22nd Annual Trumpet Awards Gives Tributes to Extraordinary Honorees for African American Achievement

The Trumpet Awards Foundation recently wrapped up the 22^nd Annual Trumpet Awards where an international cast of who’s who in the areas of religion, politics, public service, law, entrepreneurialism, and entertainment turned out to witness the Awards Show and the celebration of African American achievers. The festivities took place at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre on Saturday, January 25, 2014.

The Annual Trumpet Awards was hosted by Melissa De Sousa, a NAACP Image Award nominated actress, and Laz Alonso, a NAACP Image Award winning actor. De Sousa was recently seen in the film Best Man Holiday. Alonso has several films to his credit which include Stomp the Yard, Fast & Furious, and Avatar; his television credits include, “Bones,” “CSI-Miami,” “The Practice,” and more.

Celebrity guests, honorees, and participants who braved the cold weather and were seen on the Red Carpet included Tim Davies and the crew from Radio-One, Martin Luther King III, Chris Tucker, Congressman/Ambassador Andrew Young, Bobby Jones, Judge Mablean Ephriam, Danny Bakewell, former Chief Justice Leah Sears Collins, members of the staff of the Prime Minister of the Bahamas, and many others.

Xernona Clayton, Chair, President, and CEO of the Trumpet Awards Foundation, and Creator and Executive Producer of the Trumpet Awards,and a national celebrity in her own right, presented the “Trumpet Award” to the honorees, including: DeVon Franklin; Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff; The Honorable Kamala Harris; Deryl and Cheryl McKissack; Charles J. Ogletree, Jr; Steve Pemberton; Alfre Woodard; the five Atlanta Bronner Brothers; and seven sisters of the entrepreneurial Williams Family from the Bahamas.Presenters for the 22nd Annual Trumpet Awards included Palmer Williams, Roland Martin, Sweetie Pie’s Robby Montgomery, and Nephew Tommy. Performers who provided the entertainment included award-winning recording artists Amber Riley, Carl Thomas, Jaheim, Raheem DeVaughn, SWV, Chubb Rock, Melle Mel, Kurtis Blow, Smokie Norful and Donny McClurkin.

Other events held during the weekend included The Prayer Breakfast which was held on Thursday, January 23, at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in downtown Atlanta. This annual program kicked off the festivities with the Spiritual Enlightenment Award. Honorees include the Concerned Black Clergy of Metropolitan Atlanta; Rev W. R. “Smokie” Norful, Jr., Senior Pastor & Gospel Recording Artist, Chicago, IL; Linda Herring, musician, Memphis, TN; Dr. Marvin A. Moss, Senior Pastor, Cascade United Methodist Church, Atlanta, GA; and Bishop William Sheals, Senior Pastor, Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church, Norcross, GA. Dr. Joseph L. Williams, Salem Bible Church, Lithonia, GA delivered the “Sermonette.”

Jonathan Slocumb and Charlotte Ottley hosted the High Tea with High Heels affair, which was held on Thursday, January 23 and is a fairly new tradition of the Trumpet Awards. This affair combined the sophistication of high tea, high heels and high fashion showcased by Carolyn and Janice Wilbourn of Wilbourn Sisters Designs and was initiated to salute a select group of distinguished women who are leaders in their communities and in their fields of endeavor. This event was a fundraiser for the Trumpet Awards Foundation’s scholarship initiative. Other Trumpet Awards events included the Race Relations Symposium, hosted by The Rev. Dr. Raphael G. Warnock, Senior Pastor, Ebenezer Baptist Church and the International Civil Rights Walk of Fame, hosted by Frank Ski, with the Frank Ski Show.