relies on proceeds generated from the banquet to fund the scholarships -- as well as donations from local businesses.

"It's a way to give back to the community," said NAACP member Virginia Mentor.

Applicants for the scholarships are required to be high school seniors, have at least a B average, and have the financial need, Virginia said. They must be local and race doesn't matter. The money does not go directly to the student but to the institution they plan to attend. If they don't show up (at the school) they need to return the scholarship money.

But scholarship award winners questioned said they can't wait to start school, including Bridges who has a 3.6 GPA.

"I'm counting down the days for school to start," Bridges said.

"I think everyone is excited," said Clemons. "Exited to go to new places and meet new people."

Several residents also were awarded plagues at the banquet for their community activism. The list includes Norbert Ingram, Eric Bryant, Elizabeth Dede and Charles Moss, the latter who received the President John Marshall Award.

Willette Smith, 2007 Freedom Fund Banquet Chairperson, and emcee of the banquet said the award recipients are those people who have done a great job in the community.

"They help the community progress," Smith said.

Sumter County School Board member Carolyn Whitehead also won. Marshall said they gave here award this year because many of her recent votes on the school board as been aligned with the direction of the NAACP

For 14 years, the Sumter-County branch of the NAACP has followed the national organization’s mission to fight injustice, erase racism and heal the community.

On April 21, the branch brought home that message to nearly 500 people at its 31st Annual Freedom Fund Banquet at South Georgia Technical College.

Keynote speaker, U.S. Rep. Kendrick B. Meek, D-FL, and other local public officials, sang the Negro National Anthem and were entertained by local performers and a gospel group, while the crowd dined on broiled chicken, broccoli, cheesecake and sweet tea. Several community leaders also received awards for their efforts.

 “It was a very productive banquet and everybody seemed to have enjoyed themselves,” said Willette Smith, 2007 Freedom Fund Banquet Chairperson, and emcee of the event.

Selections by the Restoration Church praise team had the crowd swaying and clapping. “They seem to always give a good performance,” said Reverend George Edge, pastor of the church.

With theme, “Healing Our Community Through Unity,” the banquet paid tribute to those who lost their lives during the March 1 tornado and Sarah Shootes, who passed in 2006, a longtime board member and a dedicated warrior. Also in attendance was Dekalb County CEO Vernon Jones, who was instrumental in bringing trucks to Americus to pick up debris left by the disaster.

“This will be a good opportunity to encourage the tornado victims to get back on their feet,” said Jones in an interview before the banquet.

Other notables at the banquet included NAACP president, Dr. John Marshall, city councilman Lorenzo Johnson, Georgia State NAACP third vice president, Ezekiel Holley and U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop, D-GA.

The highlight of the night was the keynote speaker Rep. Meek, who was critical of President George Bush’s handling of the war in Iraq. “The president wants Congress to give him a blank check for the war simply because he’s the president,” Meek said, to applause.

Meek, who has visited U.S. military bases in Iraq, said he didn’t want soldiers to be in Iraq any longer than they have to. He demanded the country do a better job of taking care of its wounded veterans.

“We have young men and women over there dying and we’re more concerned about who’s the father of Anna Nicole Smith’s baby,” Meek said.

Meeks also discussed the need for more people to vote, more community activism and leadership by residents and a better health care system in the United States. He also touched on the turmoil surrounding U.S. Attorney Alberto Gonzales as well as the recent tornado that ravaged the Americus.

“I want to cover issues that affect our community,” Meeks said in an interview minutes before the banquet started.

The surprise of the evening was the announcement by Marshall that he was stepping down as president of the NAACP after 14 years. Officials praised Marshall for his leadership. Congressman Bishop compared Marshall to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. “Dr. Marshall has always had a strong commitment to the down trodden,” Bishop said. “He held the NAACP presidency with a sense purpose.” 

Mathis Kearse Wright, Jr., a businessman and longtime Sumter County resident, is expected to replace Marshall. He is the lone candidate for the May 21 election for a new president for the local NAACP.

Proceeds from the annual banquet goes to operating costs for the chapter as well as funding for its college scholarships, which included a record number of seven that was handed out at the event.

The banquet attracted church groups, businesses, fraternities and sororities, a number of NAACP area branches and various guests.

“I sincerely believe this is the best banquet yet,” Marshall said.

Staff Reports

Like Rosa Parks, Ola Mae Quarterman was a bright and sensitive Christian woman who believed in her rights when she boarded a city bus one day.

But on Jan. 12, 1962 in Albany, Ga., it was not the 18-year-old Quarterman’s weary body that caused her to refuse the segregationist-trained bus driver’s commands to give up her seat to a white man. It was her energetic spirit.

“I paid my damn 20 cents, and I can sit where I want,” the Albany State College (University) freshman yelled to the Albany City Transit driver.

“Get your damn finger out of my face,” she allegedly told the bus driver trying to push her out of her seat.

And, unlike Parks, who was bailed out of jail by the Montgomery, Alabama area NAACP on the resulting civil disobedience charge almost as soon as she was booked, Quarterman served 30 days in jail for disorderly conduct – and for using obscene language at the bus driver. Some say the jail stint included a beating at the hands of local officials.

Both women would spark civil right movements. Both women died within two years of each other, with the 64-year-old Quarterman-Clements dying on April 19 in Swainsboro.

She was laid to rest at the Antioch Baptist Church cemetery.

Albany civil rights leader, the Rev Charles Sherrod, said Quarterman was never afraid to stand up for her beliefs. “She was that one woman, that one strong woman, that one heroic woman, who would not move,” Sherrod said.

The incident drew Martin Luther King Jr. to Albany. At the time, Sherrod, who now teaches at ASU, was a coordinator for the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee in Albany. He said by Christmas of the following year, city buses began integration.

Quarterman, who grew up in Dougherty County and graduated from Monroe High School there, never got the national recognition that Parks received. In fact, Albany State expelled her from school because of her arrest. Afterward, Quarterman drifted into despair and suffered a mental breakdown that landed her in a mental institution. Quarterman remained at the facility for more than 30 years before returning to Albany in 1996.

Quarterman would eventually get married, and become Quarterman-Clements and have at least one child.

Rosa Parks, whose act of civil disobedience in 1955 inspired the modern civil rights movement, died October 24, 2005, in Detroit, Michigan. She was 92.

Everette J. Freeman, the man who now serves as president of the institution that expelled Quarterman-Clements, called her one of the many unsung heroes of the Civil Rights Movement.

Dr. John Marshall, president of the Sumter County NAACP, said Quarterman-Clements never got the notoriety that Parks attracted. Quarterman-Clements was one of the names hardly known outside the inner circle of activists, according to a Resistance Studies website.

“She did exactly what Rosa Parks did, it was just here,” Marshall said. “What she did and her sacrifices need to be recognized more.”

Each year for the last seven years, February 28 has been proclaimed, in Albany, as Ola Mae Quarterman-Clements Day to honor her. There also is recognition of her in Albany’s black museum, Sherrod said.

House Resolution 1195, passed by the Georgia House of Representatives, recognizes and commends Ola Mae Quarterman-Clements for her bravery and leadership, and for the role she played in the civil rights movement in Albany and the State of Georgia.

Sherrod praised the energetic spirit of Quarterman-Clements, which, he said, that gave a kick to the Albany movement. “She is unique in a movement that one person had such a significant impact,” Sherrod said. “Most of the time, it takes at least 1,000 people to do what she did.”