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Heritage Event Honors Soldier

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By GEORGE H. NEWMAN, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 23, 2008

PLANT CITY - The fifth annual Black Heritage Festival paid tribute to the family of a fallen soldier.

Family members of Army Sgt. Cory Clark served as grand marshals of the Feb. 9 heritage parade. Clark was killed in August by a suicide bomber in Afghanistan.

Festival organizer Sharon Moody said Clark's mother, sister, wife and children were in attendance.

"I've known the Clark family for years," Moody said. "Cory was always a respectful young man. ... He loved his family and his friends."

Moody wanted to recall his sacrifice.

"His funeral was so very sad," she said. "But at the same time there was also a feeling of pride and love of country in the church that day. Cory is a long gone hero. But we will always remember him. He died not only for his country. He died for his state, his city and his family. He will be very well missed by all of us who knew him."

Moody said the Feb. 8-9 festival, which also included entertainment at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center, was well-attended.

"I consider the entire two days we celebrated black heritage in Plant City to be very successful," she said.

The festival started with a banquet with 200 guests at the recreation center.

Ann Johnson, a teacher at Lincoln Elementary Magnet School, was the mistress of ceremonies. Guest speaker was former Marshall Middle School Principal Sarah Governor.

Those recognized at the banquet for service to the black heritage of Plant City included Jessie Browder, the first black nurse to work at South Florida Baptist Hospital; Ted Taylor, the first black lawyer to hang his shingle in Plant City; and Mildred Dawson, a retired educator who worked at Simmons Elementary School in Plant City. Moody presented two awards on behalf of the organization to representatives from the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office and the Plant City Police Department gang unit for outstanding community service.

Special banquet guests included state Sen. Ronda Storms, circuit judges Jack Espinosa Jr. and Ashley Moody, county Commissioner Al Higginbotham, Mayor Rick Lott, city Commissioners Bill Dodson and Dan Raulerson, and Mike Sparkman, a former mayor and city commissioner.

Community leaders Steve Wilson, Dorothy Smith, Cynthia Bailey, Dee Sears, Carolyn Brown and Fran Neilsen helped organize the festival.

"There are many others who helped to organize and make this event a success," Moody said.

Entertainment during the festival included B.K. Jackson, a Blake High School student who played the saxophone.

Reporter George H. Newman can be reached at (813) 865-4451 or gnewman@tampatrib.com.

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