February is Black History Month and the City of Petersburg wants to recognize some great people in the area that have helped to make Petersburg a better place and adds to the rich history of the city. #IAmPetersburg
A 2008 graduate of Virginia State University with a degree in Mass Communications/Public Relations, Lashrecse Aird is the Assistant to Richard Bland University President. Prior to that, she served as Chief of Staff to then Delegate Rosalyn Dance. In July 2014, Aird was appointed by Governor McCauliffe to serve on the Commonwealth’s Council on Women. She is also the recently elected Chair of the Petersburg Democratic Party. This January, she was chosen by the University of Virginia to take part in its prestigious Sorensen Institute Political Leaders Program.
In 1962, Petersburg resident Mr. Herbert Coulton was hired by Dr. Martin Luther King as Field Secretary for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. He was later promoted to Director of Affiliates. After working very closely with Dr. King for a few years, Mr. Coulton returned to Petersburg to be with his family. His work with the SLC continued, however. In his work for the Civil Rights struggle, Mr. Coulton was dedicated to improving voter registration rights in Virginia, Tennessee and North Carolina.
The Honorable Roger L. Gregory is the cofounder of Wilder & Gregory law firm. He is the 1997 recipient of the National Conference of Christians and Jews' Humanitarian Award. He is the first African American to hold a seat on the Fourth Circuit and the only judge on the United States Court of Appeals to be appointed by presidents of different political parties.
Frank Mason is a sophomore at the University of Kansas where he plays point guard for the Kansas Jayhawks basketball team. Mason attended Petersburg High School. At Kansas, he started three games and appeared in all 35 for the 2013-2014 season. He average 10.6 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.6 assists in his first year.
Tim and Daphne Reid are actors, producers and directors and work to promote African Americans in a positive light on the big screen. They cofounded New Millienium Studios in Petersburg, VA that handles big screen projects from start to finish. Tim is best known for starring in Frank's Place,Sister Sister and Simon and Simon. Daphne starred as Aunt Viv on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
Richard Stewart was born and raised in the Pocahontas Island area of Petersburg and is a passionate advocate for the history of that unique neighborhood. Pocahontas Island was home to the South’s largest population of free blacks in the years prior to the Civil War. Mr. Stewart, whose family has lived there for nine generations, is committed to sharing the fascinating heritage of the people of Pocahontas Island. In pursuit of this, Mr. Stewart opened in 2004 Pocahontas Island’s Black History Museum, housing a collection of self-acquired artifacts which he uses to illustrate the lives and history of those who have made this place their home.
Col. Porcher Taylor was born in Jacksonville, FL and joined the U.S. Navy and spent three years on tour in the Pacific Theater during World War II. He was selected as one of Tuskegee Institute's All-Time Greatest Football Athletes in 1985. He served as the vice president at Virginia State University and as chairman of the Petersburg School Board. He was named Virginian of the Year by the Virginia Press Association in 2014.
