Rain from Hurricane Barry failed to cast a shadow over Vicksburg Benevolent Homecoming Club members, as they honored several local residents and presented $6,300 in scholarships to 13 students from Vicksburg and Warren Central high schools last weekend.

“Everything was beautiful throughout the weekend,” VBHC president Willie Glasper said, “It was just great; well attended. We had (Vicksburg Warren School District) deputy superintendent David Campbell who was the speaker for the scholarship brunch. Weather didn’t affect us at all.”

Saturday’s event was the 44th annual Homecoming. The program featured several activities, including a Friday get together at Riverwalk Casino for a “get acquainted social,” followed Saturday by a scholarship brunch and a dinner-dance banquet, both at Riverwalk.

The Homecoming ended Sunday with a farewell worship service at Trinity Baptist Church.

D&T Mobile Express Detail owner Deonta O. Selvy Sr. was honored as business of the year, while North Ward Alderman Michael Mayfield was the recipient of the Ernestine Martin Willis Humanitarian Award.

Leon Smith Jr., a member of the Vicksburg Homecoming Benevolent Club since 2004, received the club’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

Students receiving awards included:

4Scholarships: Ta’mykal Jackson, Alyshia Moore, Kylah Stedman, Keanna Abraham, Reginald Johnson, Tyrese Wolfe, Antonnea Cooper, Christopher Green, Brandon Scott, Davon Mims, Asia Brown, Machia Lumpkin and Keidria Winchester.

4Junior High Essay participants: Aisha Williams, Ellis Terrett, Destiny Mace, Elysse Terrett and Ashley Flagg.

4High School Oratorical participants: Samuel Terrett, Anthony Lumpkin and Amoiree Kelly.

The Vicksburg Benevolent Homecoming Club began in 1975 when former residents Booker T. Wilson and Richard Dorsey returned to Vicksburg for Dorsey’s family reunion and developed plans for an annual reunion of former residents in the city and a benevolent organization.

Glasper said members of the Homecoming Benevolent Club who live across the country send donations that allow the club to help people in the community purchase medicine and pay utility bills, and award scholarships to local students.