Mayor Sedric Smith
Sedrick Smith, 41, is the youngest mayor ever to serve the small community of Charleston, Mississippi. He’s also the first African-American mayor there. With his goal of making citizens of all races more involved in the community, he recently had a charity ball that brought together 300 local residents. The catered dinner was $15 a person and included a dance at the Charleston Middle School bym.
As Mayor Smith said, “I always wanted to do something of this nature. I’m just trying to get the community involved more than they have been — to share knowledge, to meet and greet. I want the community to feel a part of the city instead of just being the city, this is not about me, it is about the people of this community.”
The funds from the ball went to the American Cancer Society, as Mayor Smith explained, “Our mother and father both died of cancer and everybody has been affected in one way or another by cancer so we decided to hold the ball with funds going to the American Cancer Society.”
Those participating in the program included Glendora Miss. Mayor Johnny B. Thomas, Rev. Derrick Williams Sr., LaJoyce Stewart and Glenna Callender, executive director of the Charleston Arts and Revitalization Effort (CARE). As Mayor Smith said, “What I want to instill in Charleston is that there are many things we can do together, to bring people together. Our people are so eager to do more, I get great ideas every week. And everybody wants to do it right now. It is really a beautiful thing to see people so involved,” he added.
The event was unique in history for a number of reasons. It was attended by Mississippi mayors from Grenada, Beulah, Rosedale, Shelby and Glendora.
As Glenna Callender said, “We are here for three major reasons. We are here to honor Sedrick Smith, the first black major and youngest mayor in the history of Charleston. We are here tonight to ‘Rally for a Cure’ for the dreaded disease, cancer; to raise money for research and to help community cancer patients. Some of you in this room are survivors, we honor you.
“But we are also here to honor and celebrate community, the coming together to help each other, to improve community relationships for the benefit of Charleston.”