The Dickson Herald from Dickson, Tennessee • A4

Located a mile or so of Highway 48 North in Charlotte, Promise Land is an settled by freed slaves during Recon- struction. Once a thriving com- munity of homes, businesses, religion and education, it now serves as one of the last remain- ing reminders of this time in his- tory. Now consisting of two main structures, the Promise Land School and Promise Land Church, as well a few original homes that have fallen into dis- repair, the Promise Land Heri- tage Association has tasked themselves with preserving these two landmarks. we have embarked on the development of a strate- gic plan to assure the preserva- tion of the site for the next twen- says Serina Gil- bert, executive director of the Promise Land Heritage Associa- tion. The plan, authorized by the association directors, include growing their support and mem- bership base as well as assuring the longevity of the iconic build- ings that remain on site.

Public awareness of the Promise Land site has grown substantially thanks to the Annual Festival held on the historic grounds. For nearly 20 years, the mul- ti-day festival to include work- shops, concerts, and a parade of hats as well as a homecoming of Promise Land descendants. The site also tours local ele- mentary and middle school chil- dren throughout the year. On Tuesday, Feb. 12, the PLHA presented Evening with Sy that began at 6 pm.

Smith, a talented singer and vocal performer who has toured with the likes of Whitney Hous- ton and Macy Gray as well as performing as a back-up singer on American Idol, will perform an array of music in an to raise funds and awareness for Promise Land, a place to which she has deep roots. Smith, the daughter of Serina Gilbert is also the granddaugh- ter of the late Essie Gilbert, one of the founding members of the Promise Land Community Club (Heritage Association) who also spearheaded the initial restora- tion of the facilities. Her voice is steeped in the red clay rhythms she and her cous- ins used to dance when passing the time catching lightning bugs on those slow Tennessee eve- nings. She has found her voice. And for this reason, she has re- turned to Dickson County, to sing a song of Promise Land for the Promise Land Heritage As- sociation.

Sy Smith performs at The Renaissance Center For the Herald Sy Smith Meet and Greet SUBMITTED Sy Smith with Ken Forte SUBMITTED Sy signing autographs while admiring a statue by local artist Eric Langford, that was presented to her by the Concert Planning Committee. SUBMITTED SUBMITTED Sy Smith and Leanne Polk SUBMITTED 4A FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2019 THE DICKSON HERALD MCMILLAN Beau Bradley McMillan, son of Jordan and Mary Bradley McMillan, was stillborn at Vanderbilt Hospital on February 14, 2019. A private graveside service will be held at St. Patrick Cemetery on Monday, February 18, 2019. Beau is survived by his parents and grand- parents, Michael and Phyllis Gilliam Brad- ley, Tammy McMillan, and George McMillan, all of McEwen, Tennes- see.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Patrick School or Hurricane Chapel Free- will Baptist Church, McEwen, Tennessee. Services under direc- tion of the Taylor Fu- neral Home (615) 446- 2808, TaylorSince1909. com Beau Bradley McMillan DICKSON A funeral service was held Monday, Feb. 18, 2019 at 2:00 PM at the Taylor Funeral Home with Rob Wetterau officiating.

Place of rest is in the Dickson County Memorial Gardens. Richard H. Manley, age 83 of Dickson, TN died on Saturday, February 16, 2019. For those desiring, memorials may be made to Alive Hospice or to the Humane Society of Dickson County. Richard Manley was born September 26, 1935 in Dickson, TN.

He was a son of the late Floyd Manley and Lula Bowen Manley. He retired with 35 years of service to the Tennsco Corporation, having worked at plant 1 as a plant manager and a fabrication supervisor. In addition to his parents, Mr. Manley was preceded in death by his wife of 52 years, Betty Garton Manley. He is survived by his son, Steve Manley (Vivian) of Dickson, TN; his brother, Marlon Manley (Joy) of Dickson, TN; special companion, Ruth Smith of Dickson, TN; and special nephew, Donnie Rodgers (Linda) of Erin, TN.

Also surviving, are several nieces and nephews. Services under the direction of the Taylor Fu- neral Home (615) 446-2808, TaylorSince1909. com. Richard H. Manley BURNS Connie Ray Spann was born December 28, 1965 to Hubert and Barbara (Davidson) Spann in Dickson County, Ten- nessee.

