Freedom Awards

Each year the Tri-County Branch presents awards to members of the community during the annual Freedom Fund Banquet. These deserving individuals or organizations are nominated to one of the following seven categories:

  • James R. Cobb Leadership Award
    For extraordinary leadership in an elected or appointed position, in business, church, an organization, event, or in the community.
  • Rev. James Hampton Youth Award
    For serving youth in the role of a mentor, a tutor, a role model, or a motivator, or for working with youth in a volunteer position.
  • Mrs. Rosie B. Groce Service Award
    For philanthropists who have served others by volunteering personal time in non-job related areas.
  • Professor C.A. Jarmon Civic Award
    For working in a volunteer capacity with civic, social, political, or non-profit organizations to make a positive difference in the community
  • William Little Humanitarian Award
    For improving the living conditions of others through established methods, in the court, politica system, school system, or working with non-profit organizations to improve humanity.
  • Leroy Finch Education Award
    For excelling in a career in the area of education and/or being committed to the continued elevation of educational levels in the area of scholastics, community activism, environment, politics, health, or general consciousness.
  • Bro. Ernest Cobb Spiritual Guidance Award
    For improving the spiritual life of others (not necessarily a pastor or religious leader). This award can be presented to either an individual or a group.

We are working to fill in the years for which we have no information. If you have information for missing recipients, please notify us. Thank you!

Online Form PDF Form

James R. Cobb Leadership Award

The Reverend Lorenza Collier & Ms. Tori Bailey

Rev. James Hampton Youth Award

Ms. Andrea Gordon

Mrs. Rosie B. Groce Service Award

Ms. Connie Finch

Professor C.A. Jarmon Civic Award

Mrs. Renita Jimmar-Hall

William Little Humanitarian Award

Principal Melcha Satchel

Leroy Finch Education Award

Mrs. Kim McCullough

Bro. Ernest Cobb Spiritual Guidance Award

Pastor Stephen Gill

Tori Bailey’s President’s Award

The Reverend Lyle Lee, President of Huntsville Bible College (Speaker)

James R. Cobb Leadership Award

Leighton Mayor Derick Silcox

Rev. James Hampton Youth Award

Rescue Me Project

Mrs. Rosie B. Groce Service Award

Mrs. Teresa McDonald

Professor C.A. Jarmon Civic Award

Omega Psi Phi Fraternity

William Little Humanitarian Award

Tru Freedom Riders

Leroy Finch Education Award

Mr. Lymos McDonald

Bro. Ernest Cobb Spiritual Guidance Award

Pastor Keeton Stewart

Tori Bailey’s President’s Award

The Reverend Ernest L. William Sr. (Speaker)

James R. Cobb Leadership Award

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority

Rev. James Hampton Youth Award

Men Do Matter

Mrs. Rosie B. Groce Service Award

Northwest Alabama Christian Men Association

Professor C.A. Jarmon Civic Award

Back to Basics and Harlan “Peaches” Winston

William Little Humanitarian Award

James Garner

Leroy Finch Education Award

Sonja Croone

Bro. Ernest Cobb Spiritual Guidance Award

The Reverend Wesley Thompson

Tori Bailey’s President’s Award

Dr. Joe L. Reed

James R. Cobb Leadership Award

Mr. Kyle Buchanan & Mr. John Humes

Rev. James Hampton Youth Award

Mr. Dwayne Malone & Ms. Trinda Owens

Mrs. Rosie B. Groce Service Award

Ms. Natalie Gordon & Mrs. Jacquie Osborne

Professor C.A. Jarmon Civic Award

Mr. James Garner & Pastor Wesley Thompson

William Little Humanitarian Award

Honorable Chad Coker & Dr. Kim Jackson

Leroy Finch Education Award

Mr. John Williams & (Posthumously) Mr. Emmitt Jimmar

Bro. Ernest Cobb Spiritual Guidance Award

Bro. Versalyn Wesley & Ms. Latausha Burt Robinson

James R. Cobb Leadership Award

Thru his leadership, military service, teaching career, mentoring, & business, has provided exemplary service to the shoals area.

Rev. James Hampton Youth Award

Boys & Girls Club, Christian Children’s Home, high school and college student counseling

Mrs. Rosie B. Groce Service Award

Volunteers his time to assist others in the community. Food bank, grass cutting, maintenance work

Professor C.A. Jarmon Civic Award

After serving as an elected official, he has continued to remain actively involved on boards and serve on committees. He works to make a difference.

