GALA 2025
2025 PILLARS OF THE SOUTHSIDE HONORING...
Eugene Brown - American Legion Post 521 & Southside Veterans
The American Legion, Eugene Brown Post #521 was formed and chartered in Hall County by the American Legion National Headquarters and the American Legion State of Georgia in 1947. The post was named in memory and honor of Private First-Class Eugene Brown, the son of Willie and Amanda Brown of Gainesville, Georgia. Eugene Brown was born on August 27, 1912 and enlisted in the U.S. Army on October 7, 1943 at the age of 31. PFC. Brown was a member of Company 4360 Q.M. Battery and Infantry Unit 311 Regiment. He was the first African American from Hall County, Georgia to be killed in the line of duty during World War II. PFC Eugene Brown died in Germany on March 21, 1945 and is buried in Eureka Cemetery in Gainesville, Georgia.
Despite African Americans having fought and faithfully served America in every war, African American veterans were not allowed to join the American Legion, the country’s largest national organization prior to 1944. The American Legion posts were established as a haven for returning soldiers from World War I and World War II. The first Eugene Brown Post officers were Alonzo Wright, Commander and W.W. Chamblee, Adjutant. The Eugene Brown Post 521 of the American Legion became a place of fellowship and camaraderie for those who had seen the face of war. Post 521 also served as a central social hub for Gainesville’s Southside Community. The Post hosted dances featuring famous artists and performers. James Brown, Wilson Pickett and Sam Cooke performed at the Eugene Brown Post.
Family oriented activities and events were sponsored by the Post. Fourth of July and Memorial Day cookouts and barbeques were common occurrences.
The Eugene Brown American Legion Auxiliary Unit 521 consisted of the Veterans’ wives, daughters and female relatives . Auxiliary Unit 521 supported the initiatives and programs of the American Legion. Some of the members of the Eugene Brown American Legion Auxiliary Unit 521 were Katherine Goudelock, Louvenia Richardson, Patricia
Hudson, Faye Bush, and Carree Bailey.
The first female Commander, Stephanie Westbrooks Watkins was installed in 2006. Mary Evans Bynum served as Adjutant. Stephanie enlisted in the U.S. Air Force on July 17, 1980 and served as an inventory Management Specialist and Postal Clerk. She was stationed at Air Force bases in Arizona and Germany. Eugene Brown Post #521 Veterans who served as commanders include Alonzo Wright, Edgar Byrd, John Morrow Jr., Talmadge Yarbrough, Willie T. Robinson , David Dabney, George “Buck” Moon, John Butts Jr., Robert Young, Joe E.
Stephens, Frank Law, William “Zip” Law, Benjamin Rucker Sr., Claudis Moses, Harold Anderson Sr., Jesse Gresham, Hubert Hutchens, Stephanie Westbrooks Watkins, Mary Evans Bynum, and Johnny Varner.
The L.C. Pace-Eugene Brown Post #328 of the American Legion
In October, 2009, historically Black Posts Eugene Brown Post # 521of the American Legion and L.C. Pace Post #534 of the American Legion of Buford, Georgia merged to form the L.C. Pace-Eugene Brown Post #328 of Flowery Branch, Georgia. Both posts had lost their headquarters for different reasons. Johnny Varner became the new Post Commander and John Dorsey was elected the Senior Vice Commander. Other past commanders are Asberry Turner,
Harold Goss and Stephen McGruder. Thomas Hailey is the current Commander of L.C. Pace-Eugene Brown Post #328 of the American Legion of Flowery Branch, Georgia. The Members of Post 328 meet monthly at the Spouts Springs Library in Flowery Branch, Georgia.
L.C. Pace-Eugene Brown Post 328 continues to be actively involved in the community, Post 328 sponsors oratorical contests, participates in the American Legion’s Boys State Program, takes part in Veterans Day and Memorial Day parades, serves as honorary pallbearers for deceased veterans when notified, and engages in “Stand Down” events which involves providing supplies and services to homeless veterans.
Hall County Library System - Clara B. McCrary Branch
THE HALL COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM
The first community library in Hall County began prior to 1933 in the basement of Grace Episcopal Church. Mrs. J.H. Downey enlisted the women of the church as volunteers to operate the library. However, this library was destroyed along with the church by the 1936 tornado.
The groundwork for a public library in Hall County, Georgia began as a result of the loss of the community library. The first meeting of the Hall County Library Board occurred in 1937. The Hall County Library System officially moved into the basement of the Hall County Courthouse in 1938. Ethel Roark was the first librarian. Mary Pursell was the first professional librarian. Under her leadership, several depository libraries were established, including the Murrayville branch, the Lula branch, the Clermont branch and the Flowery Branch library.
