Banquet set to honor citizen of the year and educator of the year
Pierce County’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day observances will be held January 17 and 19, 2026.
A program will be held at 5 p.m. Saturday, January 17, at the Evergreen Church, 4100 Georgia Highway 32, Bristol.
Mamie Turner has been named as the grand marshal for this year’s parade. Tyrone Harris is citizen of the year and Angelo Eaddy Paschall is educator of the year. The awards will be presented during Saturday’s program.
Grand Marshal
Mamie Britton Turner was born in Eaddyville (Blackshear), as the ninth of 15 children born to her parents, Walter and Cearria Britton. She graduated as valedictorian of the Lee Street School class of 1951. Being an outstanding student, she earned a full scholarship to Spelman College in Atlanta, but back then, she remained on the farm for family obligations and farm chores.
Two years later, God promoted her into the next phase of her life when she married Tommy Turner on October 16, 1954. Together, the Turners raised seven children of their own: Tabitha Sheree (deceased), Tommy, Yancy, Elnora, Swails, Foster and Charis and a “plethora” of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Turner has a gift with a needle and thread. Truth be told, she can turn a bolt of fabric into just about anything faster than a major retailer can restock the shelves. One week you’ll see her at church in a plaid skirt, and the next week that very same skirt has been reborn as a hat and scarf. Folks say Mamie doesn’t just sew clothes; she gives them second lives. Her sewing portfolio consists of making prom suits for her boys; matching suits for her and her husband; wedding, prom, and recital dresses; robes for a local sorority; tablecloths for the community center; and a variety of other items that commanded her attention. Saying “no” was not in her vocabulary.
She had dreams of becoming a nurse or a model. Later in life, she obtained her CNA license which she utilized in caring for several patients. As for modeling, Mamie had the opportunity to walk down the runway of life beginning with a size seven wedding gown; and throughout the years have worn a variety of dress sizes. So, wishes do come true.
Her career also included working at King Edward Cigar Factory, and the local sewing and shoe factories. She later worked alongside her husband and sons in the TMT Trucking Company family business.
She stands by her strong faith in God and is very thankful for being blessed to see her ninth decade. She serves as one of the mothers of Family Worship Center in Waycross. She takes great pride in supporting and serving her community whether it’s participating in various church services and programs, attending the monthly Gardenia Club meetings (50+ year membership) and helping with clothing drives and other community initiatives.
The accolades keep coming as Mrs. Turner and her family were recently inducted into the 2025 Pierce County Sports Hall of Fame. And in March 2026, she’ll be a flower girl in her grandson’s wedding – a role that she is very honored and excited to play. She is stepping mighty high these days but remains true to her humble roots.
Citizen of the Year
Harris Sr. is a native of Pierce County and a 1983 graduate of Pierce County High School, where he was named senior superlative best personality. He also played football and basketball. After graduation, he attended Georgia Southwestern University and graduated from Coastal Community College with certification in manufacture maintenance technology and machinist technology.
He is a general contractor and is the CEO/Owner of Tyco Construction and Industrial Services, Inc. Prior to owning his own company, he was an assistant superintendent of maintenance, a mechanical maintenance planner and supervisor at Durango Paper Company in St. Marys. He is an active leader in his community and church. He is a member of the Pierce County Development and Building Authority and the Pierce County Board of Equalization. For the past 14 years, he has served as a running backs coach and J.V. offensive coordinator community coach for the PCHS football team. He has also served as a head football coach for the Pierce County Recreation Department.
Harris also serves as a mentor for the youth in the community. Other leadership roles he has held in the community include serving as the President and Vice President of the Pierce County NAACP; Vice President of the Academic Booster Club, 100 Black Men of Southeast Georgia and the Consolidated Men’s Club. He was named the MLK Businessman of the Year in 2004. He is an active member of the Upper Room Outreach Ministries, Inc. under the leadership of Pastors Dr. Samuel Sellers III and Dr. Renae Sellers, where he serves in several leadership roles, including chairman of the deacon board, benevolent committee and men’s ministry. He also serves on the finance committee.
