Anson Native To Host Literary Festival

Anson County native, Sherrie Knotts will be the host and featured artist of the 2012 HOLLA!/Hampton B. Allen Library Literary Festival.

The festival which is scheduled for Saturday, February 4, 2012, will help promote literacy in Anson and surrounding counties by exposing its residents to some top authors of fiction, nonfiction and spoken word. Hundreds of people have attended the festival over the past few years and this year the expectations are even higher!

Knotts has authored two books, It's His Loss When The Relationship Ends and Verbal Portraits of SHE.  She has written over 60 poetry/spoken word pieces, three stage plays, seven screen plays and has emmceed an array of events.  "I am a lover of life who enjoys seeing it played out on stage and the big screen," she says.

The festival is scheduled for Saturday, February 4 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Hampton B. Allen Library. All authors in attendance will be allowed to display and sell their books at booths provided by the sponsors.

At 12:00 noon, authors will be allowed to introduce themselves to the audience and share their biographies with the audience.  Throughout the morning and afternoon, various forms of entertainment will be provided (e.g. poems, creative dance, mimes, singing, etc.).

HOLLA! is a 501c3 non-profit community development corporation, whose primary mission is to motivate the members of the Anson County community to become more involved in the educational process of its children.

The objective of this event is to expose the community to the vast possibilities that come with the mastery of literary skills.  Not only will this event encourage literacy but it will also provide attendees with the reward of sharing experiences

Authors and others interested in participating are encouraged to send your name and the title of your work(s) via email to  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

For more information, call 704-851-3144.

HOLLA! Center Praise Event Attracts Hundreds

Hundreds of people from across the region poured into the Morven Church of God of Prophecy on March 20 for the HOLLA! Event of Praise.

"We are here to thank God for the vision and the provisions provided  to put the HOLLA! Center in Morven," said emcee Travis Barrino.  Barrino, a Morven, NC native is presently employed with the U.S. military living in Virginia.

After an official welcome from the church by Pastor Iris Tillman and the Town of Morven by Mayor Carolyn Solomon, the praises flowed freely throughout the duration of the event.

The Morven Church of God of Prophecy's Youth Praise Dance Team set the tone with an exciting selection of praise dances followed by a soul stirring performance by the Greater Mount Sinai Missionary Baptist Church praise choir from Charlotte, NC.

Guests gather in the HOLLA! Center's ballroom during open house on Sunday, March 20.

Subrina Hough, Administrative Officer of HOLLA!, brought greetings on behalf of the organization.  "The babies are what this is all about," she said.  She stated that the children of Anson County deserve to have a fair shot at growing up.  "Some great things come out of Anson County," she added referring to Anson High School Football standouts Stephone Anthony and Brandon Ellerbe who were in the audience.  Both Anthony and Ellerbe were some of the most heavily recruited football players in the country.

Anson High School athletic standouts (left to right) Brandon Ellerbe, Stephone Anthony and Johnathan Hough enjoy refreshments in the HOLLA! Literary Cafe' during the open house.

A special presentation to HOLLA! was made by Former Morven Mayor Theodore Carr during the event.  "I am donating one and a half acres of property to HOLLA! for parking he said.  My wife and I believe in what they're doing and will continue to support them financially and in any other ways we can," he stated.

Dr. George Cook, pastor of Greater Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church in Charlotte, NC charged the congregation to support the organization financially.  "I have sat here and heard a lot of nice things said about this organization," he said, "but you can show how sincere you are by giving freely toward the cause," he added.

Dr. George Cook, pastor of Greater Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church in Charlotte charged the congregation to support the mission of HOLLA! financially.

HOLLA!/Hampton B. Allen Library Literary Festival  - A Celebration Of Life

Congressman Larry Kissell Makes Surprise Visit

Phoebe Medlin's contributions to literacy in Anson County were celebrated through the HOLLA!/Hampton B. Allen Library's Fifth Anniversary Literary Festival Saturday.

There was singing by the Anson High School Gospel Choir and budding artist, Crystal Jones, and praise dancing by The Believer's Praise Dance Team, accented by poems and testimonials in a room filled with sincere appreciation for Phoebe Medlin's contributions to literacy throughout the region.

Leon Gatewood gave remarks on behalf of HOLLA!, acknowledging Medlin's role in the success of the festival.  Carol Walters, director of the Sandhills Regional Library System, gave remarks on behalf of the Hampton B. Allen Library.  "Phoebe will really be missed," she said. 

"Phoebe loved this library," said her sister, Linda Humble. "As a retired school principal, I can honestly say that what you (HOLLA!) are doing in this community makes a difference," she added.

Following remarks by Humble, Subrina Hough of HOLLA! presented a gift of commemorative T-shirts to the family in memory of Phoebe Medlin.

The Anson High School Gospel Choir performs 'Anthem of Praise,' during Saturday's festival.

Fifteen authors made an appearance at this year's event with many of them recognizing Medlin's influence on their own lives.  "Phoebe gave me a big hug and made me feel welcomed when I came here," said author Suzetta B. Perkins.  She also noted that Medlin invited her back to Anson County on occasion to present her book to the Brown Bag Club's monthly book feature.

Adding to the warmth of the occasion, Lena, The Art Diva, a caricature artist from Charlotte, offered free drawings to the children present in honor of Medlin.

A break was taken in the celebration to yield to an unexpected appearance by Congressman Larry Kissell.  "I read about this festival in the paper and immediately asked my schedulers to put it on my itinerary," he said. He urged the community to continue supporting literacy, stating that being able to read can take you anywhere you wish to go.

Amesia Huntley, coordinator of the event, closed by thanking the authors for attending and the local planners for their support in another successful and effective festival.

UNC Charlotte And Friends of Old Westview Collaborate To Save Old Westview Cemetery

The Friends of Old Westview Cemetery, Inc.  announced that it will collaborate with the Africana Studies Department at the University of North Carolina, Charlotte to develop a long-range plan towards the restoration of the Old Westview Cemetery in Wadesboro, NC.

Old Westview Cemetery, which was founded in the mid-19th century, has served as the primary burial ground for Wadesboro’s African American community.  Many of the educators, preachers, craftspeople and entrepreneurs who contributed to Wadesboro’s post-emancipation African American community lie in Old Westview.

_{Photo taken in Wadesboro, NC at the Friends of Old Westview Cemetery, Inc. Board of Directors meeting on June 4, 2010.
Left to right Mrs. Diana P. Carlton; Mrs. Rose Sturdivant Young (President & Founder); Rev James Smith, Jr; Dr. Akinwumi Ogundiran; Mr. Lawrence Gatewood; Mrs Gustine Rogers and Ms India Solomon}

 

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