The Multi-Cultural Committee of the Fine Arts Center (FAC) of Kershaw County will hold its 14th annual Gospel Fest on Saturday at 6 p.m. in the Wood Auditorium, 810 Lyttleton St. in Camden and Heritage Tea on Sunday at 3 p.m. to celebrate Black History Month. Tickets for Gospel Fest are $10 each for adults and $5 each for youths (6 and under are free). The Heritage Tea is free to attend.
About Gospel Fest
Gospel Fest will again celebrate “community unity” through the glorious sound of several local gospel choirs, including New Direction Community Choir of Camden, Sanders Creek Male Chorus, Canty Hill Baptist Church Choir, Bethlehem Baptist Male Chorus, International Praise Team, Abundant Life Fellowship Chorale, and The Valentinos. This year’s lineup also includes praise dancer, Aisha Alexander.
The Rev. Angela Ford–Nelson, pastor of Good Hope-Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church, will act as emcee. The invocation for this year’s Gospel Fest will be made by the Rev. John Sorrells, pastor of First Baptist Church of Camden. At the end of the evening, the audience will be invited to take part in a group song.
Gospel Fest is sponsored by Piggly Wiggly of Camden.
About the Heritage Tea
For more than 20 years, the FAC’s Multi-Cultural Committee has hosted an annual Heritage Tea to announce the winners of the Black History Month project competition for Kershaw County School District (KCSD) students in 3rd through 8th grades, in addition to performances from students and adults during the presentation. Prizes and awards will be presented to the students whose winning projects will be on display in the historic Douglas Reed House (c. 1812). The program, held in the Wood Auditorium at the FAC will be emceed by Chandra Richardson, assistant administrator of Lugoff–Elgin Middle School.
Participants will include FAC Multi-Cultural Committee Co-Chair Claude Eichelberger; the Rev. Keith Hunter, pastor of Camden First United Methodist Church of Camden; KCSD Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Dr. Connie Graham; Multi-Cultural Committee member Phyllis Harris–Drakeford; dancer T.J. Warren; the BDK Singers (directed by Jaston Hawes) from Baron DeKalb Elementary School; KCSD Superintendent Dr. Shane Robbins; KCSD Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Assessment Tim Hopkins; and Multi-Cultural Committee member Ann Davis.
About the student work on display
This year’s theme for the Heritage Tea is “inventors.” Inventions created by African-Americans are used in the fields of medicine, agriculture, and engineering every day to save lives and improve the general welfare of people around the world. People also experience the contributions of African-American inventors every time we stop at a stop light, sit at a folding table, or turn on our home security systems. Names such as Dr. Charles Drew, Madam C.J. Walker, Garret Morgan, George Washington Carver, along with other African-American inventors are synonymous not only with great contributions to African-American history, but also with major contributions to American and world history.
Awards for first through third place in grades 3 through 8 will be awarded. All Kershaw County schools were invited to be a part of this celebration. A reception, catered by Hall’s Catering, will take place in the Douglas Reed House immediately following the program.
The Multi-Cultural Committee hosts both annual programs which are intended to celebrate the spirit of community, with a special emphasis on Black History Month. Committee members include Leslie Lee, Dionne Hough, Claude Eichelberger, Bobbie Daniels, Ann Davis, Barbara Davis, Debra Edwards, Carolyn Ham, Phyllis Harris-Drakeford, Timothy Hopkins, Lola Houston, Christa Jeter, Dr. Mary Jones, Mary Ellen Jordan, Dr. Chandra Richardson, Connie Rouse, Linda Shaylor, Mollye Robinson and Rose Sheheen.