She passed away February 17, 2019 at Centennial Medical Center in Nashville. She was 53 years of age. Survivors include her sister Lynn Daw- son of Burns, nephew Brandon Lane and wife Carlee of Burns, and several cousins. She is also survived by her fur babies, Millie and Laney. Besides her parents, Connie Spann is pre- ceded in death by her grandparents Robert Bessie Davidson and William James Lu- labell Spann, and her uncle Danny Davidson.

Funeral services were Wednesday, February 20th, from the Chapel of Dickson Funeral Home with Bro. Brent Johnson officiating. Burial was in the Park- er-Fowlkes Cemetery on Abiff Road. Arrangements by Dickson Funeral Home and Cremation Center. Connie Ray Spann FRIDAY Youth Service Minister Joshua Ramseur will speak at 7 p.m.

He is from Hopkinsville, KY. Free food will be provid- ed after the service. The Emmanuel Church. Mark Trammell Quartet The Mark Trammell Quar- tert will play 7pm at Unit- ed Freewill Baptist Church on Hwy 46 across from Aldi. FEB.

23 Award Banquet On Saturday, the Clement Railroad Hotel will hold their 8th Annual Award Ban- quet. Sponsored by Tri- Star Bank, this annual event honors Dickson Countians who have worked for Civil Rights in the community. Awards to be presented include the Trailblazer Award, Community Service Award, and the Robert Blue Legacy of Leader- ship Award. The keynote speaker will be noted genealogist John F. Baker author of The Wash- ingtons of Wessyngton Plantation: Stories of My Journey to Free- dom.

Descended from the enslaved people at Wessyngton Plantation in Robertson County, Mr. Baker has used both traditional research and DNA testing to span 250 years of history, tracing not only his own family but hundreds of others. The event will be held at the Tennsco Community Center at 201 Tennsco Drive in Dickson. Doors will open at 4:30 pm. Tickets for the event, which includes a catered meal, are $30 and are available at the Clement Museum, 615-446-0500.

They must be purchased in advance as no tickets will be available at the door. FEB. 26 Senior Center Zumba starts at 5:30 pm FEB. 28 Senior Center: TNJ The Dickson Senior Cen- ter will host TNJ at the Dickson Senior Center, 206 W. Walnut in Dickson.

For more information, call 615-446-9350. MARCH 4 Clothing Giveaway A clothing giveaway will be at the White Bluff Church of Christ, 4416 Hwy 70 East in White Bluff 6:00 7:00 PM. Please bring your own shopping bags. MARCH 11 Dickson Co. Amateur Radio Club meeting The Dickson County Am- ateur (Ham) Radio Club (DCARC) will hold their monthly meeting at 7:00 pm at the EOC (Emergen- cy Operations Center) Training Room at 284 Cowan Rd in Dickson.

This meeting is held the 2nd Monday of each month. Meeting will be rescheduled if WEATHER It is open to all hams and those wanting to become ham radio operators. Come see us at the Dick- son County Disaster Pre- paredness Fair on March 30th. Any questions call (615) 522-8311. MARCH 12 Gardening Partners Gardening Partners' monthly lecture is free and open to the public.

Our guest speaker will be Jim Tomasulo, whose topic will be "Growing Tomasulo is an amateur grower of or- chids with 30 years expe- rience. A resident of Dick- son County and longtime member of Gardening Partners, "J.T." has the most spectacular and lush orchids we have seen outside of a botan- ical garden. Come to join us as we learn from his experiences. The lecture is at 7 p.m. at TCAT, 740 Hwy 46 S.

Gardening Partners is a non-profit service group whose mission is to edu- cate and inform while promoting gardening related activities to ben- efit individuals and the Dickson community MARCH 14-16 Jackson Chapel yard sale The Jackson Chapel Community Center will have a yard sale March 14,15, 16 beginning at 8 AM each day. Any ques- tion, call 615-789-0082 and leave message on answering machine. APRIL 2 Dickson County Democratic Party reorganization meeting The Dickson County Democratic Party invites you to it's biennial Reor- on April 2 at 6:30 PM at Tri- Star Bank 719 E. College St. 4th Floor Community Room.

For more informa- tion contact Landon Ma- this at 615-566-2801. CALENDAR.