More than 300 people attended

sixth annual Fayette Freedom Fund banquet hosted by the Fayette County

branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People

at the Wyndham Peachtree Conference Center in Peachtree City. Georgia

Attorney General Thurbert Baker was the keynote speaker.

His theme was "The Journey

to Justice" and Baker told the audience that their presence indicated

the kind of people they were. He said that it was important to not just

look at leaders on a big screen, because you would miss the teachers,

the mentors, the caring aunts and uncles, and all those who influence

us all our growing up years. "You are all here," he said, "because

you care about the future."

Branch President Wanda Robins

and honorary chair Ralph Boston presented 2003 Freedom Fund Honors to

Donella B. Cranford (humanitarian award), Ashley Danielle Maner (outstanding

student), and Michael M. young (outstanding community leader).

Cranford lives in Fayetteville

with her husband, son, and mother. She is active in women's ministry.

Maner is a senior at McIntosh High School and looks forward to pursuing

a career in acting and singing. Young lives in north Fayette County with

his wife, son, and daughter. He recently retired as vice president of

community affairs for Delta Air Lines and has been active in many community

affairs in the Atlanta area.

The Fayette County Branch was

organized and chartered in February of 1997 and meets the second Saturday

of each month at the Flat Rock A. M. E. Church. For information, call

770-460-9934.