LOVE IN ACTION
COMMITTEE FOR KING AWARDS BANQUET
PROGRAM BEGINS AT 6:30 PM
Art Showcase.................................................................................................................. Tupelo High School Art Students
Opening Remarks and Introduction of Mistress of Ceremony…...........................Shawn Brevard
Chair, Committee for King
Mistress of Ceremony................................................................................................................................................................ KC Grist
Director North Mississippi Chapter of Red Cross
Invocation ...................................................................................................................................... Leticia Gassaway (Spanish)
Rev. Lesley Mabry
National Black Anthem ............................................................... Lawndale Elementary Community Choir
Song………………………………………………………............................................… Lawndale Elementary Community Choir
Greetings from the City of Tupelo……………….……………....................……….. Councilwoman Nettie Davis
Occasion………………………………………………………………….………............................................................................…. Michael Stamps
Dinner
Video Presentation of Sponsors and Advertisements
Musical Entertainment………………………………………….........................................………….. Richard Teon Satterwhite
Introduction of Guest Speaker…………………………………………….……………................................................ Carmen Gary
Guest Speaker.................................................................................................................................................. Dr. Alexandria White
Introduction of Community Award Recipient ......................................................................... Shawn Brevard
Community Award ......................................................................................................................................................... Beds for Kids
Introduction of Image Award Recipient ...................................................................................................... Willie Willis
Image Award ............................................................................................................................................................... Tammie Nichols
Introduction of Drum Major Award Recipient ................................................................................... Nettie Davis
Drum Major Award ............................................................................................................................................................... Robert Hall
Remarks/Acknowledgments............................................................................................................................. Carmen Gary
Closing Prayer....................................................................................................................................................................... Cliff Cambell
KC GRIST
MISTRESS OF CEREMONY
KC Caldwell Grist is a native of Tupelo, Mississippi, and a graduate of Tupelo High School. Her family has been here for more than four generations, and she is proud to have been able to raise her family in our vibrant community as well.
For more than twenty years, KC has worked in the public, private and nonprofit sectors in Mississippi and the Southeastern United States. From political campaigns, to nonprofit organizations and corporate entities, KC has helped organizations to set and reach their goals and fulfill their missions. In January of 2020, KC became the Executive Director for the North Mississippi Chapter of the American Red Cross.
KC has been active in a variety of organizations including CDF, the Jim Ingram Leadership Class, Kiwanis Club of Tupelo, Business Networking International (BNI) of Tupelo, Mayor’s Outreach Committee, and Tupelo High School Football Booster Club. She and her husband, Joey, have two children – JT (20) and Jimmie (17). They are active members of Lee Acres Church of Christ.
DR. ALEXANDRIA WHITE
GUEST SPEAKER
CONSULTANT. ENTREPRENEUR. EDUCATOR.
Dr. Alexandria White is the Senior Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at ReBoot Accel. She has 16 years of experience delivering training around diversity, leadership, and inclusive communities. Dr. White consults with organizations on ways to create more diverse and inclusive workplaces. She founded S.A.M.S. (Student Affairs MomS), the largest online community for mothers who work in the student affairs profession. Dr. White's professional career has involved retail banking, leadership, community activism, diversity planning, and higher education. She holds a BA from Indiana University, an MA from Ball State University, and an EdD from the University of Mississippi. Dr. White is adjunct faculty in the School of Education at the University of Mississippi.
In addition, Dr. White has been featured on numerous podcasts such as Working Capital Review, Diversity Like Me, The Inner Circle, and The Confidence Factor, to discuss various topics. Her love for podcasting has evolved to her co-hosting a podcast, called Call In, where she provides advice to business leaders on how to navigate cancel culture. She has also been featured on Power To Fly, MixR, and the Global Mentor Network.
Dr. White has one daughter and enjoys extreme activities such as skydiving, parasailing, and ziplining. She is originally from Chicago, Illinois but currently resides in Oxford, MS.
