Friends, supporters and political big-wigs all gathered at the Trotter Convention Center Friday night to celebrate the 25 years Supervisor Leroy Brooks has sat in the District 5 seat of the Lowndes County Board of Supervisors.
“We started putting this together about six months ago,” said event organizer and Columbus City Council Ward 5 candidate Kabir Karriem. “My grandmother used to say, ”Give me my flowers while I live.” This is just a way to celebrate someone while they are with it. We just felt it was something we needed to do for him.”
Brooks” grin was ear to ear as he shook the hands and hugged the necks of the people who came out to honor him.
“This is really wonderful,” Brooks said. “I think this is indicative of people appreciating what I”ve done to improve their quality of life, and also the personal way in which I”ve touched people”s lives.”
No one at the event had an unkind word to say about the supervisor.
“I think he deserves it because he”s the first black man to be a supervisor,” said Helen Lashley, retired.
“He”s been doing an excellent job for many years. He”s done a stalwart job over the years and I think you just can”t beat him,” said social scientist Ezra Baker.
Columbus Mayor Robert Smith, who graduated high school in the same year as Brooks, was also full of compliments for the supervisor.
“Tonight is a great night as we celebrate 25 years of hard work, dedication and commitment,” he said.
The event also drew some of Mississippi”s political heavy-hitters, including Rep. Travis Childers, D-Miss., and the event”s featured speaker Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss.
“Mr. Leroy Brooks and I go back a long way,” Childers said. “He”s been my friend and I”m happy to be here honoring him tonight.”
“I”m glad to see the community of Lowndes County coming out and saying they appreciate his 25 years of service,” Thompson said. “I was a county supervisor in Hinds County before I went Congress, and Leroy and I were inseparable. When I first ran for Congress Leroy came to my district and campaigned just as hard for me as he does himself.”
Brooks during his quarter century in politics said he is most proud of the African-American memorial monument which was erected in Sim-Scott Park in 2006.
“Now generations can come behind me and see the contributions and accomplishments made by other African-Americans in the community. I consider that the high watermark of my career.”
Although political discussion was off the table for the event, Brooks did pass some words reflecting his belief in what local officials must do to see growth and abundance in Lowndes County.
“We need to be more candid with one another so we can resolve some of the differences we have,” he said. “I think sometimes we get into disagreements simply because we aren”t candid with one another. We need to recognize we are a community, respect one another and share ideas to realize that vision.”
“He has worked not only for African-Americans but for all oppressed people in Lowndes County,” said event organizer and Lowndes County Emergency Management Agency Director Cindy Lawrence.
Event organizers charged a $15 admission fee to enter the celebration. According to Lawrence, the money was strictly to be used to pay for the banquet. If the event made more money than the banquet cost, Lawrence said the money would go to a special community project fund.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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