Texana – While there were nationwide calls for political protests on June 14, local residents rejoiced with a day of freedom and unity with the second annual Juneteenth celebration at the community center.
Juneteenth National Independence Day is also historically known as Black Independence Day, Emancipation Day in Texas, Freedom Day and Jubilee Day, which was officially signed into federal law as a national holiday in 2021. The celebration is rooted in the final enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation in Texas on June 19, 1865, when Major Gen. Gordon Granger made it formally known to slaves in bondage that their freedom was guaranteed by the document.
The event included a classic car show, with winners in the categories of Best Hot Rod, Best Modified, Best Original Conversion and People’s Choice, which once again went to Harry Pickens’ “Black Widow,” according to coordinator John Worden. Several food trucks and local arts vendors were on hand during the 12-hour festival.
The community development club handed out complimentary swag bags with Juneteenth memorabilia as well as cooling cloths, which were needed during the day’s sweltering hours. Pop’s Mountaintop Ice Cream helped by handing out free cold treats to beat the heat.
Headed by community volunteers as well as Veleda Jackson and Mark Pickens, the event again featured welcoming remarks by Murphy Mayor Tim Radford as well as remarks from Murphy Police Chief Tim Lominac. The opening prayer was given by the Rev. John Paul Webb, and Michelle Lloyd performed a praise dance along with Mary Wilson.
Speakers included Te’Lor Allen of T’Sav Magical Spa with a short film presentation, before Farrah Eller’s song and the introduction of storyteller Madge Earls.
Keynote speakers included local artist and author Ann Miller Woodford along with Ambassador Theodore Britton, former ambassador to both Barbados and Grenada during President Gerald Ford’s administration.
Live music included acts Lyric Jones of Asheville, Milele Roots of Chattanooga, Tenn., and newcomer Andru Jamison, also of Chattanooga. Jamison’s story of playing the event was “God made,” according to both him and Mark Pickens.
“I was in this hotel after CMAFest in Nashville, and this lady saw my guitar case and asked if I played. I said yes and she said hold on, my cousin needs someone for this weekend,” Jamison said.
“So, she described the event, and how several acts had cancelled on her cousin Mark and so we came to Murphy with a ‘Whatever you want God’ moment.”
Pickens added, “I knew when I spoke to Andru that God had put my cousin Arlise [Emerson] there to meet him, and to bring him here to play and celebrate with us.”
Jamison, a former U.S. Army medic, had just played the popular Nashville, Tenn., event. That came on the heels of winning last year’s Josie Award for Best Song for his original tune “Empty Bottle,” which chronicles his journey to sobriety.
Jamison’s accompanying band also had a couple of surprises, as their bass player had just left the band. They were able to find a last-minute replacement in Roberto Garcia, who they met the night before the event.
“We just met him last night and he just slid right in, playing everything we needed him to. Another God-meant moment for us all. He put us together to be able to play today,” Jamison said.
The other surprise guitarist was 15-year-old Shawn Hardman, son of One Dozen Who Care’s Sarah Hardman, who stepped up on stage to shred with the rest of Jamison’s crew. That included guitarist Chevy Hyde and drummer Charlie Ross, as the quintet broke into several classic rock and blues tunes including selections by Lynyrd Skynyrd and Stevie Ray Vaughan as well as a debut of their new single, a blistering rendition of Prince’s “Purple Rain,” which became a harbinger of things to come.
A mid-afternoon thunderstorm blew through and upended several vendor tents, along with the main guest tent, prompting Jamison and his band to rush off the stage in the downpour to help those caught by the surprise wind gusts. No one was injured, and Jamison and band took back the stage once the storm blew past.
Jackson and Pickens expressed gratitude to the community, Cherokee County and surrounding areas for their support.