As part of the Okaloosa County Branch NAACP’s 65th anniversary celebration a Legacy Walk of Fame at Chester Pruitt Park was unveiled that memorializes those who paved the way for freedom and equality in Okaloosa County.
Among those memorialized were Jim Crow and Post Jim Crow period Ft Walton Beach (FWB) African American pastors and ministers, churches, educators, politicians, business and civic leaders, FWB organizations and community servants that have made major contributions in Ft Walton Beach that have had a positive impact on the lives of FWB African American.
One brick honors Nathaniel “Nat” Horace Harris Sr. (Above Photo), the first president of the Okaloosa County NAACP. Also honored were Deacon Clarence J. Alford, Educators Dr. Charlie Hill and Dr. James Hill, Mrs. Mary E. Burnette, Mr. Willie H. Bankston, Officers Chester Pruitt and Mr. Erwin Carr, Business Leaders Mr. Willie “James” Byrd, and Mr. Algie King who made major contributions during the FWB Jim Crow Period!
The Legacy Walk of Fame at Chester Pruitt Park:
PASTORS AND MINISTERS
- Rev. A. D. Bell
- Rev. Willie Harmon
- Rev. James Williams
- Rev. S. L. Thigpen
- Rev. Henry C. McCray
- Rev. Thomas Powell
- Chaplain George Castillo
- Rev. Earl B. Williams
- Rev. Elijah Green
- Rev. Willie Wood
- Rev. Dudley Primous
- Rev. Clanston Seymore
CHURCHES
- Beulah First Baptist Church, FWB
- Gregg Chapel AME Church, FWB
- Greater Peace MB Church, FWB
- Mt. Zion AME Church
- Macedonia MB Church, Crestview
- Sylvania Heights First Baptist Church
COMMUNITY ACTIVIST/CIVIL RIGHTS
- Mr. Nathaniel “Nat” Horace Harris
- Mr. David Preston
- Mr. Willie H. Bankston
- Mr. Jim Miller
- Rev. Robert (Bob) Stitt
- Mrs. Bobbie Ponder
- Rev. Theodore (Ted) Walker
- Mr. Damon Stevenson
- Mr. Walter Q. Robinson
- Mr. Terry Sanks
- Mr. Danny Thomas
EDUCATORS
- Mrs. Mary E. Burnette
- Mrs. Mary Stevenson
- Mrs. Caroline Allen
- Dr. James Hill
- Mrs. Inez Bailey-Hall
- Mrs. Annie Bankston
- Rev. Dwight Baggett
- Mr. William “Bill” Hall
- Mrs. Cleonia Pittman
- Mrs. Edna Florence
- Dr. James Richburg
POLITICAL LEADERS
- Ms. Jean Long
- Mrs. Mamie Jolly
- Mr. Sam Hayes
- Mr. Samuel Allen
- Mr. Lee Bobo
- Mr. Charlie Hill
- Mr. Vizell Robbins
BUSINESS LEADERS
- Mr. W. T. McKinnie
- Mrs. Dorothy Evans
- Mr. Thomas “Pop” McKinnie
- Mr. Willie “James” Byrd
- Mr. Leon Daggs
- Mr. Leo Gainer
- Mr. Eddie Phillips
- Mr. Algie King
CIVIC LEADER
- Mr. James Sawyer
- Mr. Erwin Carr
- Ms. Jean Levine-Sanford
- Ms. Linda Baptist-Miller
- Mr. James “Jim” Robbins
- Mr. George Stakley
COMMUNITY/CIVIL RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS
- Blacks in Government (BIG)
- Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC)
- Progressive Community Involvement Organizations (PCIO)
- Okaloosa County Action Committee (OCAC)
- JRL Conyers Masonic Lodge #364
- Velma K. Conyers Order of Eastern Stars, Chapter #7
- Benevolent Protective Order of the Elks, Lodge #1205
- Carver-Hill Memorial and Historical Society
- Delta Sigma Theta Sorority
- Zeta Phi Beta Sorority
- Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority
- Omega Psi Phi Fraternity
- Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity
- Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Celebration Committee
- Okaloosa County Branch NAACP
COMMUNITY SERVANTS
- Deacon , Clarence J. Alford
- Mr. James “RL” Conyers
- Mrs. Velma K. Conyers
- Mrs. Eleanor Johnson
- Officer Chester Pruitt
- Ms. Gladys Milton
- Mr. Gus Harris
- Mr. Malcolm Haynes
- Mrs. Elouise Harmon
- Mrs. Alice Hough
- Deacon, J. B, Scaife
- Deacon, William Simmons
- Judge T. Patterson Maney
- Deacon, Eddie Rodgers
- 2Lt Clifford V. Gadsden
- Ms. Thynorl Yates
- Mr. Jack Bess
- Deacon, Walter Richardson
- Deacon, Joe R. Carson
LIFE-LONG COMMUNITY SERVANTS
- Ms. Gussie Florence
- Ms. Rosa Florence
- Ms. Lelia Hill
- The Eglin “17”
- “Possum” Joe Davenport
- Ms. Florence Hayes
- Mother “Gussie” McClain
- Mr. Gus Jones