Paul D. Camp Community College honors Smithfield natives as local legends
Published 8:10 pm Wednesday, March 6, 2024
- Pictured from left are Denise Tynes, W. Ross Boone, Narendra Pleas, Angela Gary, Greg Scott, Eric Benton and Valerie Butler. Not pictured but appearing via YouTube was Talton-Harris. (Submitted photo)
Paul D. Camp Community College recognized two Smithfield natives at its “Honoring Legends In Our Community” Black History Month program on Feb. 29.
Denise Tynes, a retired educator who represented Smithfield on Isle of Wight County’s School Board for eight years, and Smithfield Vice Mayor Valerie Butler were among the eight local legends honored at Paul D. Camp’s Franklin campus. Also honored were:
- Alfreda Talton Harris, a juvenile and domestic relations court judge who in 1985 became the first African American and first woman to open a law office serving the city of Franklin and Southampton County;
- Eric Benton, a physical education teacher with Southampton County Public Schools who in 2017 founded the nonprofit Camp25 organization, which provides camp opportunities for children while they’re out of school;
- Retired Paul D. Camp professor and Suffolk community activist W. Ross Boone;
Angela Gary, early head start teacher at The Children’s Center in Franklin;
- Suffolk Commonwealth’s Attorney Narendra Pleas
- Greg Scott, a retired National Football League player-turned-founder of the Cover 3 Foundation, a Franklin-based nonprofit that provides meals to at-risk children.
The event also included a visit from Frederick Douglass, portrayed by Nathan Richardson.
