FENCES Director set to award local heroes
In honor of Black History month, Lexington Live is excited to bring FENCES to the stage under the direction of Lexington native, James Littlejohn. This production has proudly become a family affair as his wife - Cassandra, son - Joshua, and daughter - Ilyana will be joining him onstage alongside Dameain Gathings, Corey Feaster, & Adrian Quarles to bring FENCES to life!
Littlejohn proposed we use FENCES an opportunity to honor individuals in our community who use their platforms to bridge gaps, promote progress, and achieve excellence in all they do. The Board of Lexington Live could not agree more & we celebrate this production in recognition of Pastor Arnetta Beverly, Rona Lockhart, Dr. Judy Richards, Tyrone Terry & Anthony Bowens.
Tyrone Terry
When you hear about stories of young black boys being shot by a white man because he allegedly bumped into him, you think of a movie - you don't think about Lexington. Tyrone Terry was shot by a white man when he was only 15 years old. Even after the traumatic event was over, Mr. Terry had to deal with the local police officers pointing their fingers at him like they were pointing a gun and shooting him.
Since then he has led efforts to stand up against injustice and wrong treatment of people of color. He is a mentor and a huge supporter of the young people who protested to have the Confederate statue to come down in the Uptown Lexington square. James chose to honor him for his bravery to stand up against wrong doing, even when it could have cost him his life
Rev. Dr. Arnetta Beverly
Her work to preserve the only black owned church in Lexington is worth noting! The same church that black slaves in Lexington attended. In 1987, she became the first African American to serve on the Lexington City Council. A descendent of former slaves herself, she grew up attending St. Stephen United Methodist Church & later became the first female pastor of the oldest African American church in Davidson County. James chose to honor her for working tirelessly to keep this rich church as a pillar in the community.
Rona Lockhart
James chose to honor Rona Lockhart because when he was a kid, there were not many people who looked like him that were educators. To see how she made a difference in so many people lives left a lasting impact. When she was Principal, she really showed how she cared for everyone. She pours into other people - especially her students - and makes them feel like they could reach the stars! Locally she has been a teacher, assistant principal, principal, Girl Scout leader, playground supervisor, pool manager, and much more.
Rev. Dr. Judy Richards
James selected Judy because she is an educator who accomplished a lot in her life and has poured it all back into her community & students - always adding her creativity to the mix. Her love for the arts is unmatched, which makes her a wonderful candidate to be honored by Lexington Live!
“She is just what we need to increase community engagement, improve staff morale, and to continue improving academic outcomes for students in Pre-K, Kindergarten and our developmental center.” - Dr. Anitra Wells, Superintendent of Lexington City Schools
Anthony Bowens
A new generation leader, he's a lot younger than the other 4 honorees - but his passion for the black community and kids of all races is unmatched. Known as "Black Jessie," he is not a stranger to the spotlight. Bowens was a standout Quarterback at Lexington Senior High School. He went on to become one of the top QBs in the state during his senior year of high school.
Since then, Jessie has opened his own barbershop and has been serving the community of Lexington for 22 years. Helping to build support around community kids, he has given free haircuts to children of single parents, as well as offering free back-to-school haircuts. He started the Lexington Gators AAU, which consists of several teams within the organization based on age groups. Bowens won two state championships in the last 4 years with the Gators. He uses his own money to help make things work for a lot of kids and families & doesn't ask for anything in return. James is honored to be able to recognize him for all his work.
