Simms honored during 42nd Relations Banquet
By Ethan Smith
Published in News on February 22, 2016 1:46 PM
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Channcey Simms, left, accepts a plaque from the mayor of Fremont, Darron Flowers, recognizing Simms as the first student of color to attend Fremont Elementary during the Human Relations Award Winners Banquet at Herman Park Center Saturday. This year marks the 50th anniversary of Simms attending the school.
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Chair of the Mayor's Youth Council Sidney Cox, standing, announces honorees seated at the head table during the 42nd Annual Human Relations Awards Banquet Saturday night at the Herman Park Center.
Sitting in the middle of the room at the Herman Park Center Saturday night, Channcey Simms was preparing to receive an honor that was long overdue.
In September 1966, 50 years ago, Simms became the first black student to enroll at Fremont Elementary School.
At Saturday night's event -- the 42nd annual Human Relations Awards Banquet -- Simms was recognized for the discrimination he endured when entering Fremont Elementary School for the first time.
"It's exhilarating," Simms said of receiving the award. "It's something that I've always thought about, but now that I've got it, it's brought up some bad memories."
Simms' father, Delay, was the first black police officer in Fremont. His own endeavors, coupled with his father's, caused the family to endure many hardships throughout the 1960s and 1970s.
"People shot up our house, I had people try to run me over while I was walking on the sidewalk, I had teachers that discouraged me -- just everything you could think of," Simms said.
But the discrimination against Simms didn't come solely from other races, he said.
"I had trouble on both sides of the track," Simms said. "Whites didn't like me because I was black, and there were blacks who didn't like me because they thought I felt like I was better than them."
Simms was presented the award recognizing him for being the first student of color at Fremont Elementary School by Fremont Mayor Darron Flowers. During this time period, Flowers served as superintendent of the school system and principal of Fremont Elementary School when Simms became the first local student to integrate Fremont's schools.
From Fremont Elementary School, Simms followed his class to Norwayne Middle School and to Charles B. Aycock High School, where he would then graduate after an era of breaking through racial barriers.
There were many others who were also recognized Saturday night for the strides they have made in local human relations efforts.
Wayne County Commissioner Ed Cromartie, who gave the welcome address on Saturday night, said there are several items a person should keep in their "human relations survival kit."
"There are a few things you may want to include in your human relations survival kit," Cromartie said. "A button to remind you to button your lip, and to keep your hurtful sayings to yourself; a toothpick to remind you to pick the best qualities of everyone regardless of race, gender, age and so on; a golden thread to remind you that friendship and kindness is the golden thread that ties together the hearts of everyone; a marker to remind you to make your mark as a leader, to have fun and to always try to make people feel special."
In accordance with these principles, the following people were recognized for their various accomplishments.
In the category of the human relations posters competition, grades K-2:
* First place, Emilia Preveziotis, Northwest Elementary School.
* Second place, Jeremiah Thompson, Carver Heights Elementary School.
* Third place, Doris Cawich, Carver Heights Elementary School.
In the category of the human relations posters competition, grades 3-4:
* First place, Natalie Davis, Northeast Elementary School.
* Second place, Nevaeh Herring, Spring Creek Elementary School.
* Third place, Zedikai Wilson, Spring Creek Elementary School.
In the category of the human relations posters competition, grades 5-6:
* First place, Caleb McDaniel, Grantham Middle School.
* Second place, Sarah Parks, Eastern Wayne Elementary School.
* Third place, Skylar Ratliff, Northeast Elementary School.
In the category of the human relations essay competition, grades 7-9:
* First place, Bailey Woods, Norwayne Middle School.
* Second place, Christian Jacob Lee Moore, Grantham Middle School.
* Third place, Abbey Marie Parker, Grantham Middle School.
In the category of the human relations essay competition, grades 10-12:
* First place, Angelique Pope, Wayne Middle/High Academy.
Saturday night's individual award was given to Brooke Mackenzie Hinson.
The 11-year-old Hinson is the director and owner of Make a Difference Food Pantry, a registered 501C-3 nonprofit organization that she started herself.
She purchases food, develops fundraisers to buy food, pays rent and utilities, formulates a budget for the nonprofit, started a backpack buddy program and sponsors 61 children at Brogden Primary and Brogden Middle schools.
She also distributes food around the community the second and fourth Thursday of every month.
Saturday night's Civic Organization award went to the Airman Leadership Team at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base for the organization's volunteerism in the community.
Each member has given more than 75 hours of volunteer time to various organizations, including the Wayne County Soup Kitchen, the Wayne County Purple Heart Foundation, the American Legion and the Wayne County Veterans and Patriots Coalition.
Saturday night's business and industry award was presented to the Wayne County Animal Adoption and Education Center.
The organization was recognized Saturday night for finding homes for rescue animals, providing spay and neuter services, and for putting at least 75 foster animals in permanent homes.
Throughout the organization's existence, more than 500 adoption center animals have received assistance.