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“Follow the fellow who follows a dream” were words sung during the Black History pro grams at Franklin Primary School this year. “Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow” was presented by the second-grade students at the Parent-Teacher Organization meeting on the previous day for the students and staff of the school. The welcome for the evening was given by Sarah Wright and Jasmine Barclay. Danielle Robinson gave a brief biography of James Weldon Johnson before the children, and the audience sang, “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” The speakers in the program, Ashley Fralich, Pankey Williams, Tiffany Curtis, Shamashai Evans, Brian Jones, Trey Hogan and Jeremiah Young entered a “time tunnel” and met role mod els from all time periods. Benjamin Banneker, played by Kyle Wheeler and George Washington portrayed by Jacob Hitt, talked about the contri bution Banneker had made in the surveying of Washington, D.C. Carter Woodson, the “Father of Black History, was played by Dennis Burton, and Preanna Brown portrayed Mary McLeod Bethune. Roy Beaugard greeted the audience as he depicted Dr. Charles Drew, while the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was played by Fred Wright. Toward the end of the time tunnel experience, the children spoke with Matthew Henson, the great explorer, as he was played by Dominique Papillion. A modern-day role model, Le Var Burton, known to the children from the Public Broadcasting Service television program. “Reading Rainbow,” was the last person the chil dren met. Burton was played by Melvin Nesby. Present on stage and viewing the time tunnel experience were present-day role models from Blytheville. Special thanks was extended to Elroy Brown, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Wiley, the Rev. and Mrs. Emmanuel Lofton, Gene Henton and Tim Davenport. Included in the presentation were all the chil dren in the second grade participating in the choir. The rhythm group was composed of Cordelia Davis, Princeton Farris, Melvin Lemons, Cornelcia Smith, Dekembe Wells, Zachery Wilson and Deantra Scott. The pianist for the performances was David Gullic. Donna Williams, music teacher, wrote and directed the program. The second-grade students also presented a short essay from Burton written especially for all the students of Franklin Primary School. In the essay, “Why I Love to Read,” Burton challenges the children to follow good role models by becoming good readers and working for their dreams. He writes, “Please, if you want to go places, if you want to realize your dreams, if you want to make a difference on this beautiful planet, learn how to read well and keep on reading! Your efforts will be rewarded every day of your life but you don’t have to take my word for it!” Courtesy photo Franklin School second-grade students who participated in the Black History Program, “Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow” are (front, from left) Dennis Burton, Preanna Brown, Shamashai Evans, Jacob Hitt, Fred Wright, Brian Jones, Kyle Wheeler, Roy Beaugard, Tiffany Curtis, Ashley Fralick, Dominique Papillion, Melvin Nesby, Pankey Williams, Sarah Wright, Danielle Robinson; (back, from left) Donna Williams, Tim Davenport, Jasmine Barclay, the Rev. Emmanuel Lofton, Mrs. Ollie Lofton, Mrs. Robert Wiley, Robert Wiley, Elroy Brown, Gene Henton and Terry Gabrielson, principal. Courtesy photo Second-grade students at Franklin School who participated in “Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow” are (front, from left) Zachery Wilson, Fred Wright, Roy Beaugard, Brian Jones, Jacob Hitt, Deantra Scott; (back, from left) Pankey Williams, Shamashai Evans, Dennis Burton, Sarah Wright, Dominique Papillion, Kyle Wheeler, Melvin Nesby, Preanna Brown, Jasmine Barclay, Danielle Robinson, Tiffany Curtis and Ashley Fralick.
Newspaper Details
Blytheville Courier News
Blytheville, Arkansas, US
Wed, Jun 16, 1999
Page 4
Full Page
Clipped by
Jb K.
USA 31 Jan 2026
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