Local NAACP branch elects new president, officers

Saturday, Jan. 4, marked the beginning of a new era for the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County branch of the NAACP. During a special ceremony held at Goler Memorial AME Zion Church, Stephen Anthony Hairston Jr. was sworn in as president, along with other members of his cabinet and members of the executive committee.  The local branch held elections in late November to elect a new president and other officers ahead of the new year. Only current members in good standing are allowed to vote.  After former President Al Jabbar announced he wouldn’t seek re-election, it left the position up for grabs and it was Hairston who was chosen to fill the seat.  There were several elected officials in attendance to witness the changing of the guard, including; Mayor Pro Temp Denise ‘DD’ Adams, Rep. Amber Baker, and Deborah Dicks Maxwell, who is president of the N.C. NAACP. The oaths were delivered by District Court Judges Shonna Alexander and Artese Ziglar.  Hairston said a lot of thought and prayer went into the decision to run, but he felt like it was his duty to bring a fresh new perspective to the branch. He said many members of the community didn’t even know that...