Jessie Eaves of Blacksburg is this year’s recipient of the Nannie B. Hairston Community Service award given by the NAACP – Montgomery County-Radford City-Floyd County Branch.
Eaves was presented the award at the recent 49th Freedom Fund Banquet, hosted by the local NAACP chapter. Branch President Deborah H. Travis and Dr. Nathaniel L. Bishop, Silver Life Member and Assistant Treasurer of the branch, conducted the award presentation, which is given in honor and “recognition of [Hairston’s] most dedicated and distinguished service to her community” and is given to a member who “has contributed extensively to the New River Valley community and advances the mission of the NAACP,” according to the local branch.
The Freedom Fund Banquet was held Sept. 27 in the ballroom of The Inn at Virginia Tech & Skelton Conference Center, with approximately 256 people in attendance. The theme of the banquet was “Moving Forward.”
The NAACP M-R-F said Eaves “is a true champion of community spirit and whose dedication and involvement have made a lasting impact across many areas of the community.”
Eaves is a long-term member of the branch and community, a retiree from Virginia Tech, an Elder of the United Holy Church of America and Associate Pastor of Greater Mount Zion United Holy Church. Eaves “was a leader in conceptualizing the preservation of the St Luke and Odd Fellows Hall in Blacksburg as a valuable community resource,” the NAACP announced.
“Her work involved the restoration of the historic building and the development of various of programs and events to emphasize the importance of the St. Lukes and Odd Fellows Hall to the community. She is a member of the Board of Directors for the Blacksburg Community Center and offers wise and generous council that has guided the BMCF board in various leadership decisions. She is a member of the NAACP Branch Religious Affairs committee; received the NAACP MRF Branch Community Service Award in Honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; has served as an officer and is current member of the Christiansburg Institute Alumni Association, and member of various other civic organizations. Following her retirement from Virginia Tech after 30 years of service she was awarded the Virginia Tech’s President’s Award for Excellence.
She is married to Thomas Eaves has two children, Kimberly and LaTonya, four grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
At the banquet, Travis greeted the audience and recognized several town and county officials including the mayors of the Town of Blacksburg and Town of Christiansburg. The candidates running for various town and county offices were also acknowledged. She “emphasized that the branch will continue the work and focus on strengthening the NAACP advocacy programs such as voter education and protection, health wellness, community collaboration, educational opportunities for our youth, veterans’ rights to benefits, and interfaith interactions,” according to the NAACP.
“She encouraged the audience to continue to stand up for justice for all and commit to the branch in “Moving Forward” in achieving the goals of the branch,” the NAACP announced. The welcome was given by Bishop.
The Membership Chair of the NAACP VA Tech Collegiate Chapter, Kyla Ngeno, and NAACP Youth Council President, Melvin Palmer, were introduced and they both shared about the work of their units. A memorial tribute with candle lighting was led by Reverend Elsie Wright, pastor of St. Paul A.M.E. in Blacksburg and Melvin Palmer, remembering those branch members who passed away since last banquet. Custom Vibes, directed by Dr. Glen Holmes, pianist, Mr. Ronnie Laws, drums, and vocalist Ms. Denise Smith led the group in singing, “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing,” the Black National Anthem.
The program continued with a message of the National NAACP theme, “Fierce Urgency of Now,” by Karen E. Jones, chair of the branch’s political action committee.
“She shared that there is power in the vote, and it must be implemented. She shared info on those on the ballot both at the state or locally and emphasized that our “vote matters” and called for a plan of action to get votes casted,” the NAACP announced.
The branch annually awards up to five Samuel H. Clark Scholarships of $2,000 to local youth connected with the NAACP who are pursuing post-secondary education. Irene Peterson acknowledged the 2025 Scholarship recipients who were Nayzia Terry from Blacksburg High School attending New River Community College; and Ms. Leila Haley, Christiansburg High School now attending Davidson College.
Travis, assisted by Rhonda Rogers and Nathaniel Bishop, also recognized the 2025 Sponsors of the banquet.
Gold Sponsor was Blacksburg Presbyterian. Silver sponsors were Asbury United Methodist Church; Blacksburg Jewish Community Center; Carilion Clinic; First Baptist Church-Rock Road, Radford, MOOG, Inc.; Dr. Paul Farrier & Friends, the Town of Blacksburg; and Schaeffer Memorial Baptist Church. Bronze sponsors were Blacksburg Museum & Cultural Foundation/Habitat for Humanity; Christiansburg Institute Alumni Association; The Church on Main; Drs. Dilip and Lauri B Nair; Democratic Committee of Montgomery County; the League of Women Voters of Montgomery County; Our Saviour Lutheran Church; New River Community College-Office of the President; Riner Qigong, St. Paul A.M.E., the Town of Christiansburg; the Unitarian Universalist Congregation, Blacksburg; and the United Auto Workers Local 2069. Also acknowledged were donations by Dr. & Mrs. Nathaniel Bishop, Buffalo & More, Drs. Erdogan and Gunin Kiran, Dr. & Mrs. Michael Herndon, Rev. & Mrs. Michael Sanborn, an anonymous donor, and the Viginia Tech Office of the President.
The banquet keynote speaker was Reverend Cozy Bailey, President of the Virginia State Conference of the NAACP. Bailey was elected as the Virginia State Conference President in 2023. He has served as President of the Prince William County Branch of the NAACP since January 2017, and 1st Vice President of the VA State Conference Region 3 in May 2022. He is associate minister at first Mount Zion Baptist Church in Dumfries, Virginia. Bailey is a native of St. Louis, MO. He is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and was commissioned as an officer the U.S. Marine Corps upon his graduation with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics.
Bailey gave “an extensive and powerful presentation” on the theme, “Moving Forward in Community.”
“He shared that we must forward in “Community.” The historical sense of community as has been the bedrock for Black Americans and means that we come together as one,” the branch announced. “There are efforts to dismantle this infrastructure. He stated that “we must build a wall of resistance,” which supports our efforts to continue moving forward for the achievement of justice. This “power of community” will help us to survive as it has in the past. He cited the African proverb, “it takes a village to raise a child,” which reflects on the family and supportive relationships meaning that we were created to live in community and to be sustainable which is critical to move forward.”
Travis presented a gift of appreciation to Rev. Bailey and urged “all those gathered to continue to work together to build a strong community for all.” Elder Marlin Reeves, Pastor of New Pentecostal United Holy Church closed the program with a unity prayer.
NAACP M-R-F branch