The McCrary Branch Library
In April 1948, a branch library was established in one of the classrooms of Northwestern School, a private school in Gainesville operated by the Northwestern Baptist Association for African American students. The library located in Northwestern School soon moved into a building located at the intersection of Fair and Hunter streets across from Fair Street School.
In 1957, this branch of the Chestatee Regional Library was renamed in honor of its librarian, Miss Clara Belle McCrary. The name was officially changed at a meeting of the Fair Street Parents-Teachers Association. A prize book was awarded to Gloria Jean Williams and Patricia Ann Carter for submitting Miss McCrary’s name which was selected by the Hall County Library Board. Miss McCrary was further honored with a Citation of Merit from the library board. Mrs. Ella Rucker was recognized as assistant librarian. Cortess Daniels Hughey and Shirley Thurmond Lipscomb served as library assistants.
The Bookmobile
The first Hall County bookmobile was delivered in early February of 1950. The original bookmobile contained 1000 to 1200 books. The bookmobile became very popular and served to increase library patronage. In its first year of operation, 14,505 books were loaned from the bookmobile. Southside operators of the bookmobile include Catherine Earls and Ella Jean Smith who was dubbed and is still known as the “bookmobile lady”. In 1953, Hall and Lumpkin Counties joined forces to form the Chestatee Regional Library. The building at the corner of Maple, Academy and Main Streets was constructed in the late 1960s and dedicated on February 8, 1970. The Library for the Blind and the Physically Handicapped was added in 1975. The Hall County Library Board voted to withdraw from the Chestatee Regional Library System in 1997.
The Hall County Library and the Gainesville-Hall County Black History Society, Inc. collaborated to write and obtain a Library Services Technology Act (LSTA) grant in 2003.The grant supplied the needed funds for copying and cataloging pictures and other historical memorabilia used to produce and publish the pictorial history, HALL COUNTY, GEORGIA, the Black America Series. Library director, Susan Stewart, assistant director Adrian Mixon, reference librarian, Ronda Sanders and library technician, Tina Dumestre were instrumental in providing skills and advice in the production of the publication.
The Hall County Library System built the Spout Springs Library in Flowery Branch in 2008 and the North Hall Tech Center in 2012 on Nopone Road in Gainesville. The Gainesville Headquarters Library building was renovated, remodeled and expanded at a cost of 5.35 million dollars and reopened on September 21, 2020.
In May 2023, the Hall County Library Board voted to name the Early Children’s Book section after the late Clara B, McCrary who died at the age of 100 in 2009. Her obituary can be found here. The Hall County Library System continues to serve as a steadfast pillar in its support of the Gainesville-Hall County Community.
The Sunshine Seniors
A health initiative from the District 2 Public Health Department led by Public Health Educator, Anderson Flynn resulted in the origination of the Senior Citizens Sunshine Group in 2004. The purpose of the initiative was to educate seniors in the African American community about the importance of getting the flu vaccination. A committee of Southside residents traveled to Atlanta University to gather important information to bring back to their community. Each month the committee held informational meetings called “Lunch and Learn” at local churches. As a result of these monthly meetings, the Sunshine Seniors was organized with Mrs. Elizabeth Westbrooks elected as President.
Mrs. Westbrooks kept the group engaged in activities. Some of those activities included bowling, playing BINGO, eating out, and walking together. Sunshine Seniors visited the Guest House and sang at nursing homes. One nursing home visit resulted in the adoption of one of the residents who never received visitors. Sunshine Seniors partnered with local schools to read to children. They partnered with Redwine United Methodist Church to identify people who needed handicap ramps, and those ramps were built. The group received a grant through North Georgia College to install safety bars in bathrooms and night lights for fall prevention in seniors’ homes.
Mrs. Westbrooks always encouraged healthy eating. The group maintained a community garden. A food stand was created to sell fresh fruits and vegetables. In June 2013, Sunshine Seniors became partners with the Georgia Mountain Food Bank. Fair Street -Butler High Alumni Association permitted the Sunshine Seniors Organization to operate under their 501(c)(3) nonprofit status which facilitated the partnership. Sunshine Seniors also partnered with Fair Street School and the Boys and Girls Club to help provide fresh fruits and vegetables for their families.
Mrs. Belinda Hailey- Dickey became president of the Sunshine Seniors in 2014. In June of that year, the Sunshine Seniors held their first donation event at the Hall County Health Dept. The rain was horrible, and the group knew they needed to host future events inside. Mrs. Dickey, president, did not want the weather to dictate their level of service in the future. She contacted St John Baptist Church and was offered a space there. After a decade, the Sunshine Seniors continue to provide food to the needy from this same location.A racially diverse, interdenominational, dependable and dedicated group of approximately thirty volunteers join the Sunshine Seniors in distributing food EVERY TUESDAY at 2:00 pm at the St John Baptist Church, located at 757 EE Butler Pkwy, Gainesville GA.The telephone number is 770.654.9922.
