It was time for philanthropic local women to shine at the 31st annual Richmond County NAACP “Mother of the Year” Banquet Friday night.

The event not only celebrated the 100th anniversary of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, but also the 68th anniversary of the organization’s local branch - and the “mothers” that helped make positive change happen.

According to branch Secretary Tonya Whitt-Harrington, mothers from each church choose themselves. They choose to advocate the organization’s mission through fundraising, faith and hard work.

“We are fighting for justice and equality for all mankind, for anyone who has been mistreated,” said Whitt-Harrington, who was crowned Mother of the Year in 1998.

She noted that some progress was visible that night at the dinner tables of the East Hamlet Community Center.

“Tonight you can look out and see all different kinds of people - white, black, hispanic - all in one room enjoying fellowship,” said Whitt-Harrington. “That’s something that didn’t happen 100 years ago.”

According to keynote speaker Doctor Fred McQueen, mothers, like all NAACP activists past and present, are “freedom fighters.” And children are the future of the organization.

“You can’t take your bankroll to heaven. You can’t take your Mercedes to heaven. You can’t take your house to heaven. But you can take your child. They are precious. We must teach our children so that they have the skills to survive when challenges come their way,” said McQueen, who added that today’s progress was built upon ancestral struggles. He was the first person in his family to graduate from college. The founder of McQueen Medical Center in Hamlet, McQueen received both his undergraduate and medical degrees from Howard University.

“The key was education then, and the key is education now,” he said.

They practice what they preach. Arthur McDonald’s mother, Joy Hawkins, was excited about the scholarship that her soon-to-be-graduating son received from the local chapter that night. It will help send him to North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro this Fall.

“Words cannot express how proud I am of him,” said Hawkins.

President’s Award recipient and “Mothers on the Move” organizer Cynthia Harris had some motherly words of advice for the crowd.

“We love it when you join; it helps us when you join, but we need workers,” said Harris. “If our forefathers had not worked, we wouldn’t be where we are today.”

But the brightest light of the evening was the unmistakable smile of 2008 Mother of the Year Frankie G. Leach, who raised over $5,000 to claim the title once again for 2009.

Vibrant and energetic, Leach ran across the front of the room, hands waving with joy, to accept her award and take her place next to first runner-up Mamie McLaughlin and second runner-up Crystal M. Green.

The three mothers embodied the essence of this year’s message from Reverend Doctor William Barber II, President of the North Carolina NAACP:

“On this special occasion, as you honor the many women of your community, remember the hope that is ours because of their resilience, and remember the hope we are to give by standing ever vigilant for freedom, justice and equality for all.”