THE MONTHLY GLEANER | MARCH 3 - APRIL 2, 2022 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | NEWS 5 ATLANTA, GA: T HE CHILDREN of Jamaican parents who moved to the United States and settled in the State of Georgia were recognised by the Elaine Bryan Foundation (EBF), as part of Black History Month celebrations on February 12. Hosted on the Zoom platform and streamed live on Facebook, the event was conceived and implemented by real estate broker, Dr Elaine Bryan, who also represents Jamaica as the honorary consul in Atlanta. “We all know that the elders in our community have been overwhelmingly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, whether by the virus or by the isolation it has wrought,” said Dr Bryan. “I was compelled to do something to uplift the spirits of the Jamaicans who contributed so much to our heritage, and Black History Month was the ideal time to showcase them and their accomplishments.” This year Dr Bryan held a virtual reunion (Zoom) with the theme “Invest in Jamaica”. The honourees children: Dr Monique Smith, MD, and Natalie Olubuyide, daughters of Basil and Joan Smith, a structural engineer who led the design of Atlanta Olympic Stadium; Dr Noel Erskine, a professor of Theology at Emory University, delivered the prayers; Elizabeth Ritchie, daughter of Errol Ritchie, who retired from IBM as a senior systems analyst; Ariana Elizabeth Grant, great-granddaughter, delivered special greetings and posthumous tributes were accepted by the grandchildren of Elsada Miriam Duncan, an evangelist and clothing designer who passed away in 2019 at age 111; and grandson James Bell of Denzil Dixon, an AJA co- founder who died in 2020. About 160 viewers tuned into the two-hour Zoombroadcast with 990 on Facebook Live, which included remarks from Senator Leslie Campbell, minister of state in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade; Georgia State representative Derrick Jackson; Courtney Campbell, Victoria Mutual president & CEO; and Donna-Marie Rowe, Jamaica Information Service (JIS) CEO; The Asha Jackson, chief judge of the Superior Court in Dekalb & Henry County, a third generation Jamaican. The evening’s sponsors were: The Atlanta Hawks, Victoria Mutual Group, Jamaica Tourist Board, Elaine Bryan Realty, Layne Law Group, Elaine Bryan Foundation, Westside Gastroenterology, MD Consulting, Jamaicans & Partners of Georgia (JAPOG) including IT director, Gregory Scott Vernon Bryan. As a result of the positive response of attendees and honourees, Dr Bryan said the Jamaican Pioneers celebration will become an annual event. “Many persons told me they had no idea that Jamaicans had been in Georgia so long and had made significant contributions in somany different fields. We need to keep highlighting our Jamaican pioneers after the pandemic ceases.” It was also noted that for the 2021 Event, the recording of the programmes have already been viewed 75,000 times. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WfVXZkVLhw77cdX8JDa-YWP0HXAcWxVA/ view?usp=sharing. For the 2022 Event; persons can see it here;https://fb.watch/bmzo8OVOln/ www.JamaicanConsulateAtlanta.org Georgia’s Jamaican pioneers hailed - Seniors and their children honoured in Black History Month 2022 event Jamaica’s Honorary Consul in Atlanta, Dr. Elaine Grant - Bryan (left), presents a citation to Norma Denton (center), daughter of pioneer Elsada Miriam Duncan and Mrs. Carol Ann DentonFitzpatrick (right), granddaughter of pioneer Elsada Miriam Duncan, at Black History Month celebrations honoring pioneering Jamaicans of Atlanta, Georgia, on February 12. CONTRIBUTED
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