As of 2021, Sunshine Seniors partners with the North Georgia Community Foundation. Mrs. Dickey shared that the organization’s continued work is funded by generous donors, both private and corporate. The organization has received grants and NGCF Fundholders are of tremendous help. Mrs. Dickey further stated, “In May 2024, we had a shortfall in funds, but God supplied our needs. As of December 2024, Community Partners have donated almost $100,000 to our account to feed families who are experiencing food insecurities. To God Be the Glory!”
Reverend L. C. Teasley, Sr.
Rev. L.C. Teasley is the son of John and Mattie Teasley and a native of Gainesville, Georgia. He is a graduate of Fair Street High School, Gainesville Georgia. Rev. Teasley received his AA and BA degrees in Theology from Gwinnett-Hall Bible College in Lawrenceville, Georgia. He is a retired masonry contractor.
Rev. Teasley was called by God to preach in 1979. Seven months later, he became the pastor of New Life Missionary Baptist Church. As pastor of New Life, he renovated and changed a facility that had previously operated as a club into a place of worship. He and his congregation held services and worshipped in this renovated building for seven years. In 1986, Rev. Teasley led his congregation into purchasing land at 1380 Harrison Drive in Gainesville, Georgia. A brand-new church to serve as a place of worship was erected on this property.
While continuing to pastor New Life Missionary Baptist Church, Rev. Teasley was led by the Lord to return to his home church, The Greater Timberidge Baptist Church. He pastored the Greater Timberidge Baptist Church for thirteen years. The church building needed to be renovated. In the year 2000, Rev. Teasley led Timberidge’s congregation to rebuild the church’s sanctuary. During the thirteen years he served as pastor of both New Life Missionary Baptist Church and Timberidge Baptist Church, he conducted back-to-back services. New Life’s worship services began at 9:30am and Timberidge’s worship services followed at 11:00 am.
Rev. Teasley has served in many capacities within the Faith Community. He served as the Chairperson of the Ministers Conference for the General Missionary Convention of Georgia, Inc. for twelve years. He was the Moderator of the Greater Northwestern Baptist Association of Georgia, Inc. for thirteen years. Under his leadership as Moderator, ten acres of land was purchased and an office built on Mathis Road in Winder, Georgia. Rev. Teasley has served as Interim Pastor of Rucker Memorial Church, Gainesville, Georgia; Fairfield Baptist Church, Statham, Georgia; and the Hillshire Baptist Church, Watkinsville, Georgia. In 2023, Rev. Teasley was honored as the oldest pastor in the Fellowship Missionary Baptist Convention of Georgia, Inc. The two o’clock afternoon service on the first Wednesday in November has been designated “Rev. L.C. Teasley Preaching Hour” at the convention.
Rev. L.C. Teasley continues to serve as the Pastor of New Life Missionary Baptist Church. He is at the present time, the oldest Black Pastor in Gainesville, Georgia. His hobbies are restoring old cars and tending to cattle. He is married to Kathy R. Teasley and the father of twelve children. He is a grandfather, a great grandfather, and a great-great grandfather. His motto is, “I don’t believe the Lord brought me this far to leave me.” His favorite scripture is, “And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing ye shall receive”. Matthew 21:22 KJV.
IBMA - The Interdenominational Black Ministers Association
The Interdenominational Black Ministers Association
The Interdenominational Black Ministers Association (IBMA) is an ecumenical ministry of fellowship and support for Ministers living in or serving in Gainesville/Hall County and surrounding areas. IBMA was begun more than fifty years ago by local pastors and ministers and has been serving the ministers and the community in the Greater Gainesville area since its inception.
IBMA endeavors to promote unity and fellowship within the local Faith Community. To that end, regular monthly meetings are held on the second Saturday of each month. A Quarterly Fellowship Luncheon is held the first month of each quarter.
Three major activities are sponsored by IBMA: A City-wide Revival is conducted during the first week of January of each year; IBMA sponsors an Easter Sunrise Worship Service each year, and two scholarships are awarded each year to qualified college bound high school seniors selected from the Gainesville City or Hall County School Systems. In addition to the annual activities listed above, IBMA stands willing and ready to assist community groups such as the Newtown Florist Club, the Gainesville-Hall County Black Historical Society, the Sunshine Seniors and others when called upon.
The current officers of The Interdenominational Black Ministers Association are Rev. Isaac Whitehead Jr., President; Rev. Charles Dickey, Vice President; Rev. Paula Randolph, Secretary; Rev. Gala Sheats, Treasurer; Rev. Rose Johnson-Mackey, Chaplain; Minister Marilyn Dixon, Chair of Scholarship Committee and Rev. Zora Hunt, Social Media and Publication Chair.