Bishop Thompson and Bishop Hunter to be honored

Kannapolis, North Carolina, was the home of Bishop Richard Keith Thompson and Bishop Louis Hunter. It is also the home of the Kannapolis African-American Museum and Cultural Center, Inc., which will celebrate its Tenth Anniversary on October 7, 2023, at 6:00 PM at the Laureate Center in downtown Kannapolis. Ten years have passed since the organization began its mission “to collect and preserve the history and culture of African-Americans in Cabarrus and Rowan County, North Carolina, and to serve, engage, and enrich communities through diverse activities that enhance the quality of life in a cultural center setting.” To see how that mission has unfolded, you are invited to visit the website at www.kaa-macc.org.

As part of its yearly gala, KAA-MaCC (as it is called) recognizes individuals who have demonstrated significant meritorious achievement and service as citizens or natives of Kannapolis and of Cabarrus and Rowan counties. Based on its selection criteria, the late Bishop Richard Keith Thompson and the late Bishop Louis Hunter, Sr. have been nominated to receive the organization’s Lifetime Achievement Award.  As natives of Cabarrus and Rowan counties, respectively, they excelled in their roles as religious and social leaders with honor, recognition, distinction, and excellence. Recognition of individuals like them in the KAA-MaCC Hall of Fame helps to maintain the spirit, pride, and sense of community as well as serve as a historical account of the African-American presence in the local area and beyond. Bishop Thompson grew up as a member of Marable Memorial African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church in Kannapolis, Cabarrus County; and Bishop Hunter was a member of the Sandy Ridge African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church in Landis (Rowan County). Both Zionites dedicated their careers and lives to leadership and service in such a marvelous way, beginning with their roots in our local area. Indeed, Zionites, like others across the globe, will want to be a part of this historic occasion in some way.

Along with Bishop Thompson and Bishop Hunter, four other individuals will be honored: Judge Jerry Blackwell, social changer; Mr. Charles A. Cannon (posthumously), entrepreneur and business executive; Mr. James Donaldson (posthumously), local artist and civic leader; Mr. Kenneth B. Geathers, Sr., social and political advocate; and Dr. Norma H. Sermon-Boyd, educator.

Tickets for KAA-MaCC’s Tenth Anniversary and Induction Ceremony may be purchased at Eventbrite via https://bit.ly/3Yz6ZDb for this historic event. Sponsorships and souvenir journal advertisements may be submitted to the KAA-MaCC administrative office via email submission to info@kaa-macc.org and by mailing the payment to Post Office Box 494, Kannapolis, NC 28082-0494.

For additional information, please contact Jacqueline Anthony at 704.925.1314.