Dr. Reginald Crenshaw Sr., Ph. D. (Torchbearer of Culture Award)
Mobile County School Board Commissioner District 3
Dr. Crenshaw was elected to a six-year term in Nov. 2009 as Mobile County School Board District 3 Commissioner. Dr. Crenshaw, Sr. is a "proud" 1974 graduate of Mattie T. Blount High School. After graduating from Blount with academic honors, Crenshaw enrolled in Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia and graduated in1978 with a Bachelor's Degree in Economics....click to read more
Dr. Shelia Martin (Torchbearer of Culture Award)
Executive Director of Special Programs...Mobile County Public School System
Dr. Shelia Martin approaches each challenge with her intrinsic professionalism, optimistic flair, and sound morale to make valuable decisions to increase the improvements in the Special Programs' identification processes and to decrease inappropriate labeling of students as special needs.....Click to read more
Mrs. Cloretta Blackmon (Torchbearer of Culture Award)
Publisher/CEO Mobile Beacon Newspaper
Mrs. Cleretta Thomas Blackmon is the Publisher/CEO of the Mobile Beacon, Alabama's oldest African-American Newspaper. The newspaper was founded June 1, 1943 by her parents Frank P. and Lancie M. Thomas and has never missed publishing an issue.......Click to read more
Dr. Nathan Chiedu Uyamadu (National Torchbearer of Culture Award)
Physician....Columbus, Georgia
Nathan Chiedu. Uyamadu, M.D. was born in Nigeria and migrated to the United States of America in 1979 after completing high school. He began his college education at the University of South Alabama, Mobile in 1979 as a premed student and graduated in 1982 with a degree in Biology.....Click to read more
Chief Mrs. Roseline Erobu (International Torchbearer of Culture)
Owner/CEO Rojest Enterprises Nigerian PLC
Mrs. Roseline Erobu was born and educated in Jos, Nigeria. She began her career as a Banker and worked for Barclays Bank Nigerian Limited. In 1973, she left the banking industry and began her personal business ventures.....Click to read more
Hon. Judge Edmond Naman (Man of Vision Award)
Mobile County Circuit Judge....Strickland Youth Center
Education: Graduate of UMS Preparatory School; Graduate of University of South Alabama BA: English, Biology, BA: Philosophy; Graduate of Jones School of Law.......click to read more
Mrs. Yvonne Matthews (Woman of Virtue Award)
Assistant Principal.....Williamson High School Mobile, Alabama
Mrs. Yvonne Matthews, the founder of the gospel singing group- Nu Image, former choral instructor at John L. LeFlore School of Communication and Arts, and administrator at LeFlore, Citronelle, Blount, Theodore and Williamson high schools, is also music coordinator for Nazaree Full Gospel Church in Mobile, Alabama....Click to read more
Hon. Ron Davis (Honored Guest Speaker)
Mayor City of Prichard, Alabama
Ronald “Ron “K. Davis was elected Mayor of the City of Prichard Alabama in October, 2004. Since then, he has earned a distinguished reputation for innovative leadership, and making a better quality of life for the citizens of the City of Prichard ......click to read more
Hon. Comm. Merceria Ludgood (Special Guest Speaker)
Mobile County Commissioner District 1
Ms. Merceria L. Ludgood was elected Mobile County Commissioner, District One, October 9, 2007. She was a 1970 honor graduate of Toulminville High School. She attended the University of Al in Tuscaloosa, received her B.S. in 1974 and M.A. in 1976. She graduated from Antioch School of Law in Washington, DC in 1981.....Click to read more