By Fred Guarino
The Lowndes Signal

Lowndes County Public Schools recently recognized top award winners and retirees and heard words of inspiration from a 19-year-old keynote speaker who was called to be an evangelist at the age of 6.

Courtney Meadows, of Montgomery, the 19-year-old pastor of the First Missionary Baptist Church in White Hall, served as keynote speaker the Lowndes County Public Schools Annual Recognition Gala held at Central High last Thursday night.

Meadows accepted the call to be an evangelist at the age of 6. He is a junior marketing major at the University of Montevallo, where he also serves president of the Student Government Association and as a Resident Assistant.

He has traveled throughout the United States and Africa. He is the founder and president of an evangelistic ministry to reach the “least, last and lost.”

He is an affiliate of the Kingdom Destiny Fellowship International and appointed as a general observer of the International Youth and Young Adults Department.

Meadows said everyone has been given talents and opportunities, but asked, “What will you say when it is your moment to give a report? What legacy will you leave?”

He said, “A great legacy is not just made of one big opportunity… But legacy is made up of small steps of quality.”

He said he wants to leave a legacy of perseverance and a legacy of love. “Because you can go and do many things, touch many people. But if you didn’t do it out of love, it profits you nothing.”

Bernard Mitchell, director of federal programs for Lowndes County Public Schools, recognized retirees.

They include: Willie Mae Gray, a bus driver who retired after 28 years of service; Julia Hyde, a paraprofessional who retired from Hayneville Middle School after 37 years of service; Margaret Sprott, a cafeteria manager who retired from Central Elementary after 37 years of service; Elizabeth Thompson, a physical education teacher who retired from Jackson-Steele Elementary after 26 years of service; and Lula Peoples, a cafeteria manager who retired from Jackson-Steele Elementary after 26 years of service.

Award winners included: Student of the Year, Destiny Ellis an eighth grader at Hayneville Middle School; Parent of the Year Trista Smith, of Hayneville Middle School; Volunteer of the Year Pastor Bennie Stanford, of Lowndes County Middle School; Support Personnel of the Year Vanessa Logan, of Lowndes County Middle School; Teacher of the Year Breeon Fayson, of Jackson-Steele Elementary School; Principal of the Year Archie Curtis, of Lowndes County Middle School; and Administrator of the Year Yvette Patterson, executive assistant to the superintendent of education.

Other nominees for the awards included:

Students of the Quarter: Shaniece Seawright, a senior at Calhoun School; LaDarrian Lowery, a fifth grader at Fort Deposit Elementary; and Kwaishawn Albritton, a senior at Central High.

Parents of the Quarter: Annie Hayes, of Central Elementary; Alexander Murphy, of Hayneville Middle; and Rosa McCall, of Lowndes County Middle School.

Volunteers of the Quarter: Kenny Latimer, of Central High; Victoria Kelley, of Fort Deposit Elementary; and Antoinette Gary, of Jackson-Steele Elementary.

Support Personnel of the Quarter: Ebony Hunt, of Hayneville Middle; Jessie Lee, of Jackson-Steele Elementary; and Mosses More, of Jackson-Steele Elementary.

Teachers of the Quarter: Gwendolyn Cosby, of Central High; Sacouya Robertson, of Lowndes County Middle School; and Lisa Daniels, of Calhoun School.

Principals of the Quarter: Peggy Grant, of Central High; Keith Scissum, of Jackson-Steele Elementary; and Antonio Williams, of Hayneville Middle School.

Administrators of the Quarter: Jason Burroughs, assistant superintendent; Samita Jeter, director of Head Start; and Harvey Means, director of Student Services.

Committee members included Boyd, ex officio chair, Kimberly Washington Co-Chair, Jason Burroughs, Petty Grant, Natalie Johnson and Kizzy Rudolph.

Boyd members include Ben Davis, president; Steve Foster, vice president; Dr. Denise Davis-Maye, Robert James Grant and Annie Hunter.

Boyd said this celebration acknowledges “outstanding contributors” to our school system.

“We are extremely proud of the exemplary and dedicated employees who provide these services to and for the school system,” he said. “In addition we have outstanding students, parents and volunteers who diligently support our schools.”