THE DREAM, IT STARTS WITH ME.
COMMITTEE FOR KING AWARDS BANQUET
PROGRAM BEGINS AT 6:30 PM
MASTER OF CEREMONIES
Ashley Armstrong
Ashley Armstrong is a native of Tupelo, Mississippi. She is the eldest child of John Armstrong Sr. and Jacqueline Agnew. She is the devoted mother of Raven, Christopher and Kennedy Armstrong; and three grandchildren, Aubrielle, Karter, and Karlie.
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For the past 27 years, Ashley has devoted her professional career to healthcare. She currently works for Devoted Health as a Provider Network Manager. In addition to her role in corporate healthcare, she serves as the Administrator for the Minority PUL Alliance. In this role, she dedicates her time and passion to minority small businesses by advocating throughout Mississippi and bridging the gap in relationships with corporations by accelerating the growth and capacity of minority businesses. She also enhances and promotes economic opportunities in the form of jobs, entrepreneurship, and financial resources.
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Ashley has been afforded the opportunity to serve on several boards throughout Mississippi over the years including the Committee for King, Project ELECT, Black Business Alliance, and others.
Community service holds a special place in Ashley’s heart as it is an avenue to give back, create meaningful connections, and make a tangible difference. She loves the ability to contribute positively to the lives of others and the betterment of the community, which fuels her passion for service. To Ashley, it is more than lending a hand; it is about building a stronger, more supportive, and empathetic community where everyone thrives together.
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In life, Ashley is most appreciative to be a mother and grandmother. She enjoys the visibility to see life as a challenge and to share those experiences with everyone she encounters with compassion and love.
MLK50
MLK50 is a nonprofit news organization dedicated to reporting on the intersection of poverty, power, and policy while bearing witness to social movements and lived experiences. Inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s vision, MLK50 envisions a nation where all individuals, especially workers, have the resources needed to thrive, supported by equitable public and private policies. Through in-depth journalism and storytelling, MLK50 seeks to illuminate systemic challenges and amplify the voices of those striving for justice and equity.
Charity Scott (left), managing editor and award-winning reporter
Andrea Morales, visuals editor and photographer, whose work focuses on social movements, community and everyday magic in the American South.
Brittany Brown, MLK50 public safety and justice reporter, multimedia journalist and Mississippi native
IMAGE AWARD
Betty Beene
For the 2025 Image Award recipient, Committee for King recognizes one of our own: Mrs. Betty Beene. A native of Tupelo, 1973 graduate of Tupelo High School, who furthered her education at ICC and Blue Mountain College with specializations in Psychology, Theology, and Education, Betty has touched the lives of thousands of children and adults in Tupelo, Lee County, the State of Mississippi and across the world.
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Betty served as a Pre-K teacher for twenty-six years with Lift Incorporated/Head Start program. She served for sixteen years as Vice-President of the Church of the Living God Music Department, and currently serves as Choir Director of Temple of Compassion and Deliverance, Outstretched Hands International Ministries of Christ, Inc., where she maintains a dedicated church membership.
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As a thirty-six-year member of the nationally and internationally recognized Mississippi Mass Choir, Betty has recorded music that has received awards from the Grammy organization, along with Dove Awards, Stellar Awards, Soul Train Music Awards, Billboard Magazine Awards, and more. Her gospel group “The Beene Sisters” has also won numerous awards, and Betty has been honored by her church with the “What About the Children” Award, Distinguished Service Award, the Her Trailblazer Award, The Mother of Many Award, and the Tupelo Unity Choir Award.
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Betty is a woman of deep faith who uses her music ministry to further the Kingdom of God on this earth. She has served on the Committee for King Board for over twenty-five years, establishing the Tupelo MLK drill teams and directing the Tupelo Unity Choir. Betty’s life and work reflect Committee for King’s mission “to seek love, compassion, respect, and racial harmony for all people”.
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Betty and her husband James C. Beene have been married fifty-two years, and are the parents of four daughters, eighteen grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.
COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD
Ms. Katina Davis
2025 MLK Community Service Award Recipient Ms. Katina Davis
The Committee for King recognizes Ms. Katina Davis for her selfless acts of community service. Ms. Davis is a graduate of Itawamba Community College and MS University for Women. After receiving a bachelor’s degree in business administration, she continued her studies at Liberty University, where she received a master’s degree in management and leadership. Since college, Katina has been utilizing her talents and gifts to uplift and empower others.
Katina contributes her time, talents, and financial support to various causes and organizations. Volunteering in soup kitchens, assisting at the Salvation Army, helping the homeless, and mentoring youth are just a few of her many contributions. Her commitment to growth is evident through affiliations with groups like Community Development Foundation, Minority PUL Alliance, Tupelo Kiwanis Club, Vitalant Tupelo Community Leadership Council, and Partnership for a Healthy Mississippi.
Along with her many contributions, Katina is the founder and Visionary of Wear It Well Inc., a 501©3 nonprofit organization located in Tupelo, MS. The mission of the organization is to enhance the lives of individuals, families, adults, and youth who have been impacted by cancer, or a life crisis event. Wear It Well provides services to help enhance their lives by renewing their mind, body, and spirit. The organization has five major initiatives, Extreme Makeover, Love the Skin You’re In, Health Is Wealth, Ready, Set, GOALS and The Bridge Enrichment Academy after school and summer program. Katina is deeply committed to nurturing and mentoring the children in the Bridge Enrichment Academy after-school program, creating a safe and supportive environment where students are encouraged to dream big and achieve their goals. She works closely with each child, fostering confidence and academic success while teaching valuable life skills. Katina’s heart for service shines through her leadership at Wear It Well, where she ensures that no person is turned away regardless of their circumstances, providing hope and resources to those in need.
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For two consecutive years, Katina led the Marine Toys for Tots campaign with unwavering passion and commitment, ensuring that hundreds of children experienced the joy of Christmas. She dedicated countless hours to organizing toy drives, building partnerships, and personally distributing toys to families in need. Under her leadership, the initiative grew, reaching even more underserved communities and bringing smiles to the faces of children who otherwise might have gone without. Katina not only worked behind the scenes but also actively engaged with families, listening to their stories and offering words of encouragement and hope. Her compassionate approach turned the Toys for Tots campaign into more than just a charitable event—it became a celebration of love, generosity, and community.
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Katina has spearheaded these initiatives, showcasing her ability to successfully collaborate, build networks and create community partnerships.
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Through her hard work and unwavering dedication, Katina continues to have a positive impact on the livelihood of adults and children throughout our community.
DRUM MAJOR AWARD
Dr. Vernon Rayford
Dr. Vernon Rayford is dedicated to improving community health outcomes by promoting health equity and ensuring that every individual’s humanity is honored through accessible, quality care. Dr. Rayford is a faculty member at North MS Medical Center’s Internal Medicine Residency and serves as the medical director for Good Samaritan Health Services/Tannehill Free Clinic. He is an active member at Mt Pleasant MB Church and is involved in numerous community initiatives, such as St. Jude’s Sickle Cell Disease Research, board membership on CATCH Kids, Inc., and the Northeast Mississippi Coalition Against COVID-19, which he co-founded in 2021. Dr. Rayford is also a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. and Project ELECT.