Harris is married to Dr. Anita Harris and has three children, Tyrone Jr. (T.J.), Joshua and Tynisha, and six grandchildren. He is the son of the late John Wesley and Clementine Harris.
Educator of the Year
Angelo Vannice Eaddy-Paschall was born and raised in Blackshear and received her education through the Pierce County School System and graduated with academic and vocational seals. She attended and graduated from the Florida A & M University, in Tallahassee, FL, where she graduated with Cum Laude honors and received a BS degree in Business Teacher Education. She taught one year of high school in Tallahassee at Amos P. Godby High School and then left for a year to teach in Zama, Japan. She returned to the states and taught for five years in Houston, Texas at Alief-Hastings High School. While working full time, she attended graduate school at Prairie View A & M University where she received her Masters of Education in Educational Administration. She then began teaching at Houston Community College in the continuing education program, as an adjunct professor.
She relocated back home to Blackshear in June of 2002. She began her career in Georgia, with the Ware County Board of Education, where she has taught reading, social studies and computer applications at Ware County Middle School. She is currently serving as a 504/MTSS/RTI Coordinator and an Interventionist and in her 29th year of Education. She has been the Georgia Quiz Bowl sponsor, the Academic Quiz Bowl Sponsor and the Future Business Leaders of America Sponsor. She has served as a homebound instructor, girls and boys basketball and track coach, middle school boys and girls cross country coach, the assistant boys and girls track coach and has worked as an adjunct professor with Okefenokee Technical College, now Coastal Pines, in Waycross teaching continuing education courses and computer applications. She referees basketball with the South Georgia Basketball Officials, is a member of Georgia Association of Educators, a member of Delta Sigma Theta, Incorporated, Waycross Alumnae Chapter, where she has served as the financial secretary and vice president. She has been a member of Ida Mae Chapter #229 Order of the Eastern Star for 25 years and has served in many offices throughout the chapter, including the worthy matron several times. She is a Past District Worthy Matron of the Waycross Masonic District #8 of the Jurisdiction of Georgia. She has completed her course work through Nova Southeastern University in the Educational Leadership Doctoral program and hopes to complete her degree one day.
She is the wife of Stacy C. Paschall, Sr., the proud mother of Senior Airman Ameer L. Staten Jr., otherwise known as “AJ”, and the daughter of John Eaddy Jr. and Isabella Eaddy.
Guest Speaker
Guest speaker for the program will be Kedar K. Ismail, founder of the Law Offices of Kedar K. Ismail of Springfield, Massachusetts.
Ismail is the grandson of the late Katie Hall of Elizabeth, NJ, whose family roots are in Blackshear.
Ismail has family in Pierce County. He is the grandnephew of MLK Parade Grand Marshal Mamie Jean Turner and of the late Lucy Goodman and Tommy Turner.
According to the MLK Committee, Ismail stands out for his innovation, courage and commitment to justice. He has earned a reputation for high-level courtroom advocacy while maintaining a strong focus on community engagement and equity. His work reflects a modern vision of legal practice—one that balances professional excellence with humanity and service.
Parade Details
The parade will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, Jan. 19.
The parade will assemble at 9 a.m. at the Board of Education Central Office on Main Street.
Parade chairman Isaac Moses asks the community to come and participate in the parade — and to be on time.
“We are asking all participants to be at the BOE for line up at 9 a.m. so that we can be ready to start on time,” he said.
The parade will travel down Main Street to the Courthouse and then turn left on to U.S. Highway 84. The parade will travel down Highway 84 and turn right on Ware Street and will disband at the Lee Street Resource Center.
The parade is always held on the Monday of the federal holiday celebrating MLK’s birthday.
For more information, contact Isaac Moses at (912) 552-0118 (cell) or Jacqueline Moses at (912) 552-4243.
