The ninth annual support banquet for the Oakes African-American Cultural Center will be held Saturday at 7 p.m. at the L.T. Miller Community Center. Pictured from left are Catherine Brent, Margaret Harris, Jackie Davis, Synthia Foster, (seated) H.A. Scott, Clementine Davis, Juanita Lear and Travis L. Johnson. By JAMIE PATTERSON
Managing Editor

The Oakes African-American Cultural Center allows visitors an opportunity to glimpse into the lives of the remarkable Oakes family.
And with the upcoming ninth annual support banquet, funds will be raised to ensure its doors remain open for future generations.
“There is so much here for all children and others to come and research information of what one African-American family accomplished,” said Margaret Harris, board member of the Yazoo County Fair and Civic League. “And this family accomplished it all before slavery was even abolished.”
Board members are optimistic about this year’s fundraiser. It has remained consistent in its success over the past eight years.
The banquet will be held Saturday at 7 p.m. at the L.T. Miller Community Center on Lamar Avenue. Guest speaker will be Carolyn Younger Laury, office manager for the office of information and process management at Jackson State University.