William Little Humanitarian Award

Project Say Something - Increases public awareness relating to racial and social parity

Leroy Finch Education Award

Touched lives of many students and educators in a positive manner. Served as AEA state president

Bro. Ernest Cobb Spiritual Guidance Award

Retired registered nurse who ministers weekly to incarcerated women in local jails and has changed lives and brought many to Christ. Also does Health Ministry presentations

James R. Cobb Leadership Award

Mrs. Melesa Mayes, Leadership With Extraordinary Grace
Pastor Christopher Mayes Innovative And Creative Vision

Rev. James Hampton Youth Award

Dr. Randy Pettus, Shoals Scholar Dollars Program

Mrs. Rosie B. Groce Service Award

Sheriff Frank Williamson, Empathy In Service To Citizens Of Colbert County

Professor C.A. Jarmon Civic Award

African Heritage Festival, Enhancing Cultural Awareness To Our Community

William Little Humanitarian Award

Honorable Gilbert P. Self, Compassion, Fairness, Innovation In The Courtroom

Leroy Finch Education Award

Dr. Earnestine B. Davis, Ensuring That All Students Receive Educational Support

Bro. Ernest Cobb Spiritual Guidance Award

High Street Church Of Christ, Spiritual & Physical Needs Of Our Community

Tori Bailey’s President’s Award

Ryan Buchanan, Esquire, Leadership, Pioneering Spirit, Willingness To Serve

James R. Cobb Leadership Award

Kaytrina Simmons, First African American female to serve as Councilwoman in the City of Florence

Rev. James Hampton Youth Award

Penny Freeman, for work with Shoals Area Young People

Mrs. Rosie B. Groce Service Award

Sheryl Hamilton, for contributions to the Shoals community

Professor C.A. Jarmon Civic Award

Dave Smith, for contributions to the west Florence community

William Little Humanitarian Award

Jerry Reeves, Galilee M.B. Pastor

William Little Humanitarian Award

Jimmy Williams (Posthumous)

Bro. Ernest Cobb Spiritual Guidance Award

Dr. Pastor Green Davidson III, for outstanding religious teaching and mentoring

Tori Bailey’s President’s Award

Judge Johnson, for his outstanding leadership, pioneering spirit, and willingness to serve.

James R. Cobb Leadership Award

DeShannon Bowling, Leadership in Law Enforcement

Rev. James Hampton Youth Award

Jewel Campbell, Work with Shoals Area Young People

Mrs. Rosie B. Groce Service Award

Casey Eggleston, Dedication to the Shoals community

Professor C.A. Jarmon Civic Award

Darryl Aikerson Ensure educational excellence in the Shoals

William Little Humanitarian Award

George Johnson Tireless Service to City of Tuscumbia

Leroy Finch Education Award

Daphne Hogan Offering educational support to students

Bro. Ernest Cobb Spiritual Guidance Award

Pastor Gary Rowe, Gaston Chapel P.B. Church, Religious teaching and for embracing the least of these

Tori Bailey’s President’s Award

Dr. Will Boyd, Pastor St. Mark M.B. Church “who works to uplift, to serve, and to be a catalyst for positive change, and for inspiring others to do the same

James R. Cobb Leadership Award

Honorable Roger Bedford, Effective Alabama State Senator

Rev. James Hampton Youth Award

Dr. Felice Green, University North Alabama Professor/Mentor

Mrs. Rosie B. Groce Service Award

Paul E. Johnson Memorial Steppers, Cancer Awareness

Professor C.A. Jarmon Civic Award

Commander Jessie Qualls, Veterans Affairs Advocate

William Little Humanitarian Award

The Rev. Ronald Collier, Fatherhood Initiative

Leroy Finch Education Award

Dr. Robert Potts, former President University North Alabama

Bro. Ernest Cobb Spiritual Guidance Award

The Rev. Charles Orr, Compassionate Outreach Services

James R. Cobb Leadership Award

Evelyn Servin, Hispanic Immigration Reform

Rev. James Hampton Youth Award

Jamarquis Jimier Poole, outstanding student

Mrs. Rosie B. Groce Service Award

Danyelle Hillman, selfless community contributor

Professor C.A. Jarmon Civic Award

American Legion Color Guard, provides vets with services

William Little Humanitarian Award

Order Of The Eastern Star 599, community outreach

Leroy Finch Education Award

Dr. Gail Satchel, improving education in area schools

Bro. Ernest Cobb Spiritual Guidance Award

Church Women United inclusion of various religions

James R. Cobb Leadership Award

Freddie Hogan, Executive Director, Mainstream Development

Rev. James Hampton Youth Award

Latausha Burt Robinson, CASA Advocate (Court Appointed Special Advocate)

