Pine Bluff Interested Citizens for Voter Registration Inc. has named officials who will be honored during a black history observance at the Coffee with the Chiefs.
The event will be held at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 4, in fire station #1 at the Pine Bluff Civic Center Complex, 200 E. Eighth Ave., according to a news release.
PBICVR will host a conversation on “Breaking Barriers,” recognizing African Americans who broke barriers in city government.
Honorees include:
Shirley M. Washington – The first African American female mayor;
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Irene W. Holcomb — The first African American female city council member;
Carl A. Redus, Jr. – The first African American mayor;
Joe Thomas — The first African American Pine Bluff police chief – posthumously;
McArthur Gunn — The first African American firefighter for the city of Pine Bluff – posthumously;
Shirley Warrior – First African American female deputy chief at the Pine Bluff Police Department;
Tommy Davis – The first African American to have a fire station named in his honor;
Loretta Whitfield – The First African American elected as city clerk;
Althea Hadden-Scott – The first African American female elected as city attorney;
Cathy Braswell – First African American female firefighter hired by the city of Pine Bluff and promoted to lieutenant at the Pine Bluff Fire and Emergency Services Department.
PBICVR) is a partner with the 400 Years of African American History Commission and the Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site.
“Let’s Talk About Our Dream: Writing A New History” is a signature program of the 400 Years of African American History Commission. PBICVR is partnering with the United Way for Southeast Arkansas to recognize barrier breakers, according to a news release.