Hattiesburg’s Ward 2 Councilwoman of 24 years, Deborah Delgado, in partnership with attorney Glenda Funchess, presented plaques of recognition to citizens for their service to their communities at Monday’s city council meeting.
The first award was presented to Lily Willis for her leadership and dedication in spearheading the successful effort to ban smoking in public buildings and restaurants in Hattiesburg. Thanks to Willis’ efforts, the ordinance banning smoking in public places within the Hub City passed in 2006.
“I am overwhelmed,” said Willis. “I am very thankful. I am very grateful for Glenda Funchess. She’s a silent warrior here in Hattiesburg for so many under-privileged people. Ms. Delgado is a champion, as well. Sometimes, you think that what you’re doing- nobody is looking and nobody cares what you do. If you start on a mission, and you have a good purpose, it doesn’t matter if you get recognition or not because you believe you’re doing the right thing.”
The second award was presented to Pastor Antonio Hughes and Apostle Dr. Marion Hughes of the Wayside Holy Temple Church in Hattiesburg for faithful dedication and impactful efforts to improve the community.
“I have witnessed this couple doing so many things in a community with great challenges in the city of Hattiesburg,” said Delgado. “I have called upon them a number of times to support some of the work that we’ve done for those who have less than many, and they have always stepped forward, never said, ‘no,’ and always made the effort to do something to help the least of us.”
“This community means a lot to us,” said Marion Hughes. “This is the community that we went to college in. This community is where we met in and got married 40 years ago. I know without a shadow of a doubt that working together in any community makes it better for all of us. We are privileged and honored to be a part of it.”
The last of the awards was given by Delgado to Funchess in recognition of an unwavering dedication to preserving and promoting the accurate history of Hattiesburg’s black community.
“Through scholarship, tenacity and generosity, the story of our survival and accomplishments, despite state-sanctioned discrimination, is shared in public spaces in Ward 2 for the benefit of future generations,” said Delgado. “To know where we come from is to understand where we are going.”