Mrs. Rosie B. Groce Service Award

Lafayette Hill, Brotherhood Community Garden

Professor C.A. Jarmon Civic Award

Pastor CD Hamilton, Civil Rights Advocate

William Little Humanitarian Award

Sue Gordon, President Mended Hearts

Leroy Finch Education Award

Doris Metcalf, Author and Retired School Teacher

Bro. Ernest Cobb Spiritual Guidance Award

Barbara Davidson, Past President Missionary Baptist District Women’s Baptist Convention

James R. Cobb Leadership Award

Bobby Irons

Rev. James Hampton Youth Award

Omar & Stephanie Smith

Mrs. Rosie B. Groce Service Award

Leroy Burt

Professor C.A. Jarmon Civic Award

Mary Stevens

William Little Humanitarian Award

Min. Cassandra Weakley

Leroy Finch Education Award

Shirley Douglas

Bro. Ernest Cobb Spiritual Guidance Award

Loving Neighbor Outreach Service (Pastor Rufus Slack)

James R. Cobb Leadership Award

John Bunyan Cole

Rev. James Hampton Youth Award

Zuri accepted by Libby Johnson and Dianne Rowell’s sons

Mrs. Rosie B. Groce Service Award

Aprielle Burgess

Professor C.A. Jarmon Civic Award

Dr. Flora D. Kayfan

William Little Humanitarian Award

Rhoda Plain

Leroy Finch Education Award

Rod Sheppard

Bro. Ernest Cobb Spiritual Guidance Award

Pastor Frank Roach, Cave Springs M.B. Church

James R. Cobb Leadership Award

Senator Tammy Irons

Rev. James Hampton Youth Award

Melody “Pam” McVay

Mrs. Rosie B. Groce Service Award

Alpha Pi Chi Sorority, Kappa Phi Chapter

Professor C.A. Jarmon Civic Award

Catherine Sledge

William Little Humanitarian Award

Tori Bailey

Leroy Finch Education Award

Dorothy Hardy

Bro. Ernest Cobb Spiritual Guidance Award

Brother Michael Roberts

James R. Cobb Leadership Award

Sam Pendleton, past NAACP president

Rev. James Hampton Youth Award

Charlene Freeman

Mrs. Rosie B. Groce Service Award

Dr. Wayne Stanley

Professor C.A. Jarmon Civic Award

Sylvester White, Mgr. Social Security Office

William Little Humanitarian Award

UNA Habitat For Humanity Volunteers

Leroy Finch Education Award

Clyde Goode, Educator

Bro. Ernest Cobb Spiritual Guidance Award

Pastor George Granville

James R. Cobb Leadership Award

Mt. Olive M.B. Church

James R. Cobb Leadership Award

Mary Andrews

Rev. James Hampton Youth Award

Pete Key

Mrs. Rosie B. Groce Service Award

Freedom Riders Club

Professor C.A. Jarmon Civic Award

Ladies Aux VFW

William Little Humanitarian Award

Chris Connerly

Leroy Finch Education Award

Ella McElroy

Bro. Ernest Cobb Spiritual Guidance Award

St. James Special Chorus

Tori Bailey’s President’s Award

Alpha Phi Alpha Kappa Nu Chapter

Professor C.A. Jarmon Civic Award

Tom Magazzu, for outstanding services rendered in civic activities to the citizens of the Shoals area

Leroy Finch Education Award

W.C. Handy Headstart Center

James R. Cobb Leadership Award

Captain Spence Butler, Florence Police Department

Rev. James Hampton Youth Award

Chucky Mullins Community Center

Mrs. Rosie B. Groce Service Award

Charles Ricks, owner of Ace Variety & Mr. C’s Market

Professor C.A. Jarmon Civic Award

Shaler Roberts, III, Executive Director of Florence Housing Authority

William Little Humanitarian Award

William L. McDonald, Shoals Area Historian

Leroy Finch Education Award

Fredonia Williams, Principal of Weeden Middle School

Bro. Ernest Cobb Spiritual Guidance Award

Leonard Skipworth, Program Director at WZZA Radio

Tori Bailey’s President’s Award

Bobby E. Irons, Reynolds/Wise Aluminums

James R. Cobb Leadership Award

Robert Potts

Rev. James Hampton Youth Award

Twenty Distinguished Men of the Shoals

Mrs. Rosie B. Groce Service Award

American Red Cross of Northwest Alabama

Professor C.A. Jarmon Civic Award

Betty Hillman, manager Colonial Bank, Sheffield

William Little Humanitarian Award

Hospice of the Shoals

Leroy Finch Education Award

Otis Johnson, Sheffield Junior High School Principal

James R. Cobb Leadership Award

Jerry Groce, Russellville City Councilman

Mrs. Rosie B. Groce Service Award

Audrey McDaniel, Florence Housing Authority

William Little Humanitarian Award

Safeplace, Inc

Professor C.A. Jarmon Civic Award

Ullysess “Foots” Burt