Eclipse Award Banquet

Our ANNUAL BANQUET is a time to bring together family, friends and community members to celebrate the ECLIPSE AWARDS. This award is given to members of the Orange County community who have demonstrated a lifetime commitment to the advancement of the African American community. In 2020, we added a Youth Eclipse Award category to recognize emerging community leaders.

2021 Eclipse Award Recipients

Our five distinguished honorees, in case you haven’t already heard, are:

Mrs. Barbara Ann Johnson

Pastor Frank Lewis, Sr.

Mrs. Emily Winkey

YOUTH category (Now in its second year)

Mr. O’Brian Martin

Ms. Nia Robinson

2020 Eclipse Banquet

2020 Eclipse Award Winners

Due to COVID, we are not holding our Annual Banquet in person, but still are recognizing several awardees for our annual Eclipse Award Event. This year we have recorded interviews with our award recipients and want to share this with our membership in advance of our virtual award presentation. Click the image below to see the film created by Bruce Monroe and Phil Audibert created.

2019 Eclipse Banquet

The 2019 Eclipse Award Banquet was a ringing success with over 200 people attending. It was held at the Shady Grove Baptist Church in Orange, VA. The persons being honored and recognized were; Phyllis A. Highland, George and Ruth Long, Irene M. Spotswood, George L. Taylor, and Jane H. Ware. Again, the Orange County African American Historical Society thanks all the persons, sponsors, and donors that in anyway contributed to the success of this event and any others that we have done. Click on an image to start the show

Sponsors for 2019 Banquet

Altman Tire Company
Art Center of Orange
Bethel Baptist Church
Dumisile Martin
Emanuel Baptist Church
Faye’s Office Supply

Friends of the Orange County Library
George James Community Center
Howard E. Lambert
James Madison’s Montpelier Foundation
James Monroe III
Lacy’s Florist

Laughlin-Beers Foundation
Liz Harper
Margaret K. Crump
Montpelier Steeplechase Foundation
Mount Calvary Baptist Church
Orange County Democratic Committee
Orange County Department of Tourism