Movie star attends Crescent Moon Gala

An event which started out as a retirement celebration has become an annual event that celebrates the lives of people battling, sickle cell anemia, a debilitating disease which targets primarily African Americans. The event, The Crescent Moon Gala, is the brainchild of Dexter Martin and wife, Carmen Cummings- Martin. The purpose of the event is to raise funds to fight the disease that their young son Nicholas has suffered from since birth.

Each year a well known celebrity is featured at the gala as an extra incentive for the community to support it. Screen star Morris Chestnut was the drawing card this year. He posed for pictures with those who attended the reception before the gala and assisted in the presentation of awards during the program.

Shaun Laurie, a local physician, was awarded the Servants Heart Award by Chestnut and Denise Johnson, one of his patients. William “Bill” Law, president of Tallahassee Community College, received the Crescent Moon Community Trailblazer Salute from the Martins and winner of the Sickle Cell-o-bration Song Writing Contest, Brianna Nelson.

Jackie Safford, who battles with the disease, received the Courage Award from Chestnut, Pastor Helen Barrington, a winner of the Courage award, and her husband Pastor Kenneth Barrington. Velma Stevens, executive director of the Sickle Cell Foundation, made a special presentation to Daisy Lanier for Homer Lanier, a member of the Sickle Cell Foundation Board.

WCTV News anchor, Shonda Knight, served as mistress of ceremonies. Honorary chairpersons for the event were Judge Nina Ashenafi and her husband, Curtis Richardson, former member of the Florida House of Representatives.

After the invocation was given by Pastor Terry Price of Philadelphia P. B. Church, a memorial tribute in dance was presented by Nicholas Martin, who received a standing ovation, and dinner entertainment was provided by Steve Fryson and the Community Jazz Ensemble and The Crescent Moon Heartbeats. Other entertainment came from Anthony Williams who sang to the honorees.

A special donation of $3,000 was made to the foundation by representatives of the Buffalo Soldiers Motorcycle Club of Tallahassee.