Larry Hypes
Contributing Writer
DUBLIN – “Standing Tall and Proud” was the featured theme of the 2026 Black History Month celebration at New River Community College.
An invitation to not only recognize the contributions of African Americans in the New River Valley but to showcase those achievements was a key element of the event held in Edwards Hall on Feb. 22.
Althea “AJ” Robinson, Tazewell County Director of Communications and Tourism and member of the Virginia Community College Board, chaired a panel discussion with noted regional artist Ellen Elmes and community activist Susie Green featuring their previous work to highlight noted community members in Southwest Virginia and southern West Virginia.
Chair Elaine Powell-Hawkins, in her 26th year of leading the event at NRCC, opened the program after a welcome from college president Dr. Robert Brandon, saying “Change begins with us” in a review of the reasons for the gathering, followed by Radford Church of God in Christ pastor Marc Watson.
“The intention is to uplift, educate and inspire” was announced prior to the discussion.
Elmes, a talented educator with half a century of work including decades as an art instructor at Southwest Virginia Community College, reviewed her activities not only in Tazewell County, where she has coordinated murals with community participation in several area locations but also the ongoing progress in Bluefield, West Virginia in conjunction with the “Monuments Across Appalachia Virginia” funded by the Mellon Foundation and coordinated by Virginia Tech. Along her husband, Don Elmes, she has been instrumental in a variety of projects around the area.
A video presentation highlighting the giant mural adjacent to the Tazewell County Court House directed by Elmes with assistance from local citizens and generous support from the Board of Supervisors. Citizens suggested individuals to be represented. Each is deceased and a variety of related objects including informative coloring books and illustrated bookmarks are available. Fourth grade students studying Virginia history are provided these items with assistance from visittazewellcounty.org and coordinated by Robinson.
Bluefield resident Green, an embodiment of pride and persistence, outlined her successful efforts to upgrade the Maple Hill Cemetery, where the African American section received a major upgrade including the previously inaccessible area where her grandparents were buried.
Green also led the way to recognize Katherine Goble-Johnson, who taught at Tazewell County High School, the “colored” county high school, later known as Graham Jr. High. Goble-Johnson later gained fame for her work in the space program as one of the finest “human computers” who was a key to the success of the many flights over the decades in the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
She pointed out that working with local leaders both in the community and in government is essential and sometimes a lengthy process which requires energy, determination and creative thinking.
“Not all people are going to participate or care about the projects,” said Green, “but you must keep going to succeed in your efforts.”
A large crowd attended the program and enjoyed inspirational music provided by the “Drumbeat” group of Randolph Avenue United Methodist Church, music by William Penn and Drew Dowdy, the New River Valley Glorylanders along with refreshments and souvenir items for the public.
