2019 HALL of FAME

Mr. Willie O. Benton, Jr.

Civic: Activist and Political Campaigns

Mrs. Mary Grace Flanagan

Education: School Crossing Guard from 1969 for 20+ years

Mr. Robert Flanigan

Education: School Bus Driver and Bus Maintenance 40+ years

Mrs. Genoulia Lee

Civic, Education, Business: P.T.A. President J.P. Carr; owner/operator Genoulia's Beauty Shop for many years

Mr. Augustus Lett

Civic, Business: Ran for City Council 1976; served on many County and City Boards; The Augustus Lett, Sr.Community Center named in his honor; first African American electrician in Conyers

Mr. Grover Simmons

Civic, Education: Co-founder Rockdale Eagle Athletic Club 1958-1968; first African American to run for City Council 1965; founder and President of Conyers Voters League; Director of Atlanta University Center Data Processing Center 1965-1999

Mrs. Dora Zachery

Civic: Church Women United of Rockdale County past President, African American and Caucasians ladies joined together with a mission to improve the community; worked with EOA for many years

Ms. Teri Belcher accepting for Dr. Jacquelyn Belcher

Lifetime Achievement and

Hall of Fame

Education, Civic: Retired President, DeKalb College 1995-2005; national leader in higher education

Professor E. R. Shipp

Lifetime Achievement and

Hall of Fame

Education, Civic: First African American female to be awarded the prestigious 1996 Pulitzer Prize for commentary for her "penetrating columns on race, race, welfare, and other social issues; college professor; journalist; co-founder of Black Heritage of Rockdale

Councilman Cleveland Stroud

Lifetime Achievement and Hall of Fame

Education, Civic, Business:

Rockdale County School bus driver, co-founder of the Rockdale Eagle Athletic Club 1958-1968; Rockdale High School basketball coach; City Councilman since 1994; first African American elected official in Conyers