The annual Juneteenth Celebration was held Saturday, June 2, 2018, 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. at the historic Dean Park on Highway 15 South, Louisville, MS. The event was sponsored by the Winston County Voters League.
The League was organized in 1966 by Reverend Ollie Daily who was born December 31, 1900. Rev. Daily worked with many early civil rights workers during the 1960’s. He died in an automobile accident on July 30, 1973 while returning from one of many trips to Jackson trying to organize a NAACP Chapter in Winston County. Four years later on April 18, 1977 a charter was granted by the national office.
The League was incorporated in 1997 under the presidency of Claudell Weaver who served as president from 1984 until 1999. Under her leadership, the League continued to promote many educational meetings on voter registration on the 5th Sunday at various churches within the county. Other accomplishments of the League then were: • On-going project to improve Dean Park as a recreational resource for families, groups and sports teams • Partnered with others in a lawsuit to redistrict the county which resulted in two black majority districts • Sponsored the Annual Juneteenth Day Festival since 1984. This event celebrates the Emancipation Proclamation when slaves in Galveston, Texas heard of their freedom on June 19, 1865. • Sponsored the first Off- Broadway Play “Freedom Days” by Modern Times Theater to a sell-out crowd at Louisville High School • Sponsored and supported Girl Scouts Troop in Winston County, Co-Sponsored the first ever M.L. King JR motorcade and the Annual M.L. King JR Holiday Celebration with the Winston County NAACP.
The Winston County Voters League meets the fourth Monday of each month at 6:00 p.m. Membership dues are $20 yearly. Interested persons are welcome to attend meetings, join and participate in creating a healthy and vibrant Winston County. The League is available to provide information on topics that affect all citizens. Our main focus and mission is to register every eligible person and to educate the voters on the issues so they will participate in voting in every election. We encourage citizens to attend meetings of the Louisville School District, Board of Aldermen and Board of Supervisors. The League strongly believes citizens must be an informed body in order to access services that are available and to seek services that are needed. Lastly, remember the Annual Juneteenth Day Festival is held the 1st Saturday in June. Save the date as you schedule your events so that we can support each other.
For additional information about the League, call Carolyn Hampton, Interim President, at 779-2109, Janice Hopkins, Secretary at 773-7743, or Janice Edwards, Treasurer at 779-1073. Please, visit website at: wcvotersleague.org. Twitter WC_VotersLeague.
