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The Isle of Wight County NAACP celebrated its Martin Luther King Jr./Black History Commemoration on Feb. 24 with a banquet in the Williams Mission Center at Main Street Baptist Church in Smithfield. Over 300 guests enjoyed a night of poetry, dance, inspirational music, and song. The speaker was Deborah Williams, a diversity practitioner, author and community advocate. Shawn Pleasants, Sunshine Huggins, and Smithfield Foods were honored for their service to the community.

The Culinary Arts Program and the NxtUp Mentoring Program of Isle of Wight County Schools catered a delicious meal and the Career and Technical Education Department created plaques for the honorees.

Community sponsors included Main Street Baptist Church, Safer Schools Group by Timothy Mallory, Smithfield High School Packer Charities Inc., the Town of Smithfield, Towne Bank, and Shivers Funeral Home.