MICHAEL STAMPS
OCCASION
Michael Stamps serves as pastor of Tabernacle of Faith Church in Verona, MS since January. For the last six years, Michael served full-time at King City Church in Tupelo where he oversaw all music, multimedia, audio/lighting, social media, and outreach ministries. He is a graduate of Northeast Mississippi Community College where he played basketball and kept stats for the Tigers and Lady Tigers. After college, he worked for NMMC and Circuit City. Though Michael is a multimedia guru, his heart is pastoral care and outreach. He loves to play music and study Scripture with people. If Michael isn't serving others, you can find him spending with his bride of 13 years, Jamara, and his two children, Micah and Mikaya or on the lake fishing. Michael Stamps simply loves God and loves His people.
COMMUNITY AWARD
BEDS FOR KIDS
For many children in North Mississippi, “bed” is a blanket on the floor or a pile of laundry. This situation is not conducive to a healthy night’s sleep. Since July 2019, the Beds for Kids ministry at Tupelo First United Methodist has delivered over 1900 beds to needy children throughout our region and as far as the Mississippi Delta. In partnership with St. James Catholic Church, Mt. Olive Baptist Church, the Family Resource Center, Child Protective Services, Department of Human Services, Hankins Lumber Company, and other entities, dozens of volunteers meet twice a week in a warehouse near Tupelo High School to build sturdy twin-size wooden bedframes that can be easily assembled in the homes on delivery weekends. Other volunteers collect low-cost bedding, pillows, mattresses, Bibles, and stuffed animals to accompany the beds.
Retired doctors John Bryson, Jack Foster, Richard Warriner, and Mike Boland came up with and spearhead the local Beds for Kids Chapter. When they began the project, they naively assumed they would cover the area needs with about 200 beds. As time went on and the scope of the need became clear, they expanded the project by acquiring more construction space, increased donations of materials, and involvement of many more volunteers.
Mrs. Dana Foster oversees the acquisition of bed linens and other accessories. She stated: “I have personally experienced mothers breaking down with tears of gratitude (upon their child receiving a bed). And one small child told me this was the best day of her life.”
Reverend Tim Murphy, Pastor at St. James Catholic Church had this to say about his experience with Beds for Kids: “Every time when the bed is assembled, any little children who are present, immediately, and without any adult prompting, spontaneously jump into their new bed, and gleefully pull the comforter up over their heads. It is almost as if they cannot believe that they have a bed of their own. Words cannot convey the joy and security that a new bed has brought to each child.
The need for these beds is almost beyond description, and comprehension. It is evident that BFK has embraced the words of Jesus in Mark 10:14: “Let the children come to me and do not prevent them.” As BFK has shown, the words of Jesus are also a challenge, and a call to respond.”
IMAGE AWARD
TAMMIE NICHOLS
Tammie Terrill Nichols is truly an overcomer and an inspiration to many. Tammie is a 1994 graduate of B.L. Moor High School, Itawamba Community College (1996) and a 1998 Graduate of Mississippi University for Women. She is proud mother of the late Terrance (22) and Tyler (21) who both succumbed to Spinal Muscular Atrophy the #1 genetic killer for children under the age of 2. She is empowering lives around the world through her dynamic personality as a Certified Life Coach, Empowerment Speaker, Innovative Television Host, Published Author, Certified Teacher and an Ordained Minister under the leadership of Supt. Joseph Hawkins of Peter’s Rock Family Worship Center in Starkville, MS.
After the death of her sons to Spinal Muscular Atrophy, Tammie created Tammie T. Tubbs LLC -The Tammie Tubbs Show to inspire others to keep the faith while raising awareness for SMA. She went on to write and publish her first of 7 books in memory of her sons entitled, I Still Have Joy (Published 2006). She continued galvanizing the community receiving a Proclamation from the State of Mississippi signed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives Phillip Gunn and Representative Tyrone Ellis in August 2014 recognizing August as National Spinal Muscular Atrophy Awareness Month in Mississippi. Locally, Tammie continued her efforts having a proclamation signed by the then Mayor, Parker Wiseman declaring August as SMA Awareness Month in the city of Starkville.
