Eleven leaders from Brookhaven’s black community will be honoredfor their contributions and skills in various categories Sundayafternoon at the 2009 Ole Brook Lifetime Achievement Awards.

“We quite often recognize individuals of internationalnotoriety, but so much of the time we have heroes at home who aremissed,” said The O Foundation’s Charles Powell, whose organizationis sponsoring the awards alongside the Grateful Ministries MothersBoard. “We recognize heroes in our own community who have made acontribution to the betterment of us all.

The ceremony will be held Sunday at 5 p.m. at GracefulMinistries International on South First Street. The 11honorees areDr. James Hall, the Rev. Jerry Durr, Robin Tyler Faust, RoderickHenderson, Ivyrene Burt, Deborah Daniels, Cora Edwards, WillieRice, Patricia Williams and Pamela Jenkins.

Hall will be honored for his achievements in the field ofmedicine, while Durr will be recognized for his work in theministry and charity. Faust was named one of Mississippi’s Top 40under 40 businesswomen, and Henderson is Alexander Junior HighSchool principal.

Attention will be drawn to Burt’s expertise in financialmanagement, while Daniels’ experience practicing and teachingcosmetology will be recognized.

Edwards will be thanked for 30 years of teaching in the LincolnCounty School District, while Rice will be honored for all-aroundcommunity service.

Williams is a 37-year veteran educator at Jackson StateUniversity, and Jenkins is a 36-year veteran nurse for King’sDaughters Medical Center.

O Foundation President Rose “Polly” Powell said the “ultimate”lifetime achiever to be honored would be Jesse Buie, a fatherfigure to many black community leaders and longtime principal atAlexander High School during the segregation era.

All 11 achievers will be awarded trophies, and the event willfeature presenters, entertainment and refreshment.