In 2011, Tammie relocated home to Mississippi to start her very own talk show. 11 years later she is the 1st Afro American Female in the state of Mississippi to serve as the executive producer and television host of her very own television show that currently airs locally, nationally and internationally. You can view Tammie Nichols TV formerly The Tammie Tubbs Show every Sunday morning at 5:30 am on WCBI CW Network, Christian Television Network (WEPH TV49) on Dish Network Channel 49, Comcast Channel 4, Cable one channel 11, and Maxx South Broadband Channel 20 every Thursday morning 11:00am and On Pointe Network on Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, AT&T TV Mondays at 7pm.
Tammie Nichols was instrumental in launching the first Parent Cafe Model in the state of Mississippi through Starkville Oktibbeha School District serving as the first Program Manager for Families Strengthening Families. Because of Tammie’s groundwork, Mississippi became the 13th state in the nation to use Parent Cafe Model to assist families with developing and improving parental skills.
Her tireless efforts and heart has been seen and awarded by the masses, in 2015 MSU
President’s Commission on the Status of Women “Outstanding Community Woman of the Year”, in 2016 Heart of the South Girls Scout “Woman of Distinction” Award, in 2018 Most Influential African American in Mississippi, 2019 Outstanding New Teacher Starkville Oktibbeha School District and February 2021 being selected as Honorable Ambassador by the Business Empowered Mississippi Chamber of Commerce. Currently she serves as the Alcohol and Other Drugs Coordinator at Mississippi State University (Health Promotion and Wellness). Known in the community, Tammie has no limits nor boundaries when inspiring the
community to transform others from Good, Better to Best. She is an active member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated (26 years). Tammie is fulfilling her purpose as God has favored her to travel the U.S., Italy, Switzerland, Jamaica, Bermuda, Hawaii, and Alaska just to name a few sharing her life journey of Life after Death.
In 2021 she published her 1st children’s book, “You are Not What They Say You Are” educating youth on bullying while building self esteem for grades K-6 grade .In addition to being an educator, she is also the owner of Majestic Designs Snap Jewelry, an online jewelry boutique.
Recently married and newlywed, she is married to her best friend former Chief of Police, Mr. Reynolds Frank Nichols. They reside in Starkville, MS and have 3 children Reynolds (25), Trinity (20) and Jaxsen (15).
DRUM MAJOR AWARD
ROBERT HALL
Robert Earl Hall is a native of Saltillo, Mississippi and a 1984 graduate of Saltillo High School. He received his Associate Degree in Criminal Justice from Northeast Mississippi Community College and is a graduate of both the Mississippi Law Enforcement Officers Training Academy and the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia, a program in the University of Virginia’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies. Mr. Hall worked his way up the ranks with the Tupelo Police Department from 1987-2007, and from 2010-2011, culminating in service as Deputy Chief of Police. He has also worked for the Community Development Foundation as Director of Community Development and with Toyota Motor Manufacturing as Director of Corporate Security and Fire. He is currently a Financial Advisor with Mass Mutual/Capital Financial Group.
Mr. Hall has spent many years in service to others both professionally and through active volunteerism. He has served on the Boards of the Salvation Army, SAFE, Inc., Boys and Girls Club of America and the Tupelo Neighborhood Partnership. He is a program developer on Project ELECT (CDF) “Enthusiastic Leaders Engaging Changing Times”. The program focuses on recruiting community members to help address such issues as school drop-outs, crime, teen pregnancy, among others. He has been instrumental in introducing Community Oriented Policing to the citizens of Tupelo and the Tupelo Police Department. He assisted in the development and implementation of the successful “Weed and Seed” program in the Haven Acres neighborhood, and helped initiate the Tupelo Police Athletic League.
Robert Hall is a Certified Ethics Instructor, a graduate of CDF’s Community Leadership Institute, the Midwest Community Development Institute, and a Licensed Financial Representative FIC, Series 6 & 63. He is a recipient of the Northeast Mississippi Trailblazer Award and a Master Mason-Goodman Lodge #2028. Robert and his wife of thirty-four years, Melissa Monroe Hall, are the proud parents of three children: Robert Terrell, Brandon, and Marissa. They attend Mud Creek MB Church where Robert serves as a Trustee, Sunday School teacher and Minister of Music.